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New asphalt mixtures have been improved by using fibers (polypropylene, polyester, asbestos, carbon, glass, nylon, lignin, coconut, sisal, recycled rubber, PET, wood, bamboo, and cellulose), reducing the temperature and compaction energy for their collocation, minimizing the impact on the environment, increasing the tenacity and resistance to cracking of hot mix asphalt (HMA), preventing asphalt drainage in a Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA). Hence, this paper aims to evaluate the influence of the chemical (lignin content, ash, viscosity, degree of polymerization, and elemental analysis), morphological (SEM), spectroscopic (FTIR-ATR and XRD), and calorimetric (ATG and DSC) properties of celluloses from bagasse Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul (ABP), corrugated paperboard (CPB) and commercial cellulose fiber (CC) as Schellenberg drainage (D) inhibitors of the SMA. The ABP was obtained through a chemical process by alkaline cooking, while CPB by a mechanical refining process. The chemical, morphological, spectroscopic, and calorimetric properties were similar among the analyzed celluloses, but CPB and ABP cellulose are excellent alternatives to CC cellulose for inhibiting drainage. However, CPB is the most effective at low concentrations. This is attributed to its morphology, which includes roughness, waviness, filament length, orientation, and diameter, as well as its lignin content and crystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood products used in outdoor applications can be degraded by xylophage organisms. For this reason, such products require treatments based on biocides in order to delay their service life. This brings troubles of its own due to the inherent toxicity of these treatments towards humans and the environment. Therefore, it is imperative to find less-toxic natural preservatives. In this context, this work deals with the evaluation of the fungitoxic effect of raw extracts obtained from three types of agroindustrial waste materials: bark of Quercus laeta spp., the cob of Zea mays, and the leaves of Agave tequilana Weber Blue variety. Extracts were incorporated into the test wood Alnus acuminata (Aile wood) via a full-cell process. Bark extracts provided excellent protection against the attack of Trametes versicolor (L. ex. Fr.) Pilát, improving the decay resistance of Aile wood from being nonresistant to resistant. Also, bark extracts from Q. laeta showed less leaching than the other extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Terra Latinoamericana is the property of Sociedad Mexicana de la Ciencia del Suelo A.C. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Chapingo Serie Horticultura is the property of Universidad Autonoma Chapingo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Natural lignocellulosic biomass is a valuable feedstock for soluble-grade cellulose (α-cellulose > 90%) with advantageous features such as abundance, high strength, rigid structure, low weight, and it is biodegradable. The bagasse from Agave tequilana Weber var. azul is the main agroindustrial waste from the tequila industry and poses an environmental threat. However, due to its high cellulose content, Agave tequilana bagasse is an excellent candidate for the extraction and utilization of its components. In this study, alkaline cooking, followed by five stages of bleaching, was employed to obtain soluble-grade cellulose pulp. The obtained soda pulp material had a Kappa number (KN) of 23 ± 3, viscosity (μ) of 11.53 to 10.18 cp, degree of polymerization (DP) of 830 to 750, brightness of 87.5%, and percentage of alpha-cellulose (α) of 81 ± 3 at 94 ± 3%. The obtained material was characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to compare its properties with published information. The waste of A. tequilana Weber var. azul produced pulp with a high percentage of alpha cellulose and a high crystallinity degree. This methodology is novel and simple for the production of soluble-grade cellulose pulp, a raw material for the production of cellulose nanocrystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Mexican state of Jalisco, a significant amount of fibrous agave waste is generated from the tequila industry every year. The objective of this study was to establish the potential of obtaining cellulose nanofibers (CNF) from the bagasse waste of Agave tequilana, and then incorporate them into a linear medium density polyethylene matrix to obtain nanocomposites through the thermocompression process. These nanoparticles were used to prepare nanocomposites of the selected matrix, incorporating 1 to 5 wt% of CNF. All of the prepared composites had a low water absorption. Increases in tensile strength and in modulus and flexural properties occurred when the concentration of the CNF was augmented. However, in the case of nanocomposites with 5 wt%, a decrease in elongation was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]