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In order to explore the effect of chemical treatment on adventitious bud formation of P. koraiensis top pruned seedlings, 5-year-old P. koraiensis bare root seedlings were used as experimental materials. After top pruning at the beginning of the growing season, different chemicals were sprayed every 15 days (GA3 (200, 500, 1 000 mg/L), 6-BA (100, 300, 500 mg/L), KMnO4 (0. 1%, 0. 2%, 0. 3%)). Using spray water treatment as a control, the formation of adventitious buds of P. koraiensis seedlings treated with different chemicals was investigated. The results showed that the chemical treatment (except 1 000 mg/L GA3 and 0. 1% KMnO4) increased the incidence of adventitious buds of P. Koraiensis top pruned seedlings. Compared with the control, the sprouting rate increased by 5. 72% to 48. 58%, and the number of sprouting strip increased by 15. 37% to 175. 94%. The suitable concentration of GA3 to promote P. koraiensis top pruned seedlings was 200 mg/L, which can increase the sprouting rate by 34. 28%, and the number of sprouting strip by 33. 63%. The suitable concentration of 6-BA to promote P. koraiensis truncated seedlings was 500 mg/L, which can increase the sprouting rate by 48. 58%, and the number of sprouting strip by 175. 94%. The suitable concentration of KMnO4 to promote P. koraiensis top pruned seedlings was 0. 2%, which can increase the sprouting rate by 42. 85%, and the number of sprouting strip by 95. 18%. The better effect of promoting adventitious bud formation can be obtained by using 500mg/L 6-BA to treat P. koraiensis top pruned seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the mechanical and thermal properties of composite made of chitosan and careya arborea bast fiber (CA) that was chemically treated in alkaline solution. Six different types of composite samples were created by changing the proportions of CA fiber during the hand lay-up procedure. According to ASTM standards, tensile, flexural, compression, and impact tests were carried out. After the tensile test was conducted, the fractured surface was examined by a scanning electron microscope. It was observed that the composites with treated CA fiber show improved mechanical properties as compared with untreated CA fiber as reinforcement. Further, it was noticed that the mechanical properties increase with increase in CA fiber loading till optimum (20 wt%) and thereafter declines. The mechanical properties obtained at 20 wt% fiber loading was found to be 58.95 MPa tensile strength, 48.29 MPa of flexural strength, and 27.89 kJ/m2 impact strength. Analysis methods included X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Overall, the findings demonstrate that chemically treated CA fiber reinforcement in chitosan matrix enhances the properties of fabricated composite materials. In comparison to other fabricated composites, it was discovered that composites with a 20 wt% fiber content exhibit improved static, dynamic, and thermal properties and can be useful for packaging industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation, recovery, and regeneration of low-cost bioadsorbents are recognized as a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment. In this study, low-cost byproducts from Carpobrutus edulis plant were used as bioadsorbents for industrial dyes, Rhodamine B, and Congo Red from aqueous solutions. The adsorbents were obtained after chemical treatment of the plant by HCl (HMCE) and NaOH solutions (NMCE) and characterized by SS, SEM, EDX, FT-IR, pHZ, COD, and BOD5. The effect of adsorbent doses, contact time, solution pH, initial concentration, ionic strength, and temperature parameters, on adsorption efficiency, was studied. The results show that more than 70% of the organic matter (COD and BOD5) released into the aqueous solution by the biomaterial was reduced after chemical treatment. The kinetic data revealed that the adsorption of two dyes onto the bioadsorbents follows the pseudo-second-order model, and the equilibrium data correlated well with the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacities of RB and CR onto HMCE were 90.9 and 27.3 mg/g, while onto NMCE; it was 103.1 and 31.15 mg/g, respectively. The thermodynamic study indicates that, for both dyes, the adsorption process onto bioadsorbents was endothermic and spontaneous. The biomaterial could be used up to five adsorption–desorption cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the influence of successive treatments on the fiber surface (NaOH, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic anhydride). The palm petiole fibers were incorporated as reinforcement in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) composites with a loading of 15 wt% and evaluated for mechanical, morphological, and dynamic mechanical properties. The effect of treatments on fiber surfaces has been confirmed using FTIR. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the enhanced interfacial adhesion between the fibers and the matrix makes treated composites more rigid and homogeneous, which means that the fibers are distributed uniformly. The tensile modulus and flexural strength were all enhanced by adding 15% of untreated palm petiole fibers recorded at 598 MPa and 15.56 MPa, respectively, while the tensile strength was decreased. Palm-petiole fiber composites' storage modulus increased, and the acetylated-alkali fiber (FNA) reinforced LLDPE composite showed the highest storage modulus. Loss modulus increased when palm petiole fibers were strengthened. The Tan delta of composites made from palm petiole fibers was low initially but expanded with fiber addition. We concluded that successive treatments improve the performance of the palm petiole fiber residue and have the potential to create a new type of sustainable and eco-friendly material for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcrystalline cellulose, which is widely used in a variety of industries, including those in the food, pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic, and polymer composites sectors, is becoming increasingly valuable as a result of the rising need for fossil-fuel alternatives. These eco-friendly particles are capable of being utilized as filler materials in polymer composite development also. The present study deals with the extraction of cellulose particles from the Millettia pinnata plant through series of chemical treatments and their characterization. Alkaline and chemical treatment are used to remove the microcrystalline cellulose particles. The isolated microcrystalline cellulose powder is pure white color, and its physicochemical characteristics and surface morphology were further examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Ultra violet visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, Scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy analysis respectively. The isolated microcrystalline cellulose has a band gap energy of 4.21 eV, crystallinity index of 87.3%, and dislocation density estimated at 0.0019. Up to 530 °C, the resultant microcrystalline cellulose particle is thermally stable; however, as the temperature rises, the microcrystalline cellulose particles become less stable. Further, the results show that derived microcrystalline cellulose particles have a better band gap and may be employed in the food packaging industry. Additionally, these types of waste plant weeds can be transformed into functional microcrystalline cellulose particles and used as filler materials in the creation of polymer matrix composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the application potential of the untreated/treated woven/non-woven coir geotextile on unpaved roads. For this, untreated/treated coir geotextiles were positioned at the interface under the unsoaked/soaked condition, and laboratory cyclic load tests were done in a test tank for the sand layer overlying the clay layer. The results of the study showed that models reinforced with untreated/treated woven coir geotextiles are better than the models with untreated/treated non-woven coir geotextiles. Furthermore, in comparison to the soaked condition, models reinforced with untreated/treated woven and non-woven coir geotextiles show better improvement in plastic deformation in the unsoaked condition. When placed at the interface of the sand layer overlying clay, untreated/treated woven/non-woven coir geotextiles can reduce plastic deformation in unpaved roads, especially in situations where the rut depth is high, as the improvement in plastic deformation was realised up to larger deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater from the food industry is considered harmful to human health and aquatic life, as well as polluting water and soil. This research is centered around finding an affordable and easy physicochemical method for dealing with waste generated by the food industry. To accomplish this goal, a new bio-based flocculant called 4-benzyl-4-(2-oleamidoethylamino-2-oxoethyl) morpholin-4-ium chloride was created using sustainable sources, specifically crude olive pomace oil. Its chemical structure was confirmed using various spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, 1H-NMR, mass spectra, and 13C-NMR. This new bio-based cationic flocculant was combined with alum to act as a coagulant in the waste treatment process. Also, a study was conducted to determine the optimal conditions for the coagulation-flocculation process parameters, namely, pH and alum dosage, on COD and removal efficiency. The results showed that the optimal conditions for flocculation were achieved at pH 5.8, with 680 mg/L alum and 10 mg/L of commercial flocculant dose compared to only 5 mg/L of a new bio-based cationic flocculant. A comparison was made between the new bio-cationic flocculant and a commercial CTAB one for treating wastewater in the food industry. The study found that the new bio-based cationic flocculant was more effective in reducing the chemical oxygen demand, achieving a reduction of 61.3% compared to 54.6% for using a commercial cationic flocculant. Furthermore, using a new bio-based cationic flocculant costs only 0.49 $/g, which is less than the present cationic flocculant, which costs 0.93 $/g. The adoption of this new flocculant provides a sustainable alternative to existing industrial wastewater treatment processes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibers derived from plants were gaining favor as a viable alternative to synthetic materials. However, searching for sustainable raw materials with superior qualities is cumbersome because most natural fibers are limited to specific geographical areas. Himalayacalamus falconeri (HF) is a fast-growing plant that is abundant in the hills of Uttarakhand, India. This study is aimed at extracting fibers from the stem of Himalayacalamus falconeri (HF) culms, and investigate their properties by XRD analysis, TGA analysis, AFM analysis, and single-fiber tensile test. The extracted HF fiber was alkali-treated to enhance its mechanical properties. It was observed that the alkali treatment on HF fibers increased the cellulose content by 6%, and density by 4% compared with untreated fiber. Furthermore, the removal of amorphous components from the fiber surface resulted in a decrease in diameter from 103.95 to 94.4 μm. In addition, the alkali treatment on HF fiber enhanced the material's crystallinity index (from 58.92 to 67.79%), tensile strength (from 132 to 196.5 MPa), thermal stability (from 250 to 258 °C), and surface roughness (from 23.478 to 37 nm). The experimental findings confirmed that HF fiber is a suitable replacement material for synthetic reinforcement materials in lightweight polymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current trend is the ecological consciousness of replacing synthetic fibers with natural fiber. However, several restrictions exist on using natural fibers/fillers, including compatibility, hydrophobicity, and locality. The natural material chosen for the present investigation, Acacia nilotica, is short and cylindrical; the same has been used as reinforcement after being chemically treated with silane and grinded into fillers in the present study. Grinded silane-treated A. nilotica fillers were added in a range of 0, 2, 4, and 6 weight percent to the epoxy matrix. Conventional hand layup was used to manufacture composite materials using epoxy resin and hardener. The manufactured composite's tribological properties were evaluated according to ASTM G99-17 using the pin-on-disk machine under two-body abrasive wear conditions. L-16 orthogonal arrays were used to conduct the research. Load, sliding distance, and material were the process input parameters, and the results were evaluated using the Specific Wear Rate (SWR) and Coefficient of Friction (COF). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the significant variables. EDAS was used to optimize the output. The abraded surfaces were finally studied using worn surface morphology. According to the findings, silane-treated A. nilotica filler is a new and promising resource as a sustainable raw material for reinforcement in polymer composites manufacturing lightweight materials. Results revealed that the optimized values were 6 wt%, load at 20 N, and sliding distance of 225 m. SWR values decreased by 61.2%, and COF values decreased by 34.3% in the case of 6 wt% composites compared to the unreinforced fiber composites. The rank of the sample was assigned according to performance by the EDAS process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is an agricultural country producing plenty of fruits, like: mango, banana, apple, peaches, grapes, plums, variety of citrus fruits including lemon, grapefruit, and oranges. So far the peels of most of the fruits are usually wasted and not properly utilized anywhere. In this work, the peels of banana and grapefruit are converted into biochar by slow pyrolysis under controlled supply of air and used for sequestering cyanide ions from aqueous medium after chemical modification with ZnCl2 and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The modified biochar was characterized by various instrumental techniques, like: SEM, FTIR, TGA, and CHNS. Different parameters, like: time, temperature, pH, and dose of adsorbent affecting the adsorption of cyanide ions, onto prepared biochar were optimized and to understand the adsorption phenomenon, kinetic and thermodynamic studies were performed. Concentration of cyanide ions was estimated by employing standard ion selective electrode system and it is found that Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate treated biochar of banana peels shown more adsorption capacity, i.e.,: 17.080 mg/g as compared to all samples. Present work revealed that the biochar produced from the fruit waste has sufficient potential to eliminate trace quantities of cyanide from water, especially after treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate. An industrial area in Asian and African countries where mining is done using traditional techniques is the major cause of cyanide toxicity in wastewater streams. So, here chemically fabricated biochar made by peels of banana and grape fruit is employed for removal of cyanide ion for controlling aquatic pollution using local resources in green way. Favorable results indicated the feasibility of this process, which is cost effective, convenient, ecofriendly, and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical treatments are used to remove hydrophilic OH groups and surface particles from the fiber surface for increasing aspect ratio of fibers and subsequently, mechanical properties. In this paper, the effect of two eco‐friendly chemical treatments on morphology, chemical structure, and thermal stability of Agave Americana fibers (AAFs) is investigated. The first chemical treatment of AAF is based on citric acid (C6H8O7) to substitute OH groups contained in AAF by ester groups, while the second one involves sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to remove the lignin and hemicellulose components with the aim to promote good fiber‐matrix adhesion. Attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR) data shows that both treatments are efficient to remove hemicelluloses and a part of lignin contained in AAF resulting in a rough and clean fiber surface. Thermal stability of AAF has clearly increased by NaHCO3 treatment compared to untreated one, unlike C6H8O7, which reduces this property. The study highlights the possibility of substituting conventional polluting chemical treatments with environmentally friendly ones to modify the surface of plant fibers for polymer composites reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The walnut shell is an agro-waste that could be used as nanocellulose source. In the literature, different methods were used to isolate nanocrystals and depending on the method used, spherical or rod like nanocrystals were obtained. The novelty of the current study is the characterization of the crystallinity index, the thermal stability, and the chemical composition, in addition to the geometrical features, of rod like nanocrystals isolated from the walnut shell of "Juglans regia". The AFM images corroborated that rod like nanocrystals can be isolated using the procedures proposed in the current study. Furthermore, when alkali solution pretreatments were used and the subsequent acid hydrolysis, the isolated CNC showed lower amount of non-cellulosic compounds, and superior L/D and crystallinity index values than CNC isolated directly from walnut shells by acid hydrolysis. The aspect ratio and thermal stability of nanocrystals isolated in the current work are higher than the reported in the literature for other nanocrystals isolated from walnut shells. Finally, the properties of isolated nanocrystals were compared with a commercial cellulose nanocrystal and other nanocrystals reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus roxburghii needles are plentiful in the Himalayas and may be processed into a natural fibre. In this research, polylactic acid composites were made, including both untreated and treated Pinus roxburghii fibres as reinforcing materials. The Pinus roxburghii fibres were produced by subjecting the Pinus roxburghii needle to an alkali treatment with a 5% sodium hydroxide solution in water, and the Pinus roxburghii fibres were obtained by a water retting extraction method. Pinus roxburghii fibre–polylactic acid composites were made using a compression moulding process. Composites were fabricated utilizing treated and untreated Pinus roxburghii fibre with fibre loadings of 20%, 30%, and 40% by weight. Subsequently, the investigators examined the alterations in the tensile, flexural, impact, and morphological properties with sodium hydroxide treatment. As expected, alkaline treatment considerably boosted the compatibility between Pinus roxburghii fibre and polylactic acid, leading to improvements in the morphological, hardness, and mechanical characteristics of Pinus roxburghii fibre composites. In addition, when 30 wt.% of treated fibres were used, the mechanical characteristics improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the highest cellulose purity based on variations in NaOH concentration and to characterize nanocellulose fiber from corn cob waste. Nanocellulose fiber was obtained using chemical-mechanical treatments. Chemical treatment consists of pretreatment, de-lignification, and bleaching stages. While mechanical treatment consists of stirrer and ultrasonication methods, The results showed that the highest cellulose purity was 75.32% using 60% NaOH. In addition, FTIR test results showed that lignin and hemicellulose compounds were successfully removed during chemical treatment, and functional groups from the typical structure of cellulose, which are OH, C-H, and C-O-C groups, with their respective wavenumbers, did not show significant changes during mechanical treatment. Nanocellulose fibers have been successfully formed. It was evident from the morphology of the fibers, which had an average diameter of 120.57±14.05 nm. Additionally, the nanocellulose fiber has excellent colloidal stability with a potential zeta value of -72.5 mV. Based on these results, biopolymer nanocellulose fiber has been successfully obtained from corn cob waste through chemical-mechanical treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denture fractures are a common problem in dental practice, and their repair is considered a first option to restore their functional properties. However, the inter-material resistance may become compromised. Typically, the bond between these materials weakens. Therefore, various surface treatment methods may be considered to enhance their mechanical properties. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) heat-polymerized resin (HPR) was used as the repaired material, cold-polymerized material (CPR) for the repairs, and different variants of alumina abrasive blasting (AB), methyl methacrylate (M), ethyl acetate (EA), methylene chloride (CH), and isopropyl alcohol (IA) treatments were applied. Finally, combined surface treatments were chosen and analyzed. Surface morphologies after treatments were observed by scanning electron microscopy and the flexural, shear, and impact strengths were tested. AB and chemical treatment with CH, M, and EA was used to improve all mechanical properties, and further improvement of the properties could be achieved by combining both types of treatments. Varied changes in surface morphologies were observed. Treatment with IA yielded less favorable results due to the low impact strength. The best results were achieved for the combination of AB and CH, but during the application of CH it was necessary to strictly control the exposure time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological treatment with a stable activated sludge process, followed by chemical treatment is one of the potential and accepted cyanide remediation processes for coke plant wastewater treatment. Biologically treated coke plant wastewater contains free cyanide above permissible limit. Presently, chemical treatment with NaOCl is being used to attenuate free cyanide below permissible limit in biologically treated water. This process increases the TDS and colour content in discharge water. Ca(OCl)2 can be used as an alternative to NaOCl for cyanide remediation in biologically treated coke plant wastewater without increasing TDS. In the present work, cyanide removal efficiency of NaOCl and Ca(OCl)2 for real coke plant wastewater after biological treatment has been studied. Optimisation of chemical dosage, treatment time and pH study has been done for Ca(OCl)2 and NaOCl treatment. It was found that up to 90% of free cyanide removal could be achieved through Ca(OCl)2 treatment without increasing the TDS value. In addition, more than 50% colour of the wastewater was removed. pH elevation step required in NaOCl treatment can be eliminated in Ca(OCl)2 treatment, thereby reducing caustic consumption. The study indicated that the use of Ca(OCl)2 is economically more viable than that of NaOCl in cyanide treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for cellulose fibers is increasing due to their eco-friendly nature. Natural fibers have special qualities that make them excellent for a wide range of fibrous applications, including composites, nanomaterials, biomaterials, textiles, and conductive carbon, which are the main causes of the increased demand. This study uses sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to chemically treat sugarcane bagasse fibers. The highest tensile strength, 532.12 MPa, was found in the fibers treated with both NaOCl and NaOH. Hemicellulose, lignin, and other contaminants were removed through chemical processing, according to a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study. According to the SEM pictures, the NaOCl and NaOH-treated fibers' surfaces improved in cleanliness and roughness. The NaOCl and NaOH treatments showed promise for creating nanocellulose from bagasse fibers and for strengthening composites.

Abstract Wastewater from the food industry is considered harmful to human health and aquatic life, as well as polluting water and soil. This research is centered around finding an affordable and easy physicochemical method for dealing with waste generated by the food industry. To accomplish this goal, a new bio-based flocculant called 4-benzyl-4-(2-oleamidoethylamino-2-oxoethyl) morpholin-4-ium chloride was created using sustainable sources, specifically crude olive pomace oil. Its chemical structure was confirmed using various spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, 1H-NMR, mass spectra, and 13C-NMR. This new bio-based cationic flocculant was combined with alum to act as a coagulant in the waste treatment process. Also, a study was conducted to determine the optimal conditions for the coagulation-flocculation process parameters, namely, pH and alum dosage, on COD and removal efficiency. The results showed that the optimal conditions for flocculation were achieved at pH 5.8, with 680 mg/L alum and 10 mg/L of commercial flocculant dose compared to only 5 mg/L of a new bio-based cationic flocculant. A comparison was made between the new bio-cationic flocculant and a commercial CTAB one for treating wastewater in the food industry. The study found that the new bio-based cationic flocculant was more effective in reducing the chemical oxygen demand, achieving a reduction of 61.3% compared to 54.6% for using a commercial cationic flocculant. Furthermore, using a new bio-based cationic flocculant costs only 0.49 $/g, which is less than the present cationic flocculant, which costs 0.93 $/g. The adoption of this new flocculant provides a sustainable alternative to existing industrial wastewater treatment processes

• An effective recovery of antioxidants was obtained from breweŕs spent grain. • A comparison among chemical, enzymatic and hydrothermal hydrolysis was conducted. • The highest ferulic acid yield was 7.2 g FA/kg BSG for the hydrothermal treatment. • Alkaline hydrolysis showed the lowest operating costs: €34.5/kg FA at 100 kgBSG/m3. Brewers' spent grain (BSG) is the main byproduct from the brewing industry, which accounts for 85 % of the total waste generated during beer production. This lignocellulosic material is traditionally used as livestock feed and sold at a low price. However, BSG can be used as a low-cost feedstock for the production of bioactive molecules and chemicals precursors, upgrading the value of this byproduct. In this context, BSG is a promising feedstock for the extraction of antioxidants like ferulic acid (FA) and p-coumaric acid (p -Cu). The effectiveness of three hydrolysis treatments were evaluated for the extraction of FA and p -Cu from BSG, namely enzymatic (based on the synergistic cooperation between a feruloyl esterase and an endo -1,4-β-xylanase), alkaline and hydrothermal. The hydrothermal treatment produced the highest extraction yields (7.2 g/kgBSG and 1.4 g/kgBSG for FA and p -Cu, respectively) in a short extraction time (an hour). On the other hand, enzymatic hydrolysis extracted 4.3 g/kgBSG for FA and negligible yields for p -Cu in 4 h of incubation at 25 °C. Yields of 5.5 g/kgBSG for FA and 0.6 g/kgBSG for p -Cu were obtained in more than 5 h of alkaline treatment at 120 °C. The mass and energy balances revealed the high dependence of the operating costs on the concentration of BSG used during the extraction process, with costs of 34.5 €, 6607 € and 205.5 € per kg of FA for the chemical, enzymatic and hydrothermal extraction methods at 100 kg BSG/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The fat production industry is one of the key and fast-growing components of the food sector of Uzbekistan, and therefore, it is relevant to analyse the economic part of its crucial elements. The purpose of this study was to examine the hydrogenation process from the standpoint of production cost features and pricing issues. The methods employed in the study were descriptive, systematisation, and dialectical. The study showed that the production and utilisation of targeted edible fats play a vital role in the food industry by achieving certain characteristics of other products. However, a hydrogenation procedure is often used to make the fats more efficient. The study described its essence in greater detail and evaluated the economic feasibility of the hydrogenation process. The significance of choosing the correct reactor and catalysts to maximise yield was highlighted, as well as the influence of some other characteristics on it. The study also addressed the disadvantages of the fat hydrogenation process, which has a negative impact on public health. Therefore, activities aimed at mitigating negative impacts in this industry should be carried out more actively. Furthermore, attention has also been paid to assessing the state of the edible fats market in Uzbekistan: the rapid growth rate of the industry has been noted due to the increasing revenues of enterprises engaged in the production of these products. The obtained findings can be applied by enterprises to change the principles of hydrogenation process, as well as by the state authorities to formulate a long-term policy for the development of the industry

The present research used detailed experimental data to examine the structural behavior of concrete beams incorporating recycled fine aggregates, both treated and untreated.This paper also reveals that microstructural analysis of both treated and untreated recycled fine aggregates. The hydrochloric acid was used for treatment of recycled fine aggregates. Two groups of beam specimens prepared were controlling specimnes and testing specimens. Totally five beam specimens were prepared out of which one control beam with natural fine aggregates, four testing beams with untreated recycled fine aggregates and three beams with treated recycled fine aggregates. The varying molarity of HCL acted as the parameter for examining the structural behavior of the RCFA beams under flexure. The flexural strength of untreated RCFA beams was marginally impacted by the RCFA content, whereas the crack pattern of treated RCFA beams was comparable to that of NCFA beams. Untreated RCFA beams had greater fracture width. Nonetheless, the RCFA concentration had no discernible effect on the beam's ductility. The flexural strength of the RCFA concrete beams was conservatively projected by the present provisions, according to a comparison of the testing data and the calculations from the IS codes, ACI 318, and EC2 regulations for the flexural.

Abstract In glass industry, the evolved gases and fumes from burning the gas fuel absorbed in calcium hydroxide to minimize the pollution of environment. After a period of time, the calcium hydroxide fouled with sulphate and carbonate as action of the absorbed SO3 and CO2 gases. Based on our interest to treatment the solid waste materials, this study intended to convert the obtained waste of calcium hydroxide fouled with gases to valuable products. Firstly, this waste was treated with water, caustic soda and acids. The results confirmed the conversion of waste to pure calcium sulfate by treatment with 6 v/v% sulfuric acid. Secondly, the obtained calcium sulfate was reacted with ammonium dihydrogen phosphate solution for preparation of calcium hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles. The produced HAp sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and N2 adsorption measurements. The obtained findings confirmed that the HAp can be produced after calcination at 700 °C, nanorods-like of sizes ranged from 11 to 15 nm and with main surface functional groups of hydroxyapatite. TGA and DTA data indicated that HAp is thermally stable up to 700 °C. Also, the obtained HAp has Ca/P molar ratio of 1.60 and exhibited high total surface area of 146 m2/g with mesoporous structure which make this material can be used in medical and water purification applications.

Abstract Background The structure of flexible or rigid pavement built on expansive subgrade soil that has a volumetric change is vulnerable to many problems that might cause failure. Pavement and construction became more durable and economical by enhancing the quality of subgrade expansive soil. Solid waste recycling has become very popular recently as a means of attaining sustainable waste management, so using lime kiln dust (LKD), which is a by-product of quick lime production, to treat expansive soil in pavement subgrades. This research describes the effect of LKD on the chemical composition, strength, and swelling of high and low-plastic clay that were extracted from two sites. The minimum LKD required for treating expansive soils was determined by using the Eades and Grim pH test. From tests, it was found that the addition of LKD increased the shrinkage limit by a range (250–500)% and decreased the plasticity and swelling potential by between (50 and 100)% of expansive subgrade soils. The strength according to CBR, increased approximately by 150% for CL soil and 800% for CH soil. Results The optimal percentage of LKD for CH soil is 6%, and for CL soil, it is 2%. The plastic limit increased by 50% for CH soil at 6% LKD. On the other hand, CL soil became non-plastic at 4% LKD. With an increase in the percentage of LKD, it led an the increase in the shrinkage limit by 500% in CH soil and 250% in CL soil. The free swell decreased by 50% in CH soil and 100% in CL soil. The swelling pressure decreased by 50% for two expansive soils. CBR increased by 800% in CH soil and by 150% in CL soil. Conclusion This work found that the addition of LKD improves the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of expansive subgrade soil.

Abstract The plant genome exhibits a significant amount of transcriptional activity, with most of the resulting transcripts lacking protein-coding potential. Non-coding RNAs play a pivotal role in the development and regulatory processes in plants. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which exceed 200 nucleotides, may play a significant role in enhancing plant resilience to various abiotic stresses, such as excessive heat, drought, cold, and salinity. In addition, the exogenous application of chemicals, such as abscisic acid and salicylic acid, can augment plant defense responses against abiotic stress. While how lncRNAs play a role in abiotic stress tolerance is relatively well-studied in model plants, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of this function in horticultural crop plants. It also delves into the potential role of lncRNAs in chemical priming of plants in order to acquire abiotic stress tolerance, although many limitations exist in proving lncRNA functionality under such conditions.

Abstract This work investigates the combined use of waste glass aggregates (GA) and glass powder (GP) in cementitious mortars. For this reason, the optimized incorporation of GA by natural aggregates (NA) replacements was first studied after applying a surface roughening method with hydrofluoric acid. The compressive strength results were utilized to select the best mixture with GA. Then, different GP contents were added by cements substitutions to the optimized GA-based mortar. A control mortar without GA and GP amounts was also casted as a reference for comparison. The detailed mechanical, physical and durability properties of the resulted mixtures with combined GA and GP were assessed by considering the compressive and flexural strengths, ultra-sonic pulse velocity, alkali-silica reaction (ASR), rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT), magnesium sulphate attack and sulfuric acid resistance. The microstructure of different optimized (GA + GP)-combinations was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)in order to analyse the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between glass materials and the surrounding matrix. The results showed that the optimized composition with 75% GA and 25% GP was shown with high compacity and durability characteristics due to the increased GA/matrix ITZ and the formation of C–(N,K)–S–H products with C–S–H.

Due to their high tensile strength and toughness, natural fibers have been proposed as reinforcing material in mortars to reduce cracking. Coir fiber has excellent potential for reuse in cementitious matrices among the various fiber types. However, this material is hydrophilic and has a high extractive content, including wax, oils, and other components in the structure. Different chemical treatments are used to remove contaminants from the fiber surface of the coir to minimize the presence of these elements. This study evaluated chemically treated coir fibers in mortars based on cement and lime. The effects of two levels of coir addition (1% and 2% relative to cement mass) treated with oxalic acid at a concentration of 5% w/w for 2 h and sodium bicarbonate at 10% w/w for 120 h were evaluated. The effect of these variables on compressive and tensile strength, capillary water absorption, accelerated carbonation, and microstructure analysis using X-ray microtomography and scanning electron microscopy were investigated. The results showed that with the addition of 2% coir treated with oxalic acid, mortars increased compressive strength by 8% and 22% in the tensile strength. Moreover, it was found that the treatment minimizes the carbonation rate in mortars with coir fibers, whose pore size distribution is also affected by the presence of the fibers and the treatment type. It can be concluded that the fiber's chemical treatment improves its properties for use in mortars, considering a synergistic analysis, and can be used as an alternative for composite material production.

This study assesses the impact of alkaline treatments and volume fractions on biocomposites composed of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix reinforced with date palm tree fibers (FPDS). Tensile tests were conducted on both untreated and NaOH-treated biocomposites. Additionally, fiber analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results reveal higher strength and stiffness compared to HDPE, albeit with limited plasticity making the material brittle. The NaOH treatment enhances certain mechanical properties. Further assessments encompassed hardness, density, melt index, and Izod impact tests. Two volume fractions, 20% and 25%, of FPDS were tested. The study establishes a correlation between empirical predictions and artificial neural network (ANN) models. Notably, an ANN architecture consisting of two input factors, 10 hidden nodes, and one output provides the analysis of mechanical properties. This investigation highlights the potential of FPDS-reinforced HDPE biocomposites, emphasizing their mechanical performance under various treatments and fiber levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, is a highly invasive aquatic mollusc that has become one of the most ecologically and economically harmful invasive species in aquatic ecosystems in Europe, North America, and South America. Due to the impacts of climate change, Asian clams are shifting their range farther north and are inhabiting waterbodies that were once too cold to survive. Chemical treatment has been found to be the most economical and effective management strategy for controlling invasive mollusc populations and preventing their further spread. However, chemical treatments must maximize Asian clam mortality while minimizing the impacts on water quality and non-target species. Although there are numerous treatments on the market, they are not widely applied in the field. A comprehensive review of Asian clam molluscicides was performed to evaluate the efficacy of currently available chemical treatments and the toxicity ranges of emerging treatments. The results of this review will aid resource managers in invasive Asian clam control and management. The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea is a native aquatic species in Eastern Asia and Africa but has become one of the ecologically and economically harmful invasive species in aquatic ecosystems in Europe, North America, and South America. Due to their natural characteristics as a hermaphroditic species with a high fecundity and dispersal capacity, Asian clams are extremely difficult to eradicate once they have infiltrated a waterbody. This is an emerging issue for states in the Northeastern United States, as Asian clams expand their range farther North due to climate change. There has been extensive research conducted to develop chemical treatments for reactively controlling invasive mollusc populations and proactively preventing their further spread. However, treatments are mostly targeted toward biofouling bivalves in industrial settings. A comprehensive review of Asian clam chemical treatments used in natural open-water systems was performed to evaluate molluscicides and identify the toxicity ranges of emerging treatments that maximize Asian clam mortality and minimize the negative impact on water quality and non-target species. The potential chemical applications in Asian clam control and management are summarized in this report to assist resource managers and practitioners in invasive Asian clam management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different chemical treatment methods were employed to modify the surface of cotton stalk fibers, which were then utilized as fillers in composite materials. These treated fibers were incorporated into polylactic acid/polypropylene melt blends using the melt blending technique. Results indicated that increasing the surface roughness of cotton stalk fibers could enhance the overall mechanical properties of the composite materials, albeit potentially leading to poor fiber–matrix compatibility. Conversely, a smooth fiber surface was found to improve compatibility with polylactic acid, while Si-O-C silane coating increased fiber regularity and interfacial interaction with the matrix, thereby enhancing heat resistance. The mechanical properties and thermal stability of the composite materials made from alkali/silane-treated fibers exhibited the most significant improvement. Furthermore, better dispersion of fibers in the matrix and more regular fiber orientation were conducive to increasing the overall crystallinity of the composite materials. However, such fiber distribution was not favorable for enhancing impact resistance, although this drawback could be mitigated by increasing the surface roughness of the reinforcing fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many industrial applications, the thermal performance of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites attracts much technical and scientific attention. Compared to produced natural fiber polymer composites (NFPCs), the thermal behavior of natural fiber composites is often the most researched subject. Thermal properties may be important in instances involving temperatures exceeding the thermal conductivity, thermal stability, curing, and processes used in heating procedures. Several studies have determined their unique thermal properties, notably thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This review examines the effect of temperature on mass loss in natural leaf fibers collected from a variety of plants. Furthermore, natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites are used in a wide range of technological applications, but their diversity is limited due to temperature changes during cooling or heating, necessitating a thermogravimetric analysis before usage in a specific application. TGA was a fundamental thermal analytical approach that was easy, ideal, stable, sensitive, and superb. The thermal analysis also provides important information on glass transition temperatures, thermal expansion, softening points, composition changes, and phase shifts on materials of varied shapes when exposed to a constant load as a function of temperature. This focuses on the fundamentals and experimental thermal analysis of natural leaf fiber–reinforced thermoset polymer composites with or without chemical treatment of fiber for both research and technical applications and their use in various engineering fields, from vehicle manufacturing to civil construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As people become more aware of the environmental damage caused by synthetic materials, ecofriendly materials are being developed. Natural fibres are increasingly being used in a variety of technical textile applications. The natural fibres are strong, inexpensive, and renewable that aid in the various manufacture of lightweight composites. The lignocellulosic fibres have their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature and thermal behaviour while applying for various purposes in technical fields. To overcome the demerits of natural fibres, these fibres need to be treated using physical or biological or chemical methods for modifying the surface morphology, thermal degradation and moisture or water absorption properties which would result in better composite products. This study focuses on altering the salient properties of Abutilon indicum fibres using various chemicals for bringing potential natural fibre-reinforced composites. The chemical treatments have resulted in modification of surface morphology, chemical constituents and thermal properties of the abutilon fibres, which would result in production of better composite structures in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in creating environmentally friendly products using natural resources. Plant fibers, also known as lignocellulosic fibers, are hydrophilic due to the interaction and attraction between water molecules and the hydroxyl groups present in their components. The inherent hydrophilicity of plant fibers often prevents them from interacting effectively with hydrophobic polymer matrices. In order to improve the adhesion between plant fibers and the matrix, it is necessary to modify the surface of the fibers. Commonly used chemical processes include mercerization, silane treatment, acetylation, permanganate treatment, acrylation, benzoylation, peroxide treatment, stearic acid treatment, isocyanate treatment and sodium chlorite intervention. The desirability of chemically modifying the surface of plant fibers has declined due to several limitations. Plant fibers can be modified in an environmentally friendly way by various methods, such as plasma therapy and treatments using fungi, enzymes and bacteria. This part provides an analysis of the impact of different environmentally friendly surface modification techniques on the properties of plant fibers and reinforced polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The active coals obtained from high-moor peat of the European North of Russia by thermochemical activation with NaOH and various types of pre-treatment (debituminization and pre-pyrolysis) were studied. Based on the results of the low-temperature adsorption of nitrogen, the resulting active coals belonged to adsorbents whose structure was dominated by micropores. The specific surface area of coal pores reached 2330 m2/g, and the total pore volume was 1.44 cm3/g. The introduction of the stage of pre-pyrolysis made it possible to increase significantly the yield of active coals. This increase was 28 or 97% for the initial peat or debituminized samples, respectively; moreover, the sorption characteristics were significantly improved. It has been shown that weakly decomposed high-moor peat of the European North of Russia can be used as a raw material for the production of high-efficiency carbon microporous adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The partitioning coefficient of the R12Na corrosion inhibitor is determined by relating its concentration in the water phase (CW) to the expected theoretical concentration (Ci,T) due to a re-concentration phenomenon after the mixing stage. Partition experiments were performed by varying the water cut in brine-kerosene mixtures, temperature, and the inhibitor concentration using NACE 1D182 brine as a water phase and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. The partition results varied from 37.81 to 43.75 %, 36.68 to 61.23 %, and 40.29 to 56.47 % at 40 °C, 60 °C, and 80 °C, respectively, indicating that R12Na is a water soluble inhibitor and dispersible in the organic phase. Likewise, the partition results varied from 41.69 to 44.04 % in the presence of 20, 50, and 100 mg L−1 of the inhibitor, using a ratio of 80–20 vol% WP–OP and 60 °C. Furthermore, making the same considerations, the partition of different corrosion inhibitors reported in the literature was evaluated, supporting its determination, the latter is of great importance for dosing corrosion inhibitors in the oilfield industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In glass industry, the evolved gases and fumes from burning the gas fuel absorbed in calcium hydroxide to minimize the pollution of environment. After a period of time, the calcium hydroxide fouled with sulphate and carbonate as action of the absorbed SO3 and CO2 gases. Based on our interest to treatment the solid waste materials, this study intended to convert the obtained waste of calcium hydroxide fouled with gases to valuable products. Firstly, this waste was treated with water, caustic soda and acids. The results confirmed the conversion of waste to pure calcium sulfate by treatment with 6 v/v% sulfuric acid. Secondly, the obtained calcium sulfate was reacted with ammonium dihydrogen phosphate solution for preparation of calcium hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles. The produced HAp sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and N2 adsorption measurements. The obtained findings confirmed that the HAp can be produced after calcination at 700 °C, nanorods-like of sizes ranged from 11 to 15 nm and with main surface functional groups of hydroxyapatite. TGA and DTA data indicated that HAp is thermally stable up to 700 °C. Also, the obtained HAp has Ca/P molar ratio of 1.60 and exhibited high total surface area of 146 m2/g with mesoporous structure which make this material can be used in medical and water purification applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant genome exhibits a significant amount of transcriptional activity, with most of the resulting transcripts lacking protein-coding potential. Non-coding RNAs play a pivotal role in the development and regulatory processes in plants. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which exceed 200 nucleotides, may play a significant role in enhancing plant resilience to various abiotic stresses, such as excessive heat, drought, cold, and salinity. In addition, the exogenous application of chemicals, such as abscisic acid and salicylic acid, can augment plant defense responses against abiotic stress. While how lncRNAs play a role in abiotic stress tolerance is relatively well-studied in model plants, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of this function in horticultural crop plants. It also delves into the potential role of lncRNAs in chemical priming of plants in order to acquire abiotic stress tolerance, although many limitations exist in proving lncRNA functionality under such conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The structure of flexible or rigid pavement built on expansive subgrade soil that has a volumetric change is vulnerable to many problems that might cause failure. Pavement and construction became more durable and economical by enhancing the quality of subgrade expansive soil. Solid waste recycling has become very popular recently as a means of attaining sustainable waste management, so using lime kiln dust (LKD), which is a by-product of quick lime production, to treat expansive soil in pavement subgrades. This research describes the effect of LKD on the chemical composition, strength, and swelling of high and low-plastic clay that were extracted from two sites. The minimum LKD required for treating expansive soils was determined by using the Eades and Grim pH test. From tests, it was found that the addition of LKD increased the shrinkage limit by a range (250–500)% and decreased the plasticity and swelling potential by between (50 and 100)% of expansive subgrade soils. The strength according to CBR, increased approximately by 150% for CL soil and 800% for CH soil. Results: The optimal percentage of LKD for CH soil is 6%, and for CL soil, it is 2%. The plastic limit increased by 50% for CH soil at 6% LKD. On the other hand, CL soil became non-plastic at 4% LKD. With an increase in the percentage of LKD, it led an the increase in the shrinkage limit by 500% in CH soil and 250% in CL soil. The free swell decreased by 50% in CH soil and 100% in CL soil. The swelling pressure decreased by 50% for two expansive soils. CBR increased by 800% in CH soil and by 150% in CL soil. Conclusion: This work found that the addition of LKD improves the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of expansive subgrade soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sustainable food waste management methodology has been proposed for the discarded seeds of avocados (Persia Americana mill) where starch is extracted from the seeds through a microwave assisted heating process using only water, and this starch is modified through chemical treatment into acrylamide starch and carboxymethylated starch. Native as well as modified variants of starch are characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which confirms the extraction of native starch and its chemical modification. The extracted and modified variants are then analyzed for their antioxidant properties against oxidative stress by checking their scavenging activity against DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl). Moreover, the three variants of starch are tested for hemolytic activity in order to determine whether they are harmful to human blood, finally these three variants are checked for their activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus bacteria, the root cause in most cases of bacterial infection in humans. The starch variants are found to be excellent antioxidants and all three starch variants indicate a very low hemolytic activity and significant antibacterial activity in comparison to widely used antibiotic Ciproflaxin. All these results indicate that avocado seeds waste can be an excellent non‐conventional source of starch that can be used for sustainable applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the combined use of waste glass aggregates (GA) and glass powder (GP) in cementitious mortars. For this reason, the optimized incorporation of GA by natural aggregates (NA) replacements was first studied after applying a surface roughening method with hydrofluoric acid. The compressive strength results were utilized to select the best mixture with GA. Then, different GP contents were added by cements substitutions to the optimized GA-based mortar. A control mortar without GA and GP amounts was also casted as a reference for comparison. The detailed mechanical, physical and durability properties of the resulted mixtures with combined GA and GP were assessed by considering the compressive and flexural strengths, ultra-sonic pulse velocity, alkali-silica reaction (ASR), rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT), magnesium sulphate attack and sulfuric acid resistance. The microstructure of different optimized (GA + GP)-combinations was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)in order to analyse the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between glass materials and the surrounding matrix. The results showed that the optimized composition with 75% GA and 25% GP was shown with high compacity and durability characteristics due to the increased GA/matrix ITZ and the formation of C–(N,K)–S–H products with C–S–H. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hetao Irrigation District, situated in the Northwest of China, serves as a significant commercial grain base. Widespread use of atrazine, an herbicide in the region, has resulted in significant environmental issues, impacting the ecosystem equilibrium and sustainable agricultural development. The co-adsorption of the globally employed atrazine herbicide along with two nonionic surfactants, Tween-80 and Brij30, onto soils treated with HCl and H2O2 was investigated. The study revealed that the adsorption isothermal curves of surfactants on soil adhered to a two-stage adsorption model. Various types of adsorption isothermal curves, such as S-type or L-type, influenced the adsorption capacity of atrazine on the soil. Observations indicated that S-type or L-type isothermal curves of surfactants interconverted with alterations in soil polarity. Moreover, it has been uncovered that the adsorption properties of Tween 80 in the soil are intricately connected to its ability to elute atrazine within the same soil. This discovery provides theoretical support for a prudent reduction in herbicide usage in the Hetao Irrigation District in the upcoming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]