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Wind-induced soil erosion is a major global misfortune, which obliterates nearly one-third of worldwide soil. The windswept sand particles cover large areas including highways, and make the visibility vague. This results in accidents, damaged infrastructure, delayed flights, and various health issues. The erosive impact of the wind can be minimized by enhancing the intactness of the soil surface. There is a prerequisite to adopt viable measures to strengthen soil against wind erosion. There are certain nature-based solutions that can fortify soil against wind erosion and the application of biopolymers is one of them. The objective of this study is to examine the viability of non-toxic biopolymers for stabilizing desert sand by improving its erosion resistance property and strength. In the present experiment, three biopolymers, sodium alginate (SA), pectin (P), and acacia gum (AG), were used with 1, 2, and 3% concentrations for 1 and 0.75 PV as stabilizing agents. The treatment with biopolymers was performed either by surficial treatment (spraying or pouring of solution) or by mixing and compact method based on the viscosity of prepared biopolymer solutions. The biotreated sand samples were tested in a wind tunnel at varying wind speeds of 10, 20, and 30 m/s to assess sand erosion. Surface strengths were assessed by measuring compressive strength using a pocket penetrometer. Crust thickness measurement was performed to check the penetration depth of biopolymer solution and binding of sand particles. All three biopolymers with 1% concentration gave a feasible solution for erosion against wind and binding of particles through SEM analysis. SA and P could not be sprayed for 2 and 3% concentrations due to high viscosity. This solution is also not feasible for the field application. Simultaneously, AG with 2 and 3% concentration was highly soluble, less viscous, and gave more surface strength due to higher percentage of biopolymer concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel polymeric fluorescent brightener agent based on 4,4′-diamino-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid-triazine structure has been synthesized by radical polymerization. The structure of 4,4′-diamino-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid -based polymeric fluorescent brightener agent was characterized by Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy, HNMR, and gel permeation chromatography. Photo-property was measured and analyzed by the ultraviolet-vis spectra and fluorescence spectra. The performance on paper was evaluated by determining the surface strength and smoothness, the brightness degree, and the post color number value of paper. Results showed that 4,4′-diamino-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid-based polymeric fluorescent brightener agent had a better light stability in water solution than that of 4,4′-diamino-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid-based fluorescent monomer as light stabilizer. Through the surface-sizing experiment and ultraviolet aging experiment, the 4,4′-diamino-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid-based polymeric fluorescent brightener agent not only enhanced the surface strength and smoothness of paper as a surface-sizing agent, but also had a better effect on anti-ultraviolet aging than that of 4,4′-diamino-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid-based fluorescent monomer as a light stabilizer and fluorescent brightener agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penetration test has been a promising technique for characterizing the surface strength of a crusted surface. This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation of using a flat-ended penetrometer to evaluate the surface strength of mine tailings (MT) treated with biopolymer solutions of different concentrations. The experimental results show that the infiltration depth of biopolymer solution into dry MT decreases with the increase in biopolymer concentration. Biopolymer stabilization effectively increases the surface strength and cracking resistance of MT, and the increase is greater when the biopolymer concentration is higher. To further explore how biopolymer stabilization increases the surface strength and crack resistance of MT, numerical simulations using discrete element method were carried out to study the penetration tests on MT treated with biopolymer solutions of different concentrations. The simulation results show that the inter-particle tensile and shear strengths both increase with higher biopolymer concentration, indicating that more biopolymer induces larger inter-particle bonding and thus increases the surface strength of MT. The simulation results also confirm the delayed formation of cracks on MT after biopolymer stabilization from a microscale perspective, leading to a better understanding of biopolymer stabilization of MT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand erosion due to wind is a serious problem in the relatively arid and semiarid areas. A new organic polymer sand-fixing agent (PVIN), polymerized by the monomer of vinyl acetate, initiator and cross-linking agent, is introduced in this study. To understand the effect of PVIN on sand fixation, the strength test, water-retaining test and wind erosion test were performed. The results indicated that the presence of PVIN could improve the structural strength, water retaining and anti-wind erosion ability. When the sand-fixing agent was applied on the sand surface, the crust in surface layer was produced. The structural strength variations determined by micropenetrometer indicated that the specimens treated with concentrations of 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20% PVIN have produced the crusts with thickness being approximately 1, 2, 4-5, 5, and 5-6 mm and the strength being around 1, 4.5, 18, 26 and 41, respectively. This crust has a good water-absorption, water-retaining and anti-evaporation properties. It can also improve the anti-wind erosion ability, and also prevent the loose sand surface from forming a sand dune in the wind erosion conditions. Additionally, this sand-fixing agent has a low cost, it is easier to produce and apply and also produces no additional pollution. Therefore, this can be considered as an ideal soil-fixing agents to control sand erosion in the relatively arid and semiarid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper coating pigment plays an essential role in the achievement of the desired end paper qualities. Different pigment varieties are available for paper coating. Ground calcium carbonate (GCC) is the major one used frequently in coating formulations. Precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) is gradually gaining importance in paper coating, as it can be prepared in different shapes and sizes. The present study was carried out to determine the influence of PCC pigments with different shapes and sizes on paper properties, and their limitations and advantages when blended with finer grade GCC. PCC pigments of calcite and aragonite crystalline polymorphs having rhombohedral, orthorhombic, and scalenohedral habits were selected for the study. It was observed that the viscosity and water-holding capacity of the coating color was reduced with the introduction of PCC in the coating formulation. The PCC pigments showed greater light scattering, opacity, and smoothness of the coated paper as compared to the GCC pigment. The clustered (rosette) shape of scalenohedral habit calcite PCC results in the greatest light scattering, opacity, and surface strength amongst all PCCs. The aragonite PCC of orthorhombic habit and calcite PCC of rhombohedral habit show an almost similar trend in coated paper properties with the greatest smoothness and paper gloss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]