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The existence of vegetation of open environments with a predominance of grass–forb meadow associations and the participation of pine–oak forests was reconstructed on the basis of study of microphytofossils from the Lower Pleistocene deposits of the Taurida cave in central Crimea. These results are consistent with data on the composition of land vertebrates from the Taurida locality. The studied spectrum demonstrates similarity with the spore–pollen assemblage of the Berezan horizon of Ukraine with a maximum age of about 1.8 Ma. Based on the abundance of trichomes and plant fibers similar to those of Ficus carica Linnaeus, 1753 in the coprolites, it is assumed that the extinct hyenas Pachycrocuta brevirostris (Gervais, 1850) ate fig fruits in certain seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a reply to a comment regarding research on the Magallanes Fault System (MFS) in Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia. The authors address criticisms of their work and discuss overlapping results with another study on fault slip rates in Argentina. They highlight the importance of fieldwork, drone photography, and data integration in determining fault slip rates. The study emphasizes the need for further research on other active faults in the MFS and the implications for seismic hazard and neotectonics. [Extracted from the article]

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a bast fiber plant known for its long fibers, making it an excellent source of pulp for paper production. In Ethiopia, flax is primarily cultivated for oil, with the residual straw utilized for papermaking. This study focuses on pulping flax straw using the Kraft process and investigates its chemical composition, proximate analysis, and morphological properties. The proximate analysis revealed an ash content of 4.13% and moisture content of 11%. Chemical composition analysis showed cellulose at 51.34%, hemicellulose at 25.20%, lignin at 14.12%, ash at 4.13%, and extractives at 5.21%. The morphological properties included a fiber length of 1.41 mm, diameter of 16.78 μm, lumen width of 9.45 μm, and cell wall thickness of 3.77 μm. Flax straw exhibited an acceptable Runkel ratio (0.8) and flexibility coefficient (56.32), placing it within the range of non-wood fibers. SEM analysis of the pulp's morphology was conducted to assess fiber structure, including the presence of cracks. Pulp quality and length are directly linked to paper strength. Various pulping conditions were studied using a full-factorial design, with optimum conditions being 10% alkaline, 131.74°C, and 120 min of cooking time, yielding a pulp with a Kappa number of 10.45 and a yield of 40.56%. The resulting paper demonstrated standard tensile, tearing, and burst strengths, indicating that flax straw is a promising raw material for paper production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of papaya tree bast fibers (Carica papaya L) from different portions. Papaya bast fibers (PBFs) were extracted from the boiling process in three different portions of bast (PBF 1, PBF 2, and PBF 3). The physical properties of papaya bast fibers obtained were relative density 820–1130 kg/m3, count 14–22 Tex, diameter 600–767 µm, and wettability 78 to 86°. The mechanical properties were determined by strain (0.8–1.5%), tenacity (10.2–23.1 cN/Tex), tensile strength (4.4–7.8 MPa), Young's modulus (5.2–5.5 MPa) and specific modulus (5–6) through single fiber tensile test. Chemical properties were evaluated using FEG-SEM which showed a strong presence of cells in PBF 1, PBF 2, and PBF 3. FTIR and X-ray analysis proved that PBFs are rich in cellulose with a crystallinity index of 59.2%—67% of PBF 1 to PBF 3. The results revealed variations in the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of PBFs among different portions. The papaya bast fibers showed properties, such as lightweight, porous, and mechanical properties, which are similar to other bast fibers, which are usually used in the manufacture of composites and applied in the packaging (food industry). In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of papaya bast fibers from different portions. These findings contribute to the understanding of the potential applications of papaya bast fibers and serve as a foundation for future research and development in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of natural fibers into Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) has emerged as a promising avenue for sustainable and high-performance composite materials. Natural fibers, derived from plants, offer notable advantages such as renewability, low cost, and environmental friendliness. Among these natural fibers, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis (HRS) plant fibers have gained significant attention owing to their widespread availability and unique mechanical properties. In this study, HRS fibers were chemically treated using Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4), and Acetic Acid (CH3COOH) at different weight percentages (3, 4, 5 Wt.%) and solutionizing times (1, 2, 3 h) based on Taguchi's L27 orthogonal array. The fibers, extracted from epidermis of the stems, underwent cleaning and chemical treatment after water retting. The crystallinity index, determined via X-ray Diffraction (XRD), indicated a maximum value of 65.77%. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) exhibited a degradation temperature of 365.24 °C and a material loss of 63.11%. Potassium Permanganate treatment at 4 Wt.% and 3 h of solutionizing time has yielded the best results. Multi-Layer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network (MLP-ANN) has been successfully applied to accurately predict the output physical characteristics of chemically treated HRS fibers using experimental data. The results are in close alignment with the literature. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analyses have provided valuable insights into the microstructure and constituents of the chemically treated HRS fibers. This research emphasises on the effectiveness of the chemical treatment process in enhancing the properties of HRS plant fibers for potential composite applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is a comparative assessment of polypropylene composites reinforced with two different range size of Agave Americana fibers. The first is from 125 to 630 microns, named as Short Agave Fiber (SHAF), and the second range is beyond 630 microns, named as Long Agave Fiber (LAF). The composites were produced by twin-screw extrusion and injection molding processes. The composite manufacturing by this interior part of plant agave fibers is mentioned in the first time in the literature. The fiber content for the SHAF and LAF composites was chosen as 10 wt. %. It was found that better mechanical properties were achieved with LAF composite which increased by 301.4% compared with the neat PP. This was explained by LAF features compared to SHAF such as the higher cellulose content LAF (73.5%) and SHAF (40.3%), the higher crystallinity index was obtained better thermal stability which led to a composite which is more crystalline, more thermally stable and stiffer. This was explained by the good interfacial adhesion between fibers and the matrix revealed by SEM analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for over 30% of disability-adjusted life years in South Africa. In this research, we offer an estimate of the potential reduction in NCD incidence that would arise from an improvement in diet, combined with a reduction in both tobacco and alcohol consumption. Methods: We apply the PRIME model, which simulates the effect of risk reduction on NCD incidence. The model inputs baseline data related to the population, risky consumption behaviour and NCD incidence. The model allows for counterfactual scenarios altering the risky consumption behaviour to yield revised NCD incidence. Results: We find that reducing salt, tobacco and alcohol, along with improved fruit, vegetable and fiber consumption would yield a 10% reduction in NCDs from the 2018 baseline. NCD incidence reductions arise primarily from ischemic heart disease (49%), cerebrovascular diseases (33%) and bronchus and lung disease (11%). Conclusion: South Africa's NCD incidence is high because of relatively poor behavioural choices, despite plans and policies aimed at changing this. South Africa should increase their efforts to reach NCD goals. If the government is able to reduce harmful behaviour, with respect to a number of the underlying consumption choices, NCD incidence is expected to fall precipitously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the interest of the world toward nanocellulose materials has been incredibly increased for the development of high value products owing to the unique and potentially convenient structures of nanocellulose. There is advanced enhancement of the nanocellulose application with strongly increasing interest for the high demand of sustainability requirements in the global market. Nanocellulose materials are sourced from different plant fibers, algae, tunicate and bacteria. They have been synthesized through different extraction techniques like acid hydrolysis, and mechanical refining methods with increasing advancements. Nanocellulose products have potential application areas of reinforcements in nanocomposites, paper and packaging industries, biodegradable films, barriers in packaging and membrane industries, additives in food and medical applications, and medical devices, wound healing, bioactive implants and self-healing applications. This review realizes the current understandings of nanocellulose materials with source materials, isolation techniques from their sources, extraction methods and end use applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have recently altered their focus and have become more interested in natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites because they are more ecologically friendly and environmentally conscious than synthetic fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Among the best sources of natural fiber, Grewia ferruginea, sometimes known locally as Lenquata, is a source of natural fiber from other plant fibers. The goal of this study was to create polyester matrix composites reinforced with short Grewia ferruginea plant fibers measuring 10, 20, and 30 mm. The fibers were extracted using the traditional water-retting method and chemically treated with 5% NaOH. The findings indicated that the average tensile strength of a single fiber from Grewia ferruginea plants is 214 MPa, with a density of 1.11 g/cm3. Furthermore, the composite, which was created with a fiber length of 10 mm, fiber weight ratio of 25 %, and polyester matrix composite of 75 %, exhibited superior performance since it is stronger than any combination that was used to create the composite in this investigation, with 18.3 MPa tensile and 35.2 MPa flexural strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composite industry urgently needs to develop effective and efficient surface treatment techniques for high-strength plant fibers. A newly designed hybrid approach which combines surface treatment techniques of three categories is studied in this research, in which sodium bicarbonate treatment is conducted to 'gently' clean the flax fiber, silane treatment served to add functional group and silane-grafted cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are applied to fiber surface to promote fiber-matrix interaction. Three processes are designed in order to combine silane treatment and CNC treatment. In the first process, CNCs were directly deposited on flax fabric after which flax fabric with CNCs was subjected to silane treatment. In the second process, flax fabric was simultaneously subjected to CNC deposition and silane treatment. In the third process, CNCs were separately subjected to silane treatment and later collected using a centrifuge. Later, silane-grafted CNCs were deposited flax fabric. The combined NaHCO3-silane treatment improved the tensile strength of flax/polypropylene composites by 26.6%. It was also confirmed that CNCs could enhance fiber/matrix interface via mechanical interlocking. As the concentration of CNC suspension increased, density of CNCs on fiber surface increased. When the concentration is 5 g/L, optimum performance of flax/polypropylene composites is observed. In terms of moisture absorption, it was found that NaHCO3-silane treatment could reduce moisture absorption (by 49.8%) while CNCs induce higher moisture content (by 31.1% when CNC concentration was 10.0 g/L). More importantly, the results of this study indicated that the moisture absorption and mechanical properties of composites could be largely affected by the nature of the interface. Proper fiber/matrix interface engineering can reduce moisture absorption and enhance mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Fiber-like cells with thickened cell walls of specific structure and polymer composition that includes (1 → 4)-β-galactans develop in the outer stem cortex of several moss species gametophytes. The early land plants evolved several specialized cell types and tissues that did not exist in their aquatic ancestors. Of these, water-conducting elements and reproductive organs have received most of the research attention. The evolution of tissues specialized to fulfill a mechanical function is by far less studied despite their wide distribution in land plants. For vascular plants following a homoiohydric trajectory, the evolutionary emergence of mechanical tissues is mainly discussed starting with the fern-like plants with their hypodermal sterome or sclerified fibers that have xylan and lignin-based cell walls. However, mechanical challenges were also faced by bryophytes, which lack lignified cell-walls. To characterize mechanical tissues in the bryophyte lineage, following a poikilohydric trajectory, we used six wild moss species (Polytrichum juniperinum, Dicranum sp., Rhodobryum roseum, Eurhynchiadelphus sp., Climacium dendroides, and Hylocomium splendens) and analyzed the structure and composition of their cell walls. In all of them, the outer stem cortex of the leafy gametophytic generation had fiber-like cells with a thickened but non-lignified cell wall. Such cells have a spindle-like shape with pointed tips. The additional thick cell wall layer in those fiber-like cells is composed of sublayers with structural evidence for different cellulose microfibril orientation, and with specific polymer composition that includes (1 → 4)-β-galactans. Thus, the basic cellular characters of the cells that provide mechanical support in vascular plant taxa (elongated cell shape, location at the periphery of a primary organ, the thickened cell wall and its peculiar composition and structure) also exist in mosses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescent fiber is widely used for anti-counterfeiting purposes due to its unique security features and ease of identification worldwide. In this study, polychromatic fluorescent fiber using bleached softwood fiber (F) combined with AgInZnS quantum dots (AIZS QDs) was successfully prepared through a one-step hydrothermal method. The photoluminescence (PL) of AIZS@F could be adjusted from green to red by varying the molar ratio of Ag+/Zn2+/S2−/In3+. Increasing the molar ratio of Ag+/In3+ led to a redshift in peak emission wavelength, increasing Zn2+/In3+ or S2−/In3+ resulted in a blueshift in PL wavelength. Furthermore, AIZS QDs were synthesized both on the surface and inside of the fluorescent fiber, and the mild hydrothermal condition did not cause significant damage to the structure of the fiber. Additionally, due to the inherent microporous structure of natural plant fiber, AIZS QDs could still be steadily loaded into the fiber after intense mechanical stirring. AIZS@F exhibited excellent fluorescent performance although the total loading amount was merely 0.457%. This stable, polychromatic, hydrophilic and degradable fluorescent fiber has great potential for anti-counterfeiting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cationic cellulose nanofibrils demonstrate outstanding properties and have garnered extensive attention as sustainable materials. However, the large-scale preparation of cationic cellulose nanofibrils was limited since the high crystallinity of plant fibers made them harder to disintegrate and nanofibrillate. In this study, cationic cellulose nanofibrils, HKCF, were produced from softwood bleached kraft pulp (SWBK) with 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (EPTAC) by disk milling, followed by high-pressure homogenization. Morphologies and structures of cationic fibers (KCF and CCF) and homogenized products were characterized. The influence of cationization combined with high mechanical shear on the degree of substitution (DS) of cationic fibers was studied. At the same molar ratios of EPTAC to anhydroglucose units and holding time, the DS of KCF was higher than that of CCF. Compared with simple mixing induced by conventional stirring, the high mechanical shear induced by disk milling could increase the cationic efficiency of EPTAC by at least 50%. After high-pressure homogenization, KCF was completely fibrillated to HKCF with nano-scaled dimensions. HKCF dispersion showed a Bingham flow behavior and viscosity-dominating fluid-like behavior. Our study provides a facile and effective industrialized approach for producing highly substituted cationic cellulose nanofibrils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epoxy resin, 15.0 wt.% of 5.0 wt.% N-[3-(Trimethoxysilyl) propyl]-ethylene diamine treated plant fibers (banana or coir fiber with length of 5–15 mm) and triethylene tetramine (TETA) mixed in (0.1 wt.%, 0.3 wt.% and 0.5 wt.% individual concentration) of graphite nanoplatelets (GnP) were stirred separately to form GnP filled epoxy-silanated banana fiber (ESBF) and GnP filled epoxy-silanated coir fiber (ESCF) nanocomposites, respectively. Hand layup method was used to pour these nanocomposites on the mold followed by curing for 24 h at room temperature and post-curing for 8 h at 50 °C. Not only the amino group of silane creates bonding of epoxy resin with plant fibers but also the amino group of TETA makes good interaction of GnP with the epoxy resin responsible for enriched mechanical properties. The highest tensile strength of 93 MPa, flexural strength of 318 MPa and impact strength of 224 J/m were recorded for 0.5 wt. % GnP filled ESCF nanocomposite as compared to 87 MPa, 222 MPa and 192 J/m for 0.5 wt.% GnP filled ESBF nanocomposite. The greater improvement in ESCF nanocomposites was due to lower cellulose content, higher lignin content and higher % fiber volume fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant fibers have enormous potential for enhancing concrete's impact resistance due to their exceptional toughness and ductility. Nevertheless, theoretical studies on the impact properties of plant fiber-reinforced concrete (PFRC) are still relatively few. Thus, it is crucial to investigate from a theoretical standpoint how plant fibers affect concrete's impact properties. Based on the modified Griffith fracture theory, this study established the relationship between plant fiber type and strain hysteresis factor. In order to simulate the damage process of PFRC, a micro-spring system was used. Based on this, a dynamic constitutive model considering the influence of plant fibers was proposed by combining the methods of damage mechanics and fracture theory. Parameter fitting and inverse analysis were used to validate the accuracy of the proposed model. Additionally, the mechanical behavior of four types of PFRC (Jute, Flax, Ramie and Sisal Fiber Concrete) under impact loading was simulated by the finite element method (FEM) using the proposed model. The results show that the predictions of the proposed model maintain a good of fit R2 more than 0.98 with the experimental results. The parameter fitting and inversion results also show that the proposed model has a good prediction. Simulation results show that sisal fiber-reinforced concrete exhibited the best performance among the four types of PFRC under identical loading conditions, offering more significant advantages for engineering applications. Theoretical and simulation studies on the impact properties of PFRC were conducted in this paper, and the findings are believed to provide a valuable methodological basis for the engineering application of using less expensive plant fibers to enhance concrete impact properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large amounts of solid wastes are produced in manufacturing of leather and leather products. Nearly 80–85% of solid wastes is generated in leather production whereas 20–30% of leather is ended up as wastes from leather goods and footwear industries which poses significant concern regarding environmental pollution. An attempt was made to produce environmentally friendly bio-composite materials with higher mechanical characteristics by utilizing solid wastes released from leather industries. In this study, leather fibers (LF) from shaving dust and leather cutting scrap were used with plant fibers such as banana (Musa acuminata), pineapple (Ananas comosus), betel nut (Areca catechu), and moringa (Moringa oleifera) for making composite sheets reinforced with natural rubber latex (NRL). New composite materials were characterized by using thermogravimetric (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques which confirmed the presence of desired physical and chemical properties in them. FTIR analysis showed characteristics absorption resonances at 3287, 2919, and 2855 cm−1 which were not apparent in starting single fibers. TGA data indicated that banana fiber (BF) composite is thermally more stable than others. The tensile strengths of pineapple fiber (PF) composite and BF sheet were 3.89 and 3.59 Mpa, respectively, which were higher than those observed in control sheet (CS). New composite sheets possess significant properties which make them suitable to be used as valuable raw materials for manufacturing of various footwear and leather goods. This interesting approach will reduce environmental pollution and ensure the sustainability of the respective ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in oil spill incidents has led to a surge in environmental and ecological issues, making it crucial to create efficient oil-cleaning materials. Green approaches to address various aquatic pollution nowadays is the most important subject of environmental remediation. Among the available options, aerogel material stands out due to its low density, high porosity, and exceptional surface area, making it a remarkable choice for oil–water separation. Nonetheless, the usage of aerogels is limited by their low strength and flexibility, which hinder their application. In this study, strong alginate aerogel fibers reinforced with cotton have been synthesized with 88% porosity, 123 nm average pore size, and 0.24 g cm−3 density using a wet spinning technique followed by freeze-drying for the separation of oil/water mixtures. The morphology, chemical, and microstructural characterization of the prepared alginate aerogel fibers were performed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. These characterization results demonstrated the three-dimensional porous, rough structure of aerogel fibers and cotton fibers are successfully incorporated into the aerogel fiber structure. Single fiber strength tester indicated that the addition of cotton increased the strength from 2 to 16 cN of aerogel fibers but decreased the elongation. The prepared alginate aerogel fibers showed good oleophobicity underwater and excellent oil/water separation efficiency (up to 99.4%). Therefore, synthesized aerogel fiber with ease of fabrication and excellent separation of oil/water mixture is a promising candidate for commercial applications in water filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural and dimensional properties of paper fibers formed by combined grinding of a composite of coniferous, deciduous, and bamboo (Bambusa blumeana) fibers growing in Vietnam were studied. The composite consisted of commercial sulfated unbleached coniferous (Kappa number 21) and deciduous pulp fibers (Kappa number 16) and bamboo pulp fibers produced by a sulfate method under laboratory conditions (Kappa number 17.1). The structural and dimensional properties of the pulp composite ground to 40 ºSR in a Jokro mill were measured on an automated L&W Fiber Tester. Samples of each intermediate were studied individually. Composites of a blend of coniferous and deciduous unbleached pulp in a 50:50 ratio with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% doses of bamboo pulp were investigated. The properties of fibers of different sizes and strengths of the cellulose wall varied differently under the action of hydromechanical loads with grinding to the same degree. Initial differences in the fractional composition by fiber length and width led to deviations from the additivity rule during studies of the properties of fiber blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile industry is an important sector which contributor to the GDP of countries worldwide. Both natural and synthetic fibers are the main raw materials for this sector. Environmental concerns, depletion of non-renewable resources, the high price of oil and limited oil reserves with consumer demand is driving research into cheap, biodegradable, sustainable, renewable, and abundantly available green materials. Ethiopia can nurture a diversity of naturally fiber-forming plants. One of the most common plants that is currently grown commercially and could be of interest for handcrafting, packaging and traditional equipment is Cyperus Dichrostachus A. Rich. This study emphases on evaluating and determining the best extraction methods to process and treat Cyperus Dichrostachus A. Rich plant to make the fiber suitable for variety of applications. Cyperus Dichrostachus A. Rich plant was treated with two conditions (normal and warm conditions) using statistically planned tests and was found that the optimal process with extraction parameters of 1.7% NaOH concentration, 6:1 MLR value, 45 °C for 90 min was obtained to a maximal yield of 59.6% fiber having an optimized tensile strength of 247.68 cN/Tex. So this experimental study was performed extract the CDA plant fiber with optimized extraction process parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing energy consumption and minimizing environmental impacts have been significant factors in expanding the applicability of plant fiber-reinforced composites across a variety of industries. Plant fibers have major advantages over synthetic fibers, including biodegradability, light weight, low cost, non-abrasiveness, and acceptable mechanical properties. However, the inherent plant fiber properties, such as varying fiber quality, low mechanical properties, moisture content, poor impact strengths, a lack of integration with hydrophobic polymer matrices, and a natural tendency to agglomerate, have posed challenges to the development and application of plant fiber composites. Emphasis is being placed on overcoming this limitation to improve the performance of plant fiber composites and their applications. This study reviews plant fiber-reinforced composites, focusing on strategies and breakthroughs for improving plant fiber composite performance, such as fiber modification, fabrication, properties, biopolymers, and their composites with industrial applications like automotive, construction, ballistic, textiles, and others. Furthermore, Pearson rank correlation coefficients were used in this review to assess the relationship between the chemical composition of plant fibers with their physical and mechanical properties. If researchers study the behavior of plant fibers using correlation coefficients, it will be easier to combine plant fibers with a polymer matrix to develop a new sustainable material. Through this review study, researchers will learn more about the strategic value of these materials and how well they work in different real-world situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture sorption and diffusion processes of plant fiber materials have a significant impact on their properties and product quality in healthcare, food production, cigarette processing, textile field, and papermaking industry. The infiltration process affects the rate of water sorption and processing of flavoring liquids, and exploring its mechanisms can optimize the production process. Here, multi-scale imaging approach was employed to identify the heterogeneous structure of plant leaves and the impact of multilevel fiber structure and pore channels on water adsorption. The dissipative changes and mechanisms of water adsorption, osmotic diffusion, and hygroscopic swelling in plant leaves were illustrated. Furthermore, the effects of temperature and water activity on water diffusion under different environmental conditions are determined through a comparison of adsorption equilibrium and diffusion electrochemical impedance analysis (EIS), with a focus on the water-blocking effect of the waxy layer interface. This work investigated the correlation between the impedance change in water transport and the natural layered water-blocking polymer film structure and multi-level pore structure. This study sheds new light on biological multi-scale fiber materials and these findings are important reference value for manufacturing processes to improve the moisturizing properties of functional plant fibers in the field of food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion-exchange fiber has been widely used as a conventional adsorbent for water purification, but its base material, the petroleum, does not comply with the current trend of environmental protection. The synthesis of functional materials from natural resources attracts intensive interest. Cotton lint fiber is a natural cellulose based hollow fiber, which has a unique advantage in ion-exchange process. Herein, for the first time, a cationic design for the cotton lint fiber was carried out in a simple two-step strategy. The cellulose based anion-exchange fiber (CAF) showed well-preserved fibrous macrostructure and cellulose nanofibril structure. And the ideal cationic group content (133.26 mmol·100 g−1) of it indicates the successful combination of structural and functional properties, which are the responsible for its excellent adsorption efficiency that includes the high adsorption capacity (above 1300 mg g−1), rapid adsorption rate (90% of its equilibrium uptake within 6 min at the initial concentration of 300 mg L−1), perfect solid/liquid separation property, and good recyclability (> 95%) for congo red. Additionally, the adsorption mechanism can be attributed to the synergistic effect of electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals force, which was explained by the employment of classical adsorption models and advanced double layer statistical physical model. The results show that this functionalized biomaterial is an ideal candidate to replace the conventional anion-exchange fiber. This work not only revolutionizes the application of natural plant fiber, but also provides a cost-effective and simple strategy for the utilization of cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the degradation mechanisms and mechanical properties of alkali-modified bamboo fiber composites under long-term water aging (up to 120 days) at 25 °C. The main findings show that alkali-treatment reduces the equilibrium moisture content of composites to 12.01 ± 0.04% after a treatment duration of 48 h. At dry conditions, the tensile strength and modulus of composites reach their maximum values of 290 ± 11.2 MPa and 11.5 ± 0.61 GPa for a soaking time of 4 h, then, gradually drop to smaller values, respectively. Beyond 120 aging-days, the tensile strength of 4, 24 and 48 h-modified fiber composites considerably decreases by 66.32 ± 0.33%, 60.99 ± 0.26% and 81.68 ± 0.41%, respectively. Similarly, their Young's modulus falls by 39.72 ± 0.25%, 49.04 ± 0.19% and 41.71 ± 0.37%, respectively. As confirmed by SEM, this significant drop is attributed to the severe microstructural damage of fibers and matrix which is a result of the prominent differential swelling between the internal cell wall layers. However, the findings attractively reveal a slight decline of about 18.15 ± 0.34% and 15.79 ± 0.33% in the tensile strength of raw and 0.5-h-modified fiber composites after 120 aging-days, respectively. Likewise, their Young's modulus decreases by 18.55 ± 0.4% and 14.47 ± 0.28%, respectively. This good aging resistance of the raw and 0.5-h-modified fiber composites suggests that the matrix plasticization, physical expansion of fibers as well as hydrolysis reaction are the main aging mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Enzymatic catalysis in different industrial applications is often preferred over chemical methods due to various advantages, such as higher specificity, greater efficiency, and less environmental footprint. Pectinases are a group of enzymes that catalyze the degradation of pectic compounds, the key components of plant middle lamella and the primary cell wall. Pectinases have found applications in multiple industrial processes, including cotton bioscouring, fruit juice extraction and its clarification, plant fiber degumming, paper making, plant biomass liquefaction, and saccharification, among others. The purpose of this study was to taxonomically characterize a bacterial species exhibiting pectinolytic activities and assess its pectinolytic activity qualitatively and quantitatively, as well as test its bioscouring potential. Results Here, we report that Burkholderia cepacia, a previously unknown species with pectinolytic activity, exerts such activity comparable to commercially used pectinase enzymes in the textile industry, but requires less temperature for activity. Conclusion Quantitative evaluation of enzyme activity indicates the potential of the bacterial species for use in the bioscouring of cotton knit fabric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rather than landfilling or incineration, value exists in textile wastes that should be recovered. Cotton is a major component of apparel and other textile materials that could find new value by extracting it from textile waste in the form of cotton fiber fragments (CFFs). To explore this potential, CFF properties were analyzed and compared after producing them from model undyed and fiber reactive dyed textile waste fabrics by mechanical milling or enzymatic degradation. Characterization methods included scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, fiber quality analysis, degree of polymerization (DP), X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Enzyme-treated undyed CFFs exhibited distinct properties of flattened fiber fragment dimensions, a more uniform fiber length distribution compared to other CFFs, a DP comparable to solvent-spun regenerated cellulose fibers from cotton, the highest crystallinity of all CFFs tested, greater hydrophobicity than milled cotton reference material, and better thermal stability than milled reference cotton. The effects of mono-functional and bi-functional reactive dyes on enzyme degradation behavior and final product characteristics were also evaluated and discussed. Both dyed and undyed CFFs show good potential for being utilized in diverse applications. This analysis of the properties of partially degraded cotton fibers provides a necessary technical foundation for promoting CFF recycling for use in applications such as composites and regenerated fibers, and provides insights on the mechanism by which cotton disintegrates in the presence of enzymes to potentially inspire new strategies for dyeing cotton that takes a designed for recycling perspective into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has always been an interest in the professional communities of libraries, archives and conservation science to find ways of estimating the rate of degradation of paper under archival conservation conditions. Previously we reported a number of considerations for developing a kinetic degradation model based on Whatman no.1 paper. In the present research, this model was extended to 10 different papers and validated. Various physical and chemical properties of acidic, neutral, and alkaline papers were measured, such as the degree of polymerization (DP), tensile strength, equilibrium moisture content, and pH, as well as alkaline fillers content when applicable. The activation energy (Ea) based on DP of cellulose and zero-span tensile strength were determined. Ea and pH had the most significant influence on the simulated decay of paper. Papers with a high Ea (> 120 kJ mol−1), alkaline such as those containing at least 2% CaCO3, and acidic—but good printing quality papers made of bleached chemical pulp– were found the most durable in ambient conditions. Papers with a lower Ea (< 110 kJ mol−1) such as lignocellulosic papers containing significant amount of mechanical pulp were much less stable over time. Whatman filter papers, used as models of pure cellulosic papers, were found to have low Ea despite the good quality cotton fibers. A generic isoperm equation based on Ea was developed to predict the changes in the state of papers under various climatic conditions, and was applicable independently of the pH of the paper. The model developed allows a better quantification of the deterioration rate of printing papers such as those that are currently, and will be in the future, found in our archival collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of the new crown epidemic has deepened people's awareness of the importance of antibacterial and antiviral materials. It is imperative to develop applicable and economical antibacterial materials. In this work, we have proposed a facile method to prepare plant fibers with prominent antibacterial and antiviral performance. In the proposed strategy, the fiber design and in situ assembly of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were applied to improve the antibacterial and antiviral performance of plant fibers. Mechanical refining split the fibers and made them conformable; in this instance, polydopamine (PDA) was precipitated onto the fiber surface by the oxidative polymerization of dopamine and linked closely with cellulose hydroxyl groups, while AgNPs were in situ grown on the PDA coatings; PDA acted as a bonder to link fibers and AgNPs together. Benefiting from the high AgNP loadings and strong bond between AgNPs and fibers, the fibers showed excellent antibacterial and antiviral performance. This study provides a novel route for improving the antibacterial performance of plant fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actin dynamics is pivotal in controlling cotton fiber elongation and the onset of secondary wall biosynthesis. We report that overexpression of GhACTIN1 under fiber fiber-specific promoter, GhSCFP, improves cotton fiber length, strength, and micronaire value. However, the effect of transgene has a more positive effect on fiber strength and micronaire value than fiber length. F-actin quantification and cellulose contents measurement in transgenic developing cotton fiber during the elongation phase showed an increase of up to 8.7% and 4.7% respectively. Additionally, physiological factors such as water use efficiency showed no significant change in transgenic cotton lines, while stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate were significantly increased. Moreover, agronomical data determined that lint percentage (GOT) and seed cotton yield also increased up to 4.6% and 29.5% respectively, in transgenic cotton lines compared to the control lines. Our data demonstrate that the GhACTIN1 gene is a strong candidate gene for cotton fiber and yield improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibers have recently attracted a significant interest from researchers and industry due to their environmental friendliness, availability and other unique characteristics including high tensile strength and exceptional durability. Plant fibers such as jute, flax, hemp, coir, sisal and bamboo are among natural fibers that have been intensively studied. However, the technical characteristics of the Sansevieria Ehrenbergii (SE) fiber, which is among the most abundant natural fibers found in tropical regions such as Tanzania, have not been widely studied and the full potential of this fiber has yet to be realized. As a result, the plant is mainly used as a source of antibacterial materials and natural bandages and for making conventional fiber products such as ropes. It is also common to see SE plants in gardens as decorative items. However, a detailed research into the physical, mechanical and structural properties of this fiber could lead to value-added applications that would economically benefit both the producers and the producing countries. This paper reports on the general overview, extraction processes, properties and applications of SE fibers based on review of literature. The fiber's current challenges and future prospects have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of cellulosic fibers is becoming increasingly widespread worldwide as promising raw material in polymer composite reinforcement. However, and despite the multiple advantages of cellulosic fibers like the lower density, cheap cost and biodegradability, their use is limited due to hydrophilic character which reduces their affinity with hydrophobic matrices. A natural fiber treatment, whether chemical or physical, is advised to address this issue. The purpose of this study is to characterize the Ampelodesmos mauritanicus plant (AM) fibers extracted by the chemical method (2% NaOH for 48 h) and treated (chemically and physically). We carried out acetylation, mercerization and microwaves modification of the AM plant fibers to reduce their hydrophilic character. The influence of chemical and physical treatments on the structure and morphology of AM plant fibers was characterized by analytical techniques as per International Standard. X-ray diffraction confirmed that the AM fibers have a good crystallinity index (52.4%). Microwave physical treatment at 550 W increased their density from 1.00 to 1.55 g/cm3, their Young's modulus and tensile strength from 11.0 to 18.6 GPa and from 155 to 290 MPa, respectively, giving the highest values. It is followed by chemical treatments: first with acetic anhydride (C4H6O3) for 4 h and then with 3% NaOH also for 4 h. It should be observed that the data have a very considerable dispersion that calls for statistical analysis (method of Weibull with two and three parameters was utilized). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial hemp plant Cannabis sativa is a source of vegetable fiber for both textiles and biocomposite applications. After harvesting, the plant stems are laid out on the ground and colonized by microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) naturally present in the soil and on the stems. By producing hydrolytic enzymes that degrade the plant wall polymers, the natural cement that binds the fiber bundles together is removed, thus facilitating their dissociation (retting process) which is required for producing high-performant fibers. To investigate temporal dynamics of retting microbial communities (density levels, diversity, and structure), a reliable protocol for extracting genomic DNA from stems is mandatory. However, very little attention has been paid to the methodological aspects of nucleic acid extraction, although they are crucial for the significance of the final result. Three protocols were selected and tested: a commercial kit (FastDNA™ Spin Kit for soil), the Gns-GII procedure, and a custom procedure from the Genosol platform. A comparative analysis was carried out on soil and two different varieties of hemp stem. The efficiency of each method was measured by evaluating both the quantity and quality of the extracted DNA and the abundance and taxonomy of bacterial and fungal populations. The Genosol protocol provides interesting yields in terms of quantity and quality of genomic DNA compared to the other two protocols. However, no major difference was observed in microbial diversity between the two extraction procedures (FastDNA™ SPIN Kit and Genosol protocol). Based on these results, the FastDNA™ SPIN kit or the Genosol procedure seems to be suitable for studying bacterial and fungal communities of the retting process. It should be noted that this work has demonstrated the importance of evaluating biases associated with DNA recovery from hemp stems. Key points: • Metagenomic DNA was successfully extracted from hemp stem samples using three different protocols. • Further evaluation was performed in terms of DNA yield and purity, abundance level, and microbial community structure. • This work exhibited the crucial importance of DNA recovery bias evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a source of natural plant fiber, cattail leaves have the advantages of a wide range of resources, being renewable and recyclable. In this work, cattail fibers were isolated from cattail leaves using chemical degumming process with NaOH and urea combined aqueous solution. The influence of alkali and urea concentration on fiber properties was investigated and the optimal process was obtained. SEM images indicated the surface of the obtained cattail fibers was relatively smooth though with some vertical lines and the cross-section was oval shape. The weight loss rate, fiber diameter, moisture regain and water contact angle of the obtained fibers decreased as the alkali concentration or urea concentration increased due to the partial removal of non-cellulose. Infrared spectra analysis demonstrated the cellulosic characteristic absorption peaks of the cattail fibers. The results showed that when the NaOH concentration was 15 g/L and the urea concentration was 5 g/L, the weight loss rate was 74.1%, and the strength of the obtained fiber was 59.9 cN, the fiber fineness was 43.4 um and the crystallinity index of the cattail fiber was 66.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hot stamping process of quenchable steel tubes using a mandrel reinforced with eco-friendly fibers was developed to produce ultra-high strength steel hollow parts having enhanced lightweighting and crashworthiness. High internal pressure was generated to improve the die quenchability and shape accuracy of the formed parts by the fiber reinforcement. Wood sawdust, shredded copy paper, and plant fiber made of recycled toilet paper were chosen as the fibers, and not only the strength was evaluated from a uniaxial compression test but also the melting behavior of the mandrel was examined. The influence of the fiber reinforcement on the shape accuracy and die quenchability of hot-stamped parts was investigated. The generated internal pressure with the fiber-reinforced ice mandrel was higher than that with the pure ice mandrel without the reinforcement, and thus, the shape accuracy and die quenchability of hot-stamped parts were significantly improved even for a comparatively small change in internal volume of tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant protein-based adhesives are considered to be the most potential substitutes for petroleum-based adhesives in the wood panel industry, however, the poor water resistance and unsatisfactory mechanical performance limit their large-scale application. Moreover, the development of multifunctional plant protein-based adhesives with high strength, mildew proof, and flame-retardant remains a challenge. Plant fibers have been widely used as the reinforcing phase of polymers, but the smooth surface makes them easy to pull out of the matrix, which greatly reduced the strengthening effect. Herein, the phenylboronic acid-tethered hierarchical rough kenaf fibers were constructed to strengthen soy meal (SM) adhesives while imparting multifunction. The hierarchical rough structures and reactive groups on the surface of kenaf fibers made them form stronger mechanical interlocking and chemical crosslinking with SM matrix, coupled with the entanglement and interpenetration of the fibers with a high aspect ratio, which together endowed the SM adhesive with outstanding water-resistant bonding strength. The wet shear strength of the plywood prepared by the resultant SM adhesive increased by 391.7% to 1.18 MPa, which was far higher than the standard of 0.7 MPa for type II plywood (GB/T 9846-2015) in Chinese standards. Benefiting from the phenylboronic acid component, the resultant SM adhesive exhibited excellent mildew-proof and flame-retardant properties. This biomimetic design of kenaf fibers provides a facile and efficient strategy to develop high-performance and multifunctional bio-adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lost circulation occurs frequently during drilling, increasing drilling costs in minor cases and leading to the scrapping of wells in major cases, and plugging leakage has been the focus of related research. An efficient leakage plugging material formulation is an essential tool to cope with this problem. In this paper, a technical solution is proposed to predict a plugging material formulation based on experimental data combined with neural network technology. First, experiments were conducted using rigid mineral particles (classified into four levels) and plugging agent composite plant fibers (classified into four levels) for drilling to obtain sufficient plugging material formulation data and perform the necessary data preprocessing. Then, the basic back propagation neural network prediction model was established, which showed a qualified prediction ability with a prediction error rate of 16.89%, but it was still far from the expected effect. On this basis, the base model was optimized using a genetic algorithm and a biogeography-based optimization algorithm; the prediction error rates were 9.05% and 5.91%, respectively, and the performance of the prediction model was significantly improved. In addition, when the prediction results were unsatisfactory, the prediction results could be improved by 19.8–26.9% using network integration as an auxiliary means. Finally, three important challenges in predicting plugging material formulations using experimental data are summarized. Overall, this study shows that neural networks are a practical solution for predicting drilling plugging material formulations and have great research value and potential in dealing with plugging problems and that rapid access to effective drilling plugging measures can help people deal with lost circulation events quickly and reduce losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise is the principal physical hazard in many workplaces that affects work efficiency and human health; consequently, reducing noise by utilization sound adsorbent is a major method for controlling noise. Synthetic materials such as fiberglass and rock wool are utilized as sound absorbers in developing countries are harmful to the environment and health. Thus, this has motivated the initiative to develop natural fibers and their reinforced composites as candidates to replace the synthetic materials utilization theoretical study and life cycle assessment (LCA). In addition to lightweight and low CO 2 emission advantages, the natural vegetable fibers are non-toxic and recyclable. The characterization of these green composites will develop for utilization in engineering applications. Nowadays, their sound absorption properties have been extensively studied and are applied in many components for airplanes and cars. This research aimed to study the sound absorption properties of tea waste fibers and their reinforced composites. It was observed that adding 5 wt% nanoclay in samples improved the sound absorption coefficients (SAC), especially at lower frequencies. A 60% increase in tea waste had a special role in absorbing sound waves at a frequency of 1000 Hz and a frequency range of 2500 to 6300 Hz. The Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM) images showed that the different sound absorption properties of nanocomposites were due to the high porosity of tea waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of seed and seedlings is an important factor for the success of restoration programs; an inadequate origin can have negative impacts on genetic and adaptive processes. A technique that allows authenticating the origin is infrared spectroscopy, a fast, accurate and low-cost tool. In Patagonia one species that required restoration programs, consequently, propagules traceability is Araucaria araucana. Phylogeographic studies showed significant differences between Chilean Andean and Coastal populations. The goal of this study was to discriminate the phylogeographic origin of A. araucana seedlings using spectroscopic and chemometric methods. Seedlings of both phylogeographic origins were cultivated in common garden and spectral information in four spectral ranges was recorded. Principal component analysis and soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) were applied. All the spectral ranges analyzed were able to discriminate phylogeographic origin, whose predictive models achieved a classification accuracy of 88–91%. The best models were SIMCA VIS–NIR and SIMCA FTIR. Wavelengths responsible for discrimination were associated with photosynthetic pigments, proteins and plant fibers. Andean seedlings have a higher content of Chlb, xanthophylls and plant fibers and the most important bands for the Coastal provenance are related to Chla and protein contents. It is shown that differences reported at the genetic level between both origins are expressed at the chemical level. In conclusion, infrared spectra obtained from Araucaria araucana, treated with chemometric methods, allow capturing the phylogeographic signal that separates Coastal and Andean origins. In the future, the resulting models could be used in restoration programs for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides an understanding of biopolymers and its classes that is applicable for antimicrobial activity. Biocompatibility and bioactivity of biopolymers made from natural sources are unparalleled. Ethnopharmacologists, botanists, microbiologists, and natural-products chemists all look to plants for the phytochemicals and leads utilized in the treatment of infectious diseases. This review also discusses about antimicrobial peptides that penetrate microbes by destroying the membrane. Antimicrobial resistance has risen to the position of the world's third largest cause of mortality. Bio-composites from biopolymers and reinforced with natural fibers and plant active components has indicated improved antimicrobial capabilities. Biodegradable nanocomposite films have enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Green nanoparticles produced via the process of biosynthesis using plant extracts pose a lower risk to the surrounding environment. Nanomaterials provide several benefits, including a high surface-area-to-volume ratio and better potential to interact with the membranes and cell walls of pathogens. They are exceedingly small, which also makes them advantageous. Metal oxide nanoparticles have antibacterial properties, and researchers have investigated how that relates to mechanism of photogenerated reactive oxygen species. This review focuses on the correlation can link the reactive oxygen generating capabilities of nanoparticle to their antibacterial activity, even though specific nanoparticles possess antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant fibers are one of the most promising calcium silicate board (CSB) reinforcement materials because of their many sources, suitable sizes, high tensile strengths, and natural renewable properties. In this study, an applicable plant fiber selection method for reinforcing CSBs was established. The morphology, components, and mechanical properties of different brands of plant fibers were analyzed for factor screening. Based on the wet processes of CSBs, the effects of plant fiber additions on the mechanical properties of CSBs were studied, and the optimum addition amount of plant fiber was determined to be 8 wt.%. Through multiple linear regression analysis of the physical and chemical properties of plant fibers and the mechanical properties of CSBs, a plant fiber strengthening index (Fsi) and toughening index (Fti) of CSBs were formulated as a plant fiber applicability index. The fitted R2 values of the plant fiber strengthening index and toughening index were 0.88 and 0.71, respectively, showing good correlation. The validity of the plant fiber applicability index in evaluating the fiber reinforcement potential was verified by experiments. The results provided a significant method for the prediction of plant fibers' reinforcement potential and the selection of plant fibers for CSB reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the mounting environmental consciousness, natural fibers in composite materials have become inevitable, especially for lightweight semi-structural applications which includes the door panels, side body structures, stressed shell structure and hood components in automotive and aerospace industry. This study represents the properties of raw and NaOH treated novel cellulosic Abelmoschus ficulneus weed plant fibers. The extracted fibers were characterized by physicochemical analysis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and Differential scanning calorimetry, single fiber tensile test, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The physicochemical analysis found that the extracted fiber possessed higher cellulose content (80.86%). The extracted fiber was also chemically modified by NaOH treatment, which enhanced the tensile and thermal properties. The peak load at which the fiber failure occurred improved from 2.87 N for the untreated fiber to 3.57 N for the treated fiber while the modulus improved from128 MPa to 159 MPa for the untreated and treated fiber. Further, the inflection degradation increased from 349 °C to 352 °C. Hence, with better functional properties, the novel Abelmoschus ficulneus weed fibers can be a potential reinforcement material for the composites used in semi-structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-cost and underutilized plant fibers can affect the mechanical behavior of cementitious materials such as cemented tailings backfill (CTB). This paper attempts to explore the mechanical properties and damage evolution characteristics of rice straw fiber (RFS)-reinforced CTB (RSFCTB) from the perspective of energy. A series of mechanical and microscopic tests were carried out on CTB and RSFCTB samples. On this basis, the energy evolution law and of the filling body under different stress paths were analyzed. Meanwhile, a damage variable based on dissipation energy was established, and the damage evolution process of the filling body was discussed. The results show that uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of filling body first grew and then dropped with the enhancement of RSF content, and indirect tensile strength (ITS) was positively correlated with RSF content. Scanning electron microscope showed that RSF was encapsulated by hydration products, which promoted the bridging effect of RSF. The bridging effect of RSF improved the integrity of RSFCTB after compression failure and resulted in bending and asymmetric tensile cracks after tensile failure. The energy storage limit and dissipation energy of the filling body under different stress paths were enhanced due to the incorporation of RSF. The damage curve based on dissipation energy showed three stages of slow, steady, and fast damage under compressive loading. The damage curve of RSFCTB was located below CTB depending on the crack arresting effect of RSF. Moreover, the damage curve under tensile load shows three stages: slow, stable damage, and sudden increase in damage. The damage value of RSFCTB at the mutation point was increased, and the ability of RSFCTB to resist tensile damage was enhanced. The energy evolution and acoustic emission parameters were combined, and their development trends were similar, which proved that it was reasonable to characterize the damage of filling body based on the dissipated energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibers obtained from curauá, a species of small ornamental pineapples, are known for their good mechanical properties and benefits, such as ballistic resistance, in composites. To obtain a quantity of curauá suitable for commercial application, in vitro cultivation of the plant is tested. In this work, we produced curauá plants via tissue culture (micropropagation technique) and extracted the fibers. The fibers grown in vitro were characterized to determine moisture, ash, extracts, lignin, hemicelluloses, holocellulose, and cellulose contents; and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR–ATR), X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and mechanical testing and analysis were performed. Compared with data on curauá fibers grown traditionally––i.e., cultivated outside of a laboratory setting––this curauá fiber presented a higher content of cellulose (77.2%) and lower hemicellulose content (6.8%). Another unique feature was the high crystallinity of the cellulose present in the fiber (73.53%), which reflected good thermal and mechanical properties. This study indicates that the micropropagation technique is highly advantageous for higher-scale production of this fiber for application in composites, as it generates high-quality fibers grown in a controlled plant growth environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemp seed bran (HB) is an industrial food byproduct that is generally discarded. Knowledge on the functional capabilities of HB is limited and it is not known the impact of HB on human colon microbiota, where vegetable fibers are metabolized. In this work, we investigated in depth the prebiotic potential of HB and HB protein extract hydrolyzed by alcalase (HBPA) in comparison to fructooligosaccharides (FOS) after human distal colonic fermentation using MICODE (multi-unit in vitro colon gut model). During the 24 h of fermentation, metabolomics (SPME GC/MS) and microbiomics (MiSeq and qPCR) analyses were performed. The results indicated that HBPA on a colonic fermentation had a higher prebiotic index than HB (p < 0.05), and slightly lower to that of FOS (p > 0.05). This feature was described and explained as HBPA colonic fermentation produces beneficial organic fatty acids (e.g. Pentanoic and Hexanoic acids); reduces detrimental phenol derivates (e.g. p-Cresol); produces bioactives VOCs (e.g. Acetophenone or 4-Terpineol); increases beneficial bacteria (e.g. 1.76 fold and 2.07 fold more of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bacteroides fragilis, respectively) and limits opportunistic bacteria (e.g. 3.04 fold and 2.07 fold less of Bilophila wadsworthia and Desulfovibrio, respectively). Our study evidenced the prebiotic role of HB and HBPA, and within the principles of OneHealth it valorizes a byproduct from the queen plant of sustainable crops as a food supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the perception of the consumer's environment and the toxicity of synthetic dyes that is harmful to humans, interest in natural dyes is also increasing in the textile dyeing industry. This study performed an alternative to metal mordants and used cellulose nanoparticles (CNP) as a natural mortant for dyeing cotton fabrics with natural dyes extracted from Euphorbia. The characteristics with and without CNP mordant were investigated in the experiment. The effects of natural cellulosic mordants were analyzed through color, fastness, color, fastness, air permeability, antibacterial rate, UV protection, and total hand value (THV). As a result, the light fastness has been shown to significantly increase, but the improvements in terms of the wash, perspiration, and rubbing fastness were negligible. In addition, when CNP was added to cotton dyeing, there was no difference change in air permeability, but THV was significantly improved to 5 or more, and the UV protection and bacteria reduction rate were excellent. These results are attributed to the groundwork for studies on other types of natural dyes in the future and, by establishing the benefits of CNP, this study significantly contributes to the improvement of the end-products of dyeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural rather than artificial materials is of considerable interest in sustainable geotechnics. This review study focused on soil reinforcement with plant fibers and explored the behavior and performance of plant fiber-reinforced soil by random distribution as an effective method for soil improvement. The behavior of fiber-soil composites is essentially governed by the mechanical characteristics of synthetic fibers, but plant fibers have intrinsically distinct properties from synthetic ones. Biochemical and mechanical features of natural fibers determine the behavior of soil-fiber composites. Still, the biochemical and physical properties of fibers have received minimal consideration in geotechnical research involving natural georeinforcement materials. Thus, a thorough examination of the use of natural fibers for soil reinforcement was conducted in this study, and the impacts of the qualities of plant fibers on their performance in the soil were examined. The mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced soil was then investigated by analyzing laboratory, numerical, and case studies. The behavior of fibers in cohesive and granular soils was subsequently explored. The results demonstrated the significant effect of mechanical characteristics such as Young’s modulus and tensile strength, as well as biochemical constituents (cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose) on the performance and interaction of fibers in the soil. The findings also revealed that plant fibers greatly enhance mechanical parameters such as shear, compressive, and tensile strength. Recommendations are made for soil reinforcement with plant fibers and the selection of appropriate types and amounts of fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) occasionally need to restrict their consumption of vegetables and fruits. However, recent evidence suggests that plant-based diets have beneficial effects in patients with CKD. We aimed to determine the sufficiency of β carotene and dietary fiber intake in patients with CKD. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 4476 patients registered in the Fukuoka Kidney Disease Registry (FKR) study, a Japanese prospective cohort study of patients with CKD. Data from 3545 patients were analyzed after excluding cases with insufficient information. We evaluated the relationship between CKD stages and the intake of vegetables and fruits. The intake of β carotene and dietary fiber in CKD stages was evaluated using analysis of covariance. As the CKD stage advanced, the intake of vegetables, green leafy vegetables, and fruits significantly decreased (P-value for all trends < 0.01). The intake of vegetables significantly decreased as the CKD stage advanced (P for trend < 0.01). After adjusting for confounding factors, the intake of β carotene and dietary fiber also decreased (both P < 0.01) as the CKD stage advanced. Patients with CKD had insufficient vegetable and fruit intake and a lack of β carotene and dietary fiber from vegetables and fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the world requires more sustainable and eco-friendly materials to replace or limit the usage of synthetic materials. Moreover, several researchers focused their attention on the use of agricultural sources as reinforcement for biocomposites since they are abundant, cost-effective and environmentally favorable sources. In such a context, purpose of the present paper is the evaluation of lemongrass plant (Cymbopogon flexuosus) as possible source of natural reinforcement for biocomposites. To this aim, natural fibers were obtained from the leaf and the stem of lemongrass and their main properties were compared for the first time. To this scope, mechanical and thermal characterizations, chemical investigation, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analysis were carried out. The experimental campaign showed that, despite having similar chemical composition (i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents equal to 44–45%, 28–29% and 17%, respectively), leaf fibers possess higher mechanical properties (i.e., + 55% and + 76% in the tensile strength and modulus, respectively) than stem ones. This result can be ascribed to different factors such as larger amount of absorbed water (i.e., + 4%) and ash content (+ 2%) shown by stem fibers in addition to a more compact structure evidenced by leaf fibers which also present higher density (i.e., 1.139 g/cm3 versus 1.019 g/cm3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unbleached wood fibers and nanofibers are environmentally friendly bio-based candidates for material production, in particular, as reinforcements in polymer matrix biocomposites due to their low density and potential as carbon sink during the materials production phase. However, producing high reinforcement content biocomposites with degradable or chemically recyclable matrices is troublesome. Here, we address this issue with a new concept for facile and scalable in-situ polymerization of polyester matrices based on functionally balanced oligomers in pre-formed lignocellulosic networks. The idea enabled us to create high reinforcement biocomposites with well-dispersed mechanically undamaged fibers or nanocellulose. These degradable biocomposites have much higher mechanical properties than analogs in the literature. Reinforcement geometry (fibers at 30 µm or fibrils at 10–1000 nm diameter) influenced the polymerization and degradation of the polyester matrix. Overall, this work opens up new pathways toward environmentally benign materials in the context of a circular bioeconomy. Cellulose biocomposites from nanocellulose or plant fibers with polymer matrix are often not degradable and suffer from insufficient mechanical properties to replace established materials. Here, the authors demonstrate the fabrication of hydrolytically degradable polymers through in-situ polymerization of new functionally balanced oligomers within high-content lignocellulose reinforcement networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline cellobiohydrolases have the potential for application in various industries, including pulp processing and laundry where operation under high pH conditions is preferred. In this study, variants of CtCel6A cellobiohydrolase from Chaetomium thermophilum were generated by structural-based protein engineering with the rationale of increasing catalytic activity and alkaline stability. The variants included removal of the carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) and substitution of residues 173 and 200. The CBM-deleted enzyme with Y200F mutation predicted to mediate conformational change at the N-terminal loop demonstrated increased alkaline stability at 60 °C, pH 8.0 for 24 h up to 2.25-fold compared with the wild-type enzyme. Another CBM-deleted enzyme with L173E mutation predicted to induce a new hydrogen bond in the substrate-binding cleft showed enhanced hydrolysis yield of pretreated sugarcane trash up to 4.65-fold greater than that of the wild-type enzyme at the pH 8.0. The variant enzymes could thus be developed for applications on cellulose hydrolysis and plant fiber modification operated under alkaline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural plant fibers and biopolymers are a very important alternative to replace the inorganic fibers most used in the mechanical reinforcement of composite materials (carbon, glass, ...) and synthetic polymers (Epoxy, PEEK, ...), and at the same time they have a very low environmental impact and a very reasonable price. In this article, we have studied, by a numerical simulation based on genetic approach, the fiber-matrix interface damage of composite materials made up from the PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) matrix and the carbon, glass, jute, and hemp reinforcements with the same volume fraction equal to 30% for each fiber chosen. Our results showed that the damage at the fiber-matrix interface of the biocomposite hemp/PHA is the lowest compared with the other biocomposite materials glass/PHA, jute/PHA, and carbon/PHA. This finding is similar to that found by Antoine Le Duigou et al. and Bodros et al., where they have shown experimentally that the natural reinforcements greatly improve the properties of composite materials and also they have a very low environmental impact. To our knowledge, no published research reports on the study of fiber-matrix interface damage of biocomposite materials based on PHAs and carbon, glass, jute, and hemp fibers for potential textile applications, packaging, and other interesting areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]