International Journal of Lignocellulosic Products
Volume:1 Issue: 2, 2014

Chemical and morphological characterization of different parts of banana plant (Musa paradisica) (peduncle, leaf stalk and pseudo stem) were carried out in order to assess their potentiality for chemical pulp. Each portion was tested for extractives, sodium hydroxide solubility, ash, lignin, cellulose and pentosan contents as well as their fiber length and width. These segmented parts were characterized as low amount of lignin (12.8–16.1%) and moderate amount of α- cellulose (31.6–43.3%) and relatively high amount of ash (7.6–19.1%), alkali solubility (32.4-51.4%) and water solubility. The morphological properties of the banana plant, in terms of fiber length and width were found to be a medium fiber with high slenderness ratio. Kraft process was applied for the three portions of banana plant to evaluate pulp properties. At the optimal pulping (Active alkali 22% for peduncle, 16% for leaf stalk and pseudo stem at 150 oC for 1 hour) pulp yields about 30.5–40.5% on oven dried (OD) raw material with kappa number from 16.9 to 26.1 were obtained when cooking was carried out for 1 hour. Mechanical properties of the unbleached pulp showed a high tensile, tear and burst index for pseudo stem.

A suitable location plays an important role in the competitiveness of a plant in the market and should be selected such that it allows access to strategic advantages compared with other competitors. The aim of the current study was identification optimized location of fluting paper plant from agricultural residues in Mazandaran province using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). After performing pilot studies, indices effective in selection of a place for establishing fluting paper plant was identified in Mazandaran province; then, a hierarchy of indices and subindices were designed based on the benefit and cost structure; and finally, valueweighted index of each of them was determined using questionnaire and data analysis in expert choice software medium. In the second stage, alternatives have been prioritized based on the benefits to costs ratio (B/C) in order to determine the best place among the alternatives of east, west and center of the province. Results show that the eastern part of Mazandaran province has the highest benefit to cost ratio and is the best place for establishing fluting paper plant from agricultural residues in Mazandaran province.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of applying methods and amount of ammonium polyphosphate (0, 2 and 4 wt%) on fire retardancy and mechanical properties of wood flour/polypropylene composites. The results showed that addition of fire retardant improved the mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural strengths and fire retardancy of composites. But by increasing of fire retardant impact strength decreased. The scanning electron microscopy observation on the fracture surface of the composites indicated that fire retardant had a uniform dispersion in the wood flour/PP composites. The observations showed that saturation of wood flour with fire retardant had a positive effect on mechanical properties and fire retardancy.

In this research, the effect of wood species and particle size on mechanical properties of wood plastic composites (WPC) made of fir (Abies alba) and beech (Fagus orientalis L.) sawdust and high density polyethylene (HDPE) were investigated. Wood plastic composite (WPC) were made with 30% HDPE in a batch process at 185˚C, at two particle sizes of 40 mesh and 80 mesh. Maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP) was used as a coupling agent. The MOE (modulus of elasticity) and MOR (modulus of rupture), maximum tensile strength increased with increasing particle size.

The target of this study was to investigate the possibility of MDF production from Eucalyptus camaldulensis wood. MDF fibers were produced applying three levels of steaming time. Laboratory MDF boards were produced using the generated fibers and different pressing temperature and time. Physical and mechanical properties of MDF panels were measured using relevant EU test methods and were statistically analyzed based on factorial experiment. The results indicated that at longer steaming time, MOR of boards was reduced and the lowest value (16.2 MPa.) were measured on boards produced from fibers generated applying 15 min steaming time. The press temperature imposed statistically significant effect on MOR, and increasing press temperature, increased MOR. Higher steaming time reduced the IB of boards as well as the thickness swelling and increasing steaming time from 7.5 to 15 min, decreased IB from 0.787 to 0.533 MPa. The results of this study indicated that, the MOR and MOE of boards produced from Eucalyptus camaldulensis fibers meet the requirements of Iran national standard values and the internal bonding and thickness swelling of boards are higher than the requirements.

The aim of this study was to evaluate sound and decayed wood of Iranian beech (Fagus orientalis) with a nondestructive stress wave method. Wood samples, with dimensions of 9 by 19 by 200 mm were decayed in laboratory soil-bed tests, based on European pre-standard ENV-807. The decay was evaluated by measuring bending dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd) and longitudinal dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd,l), using a NDT stress wave method after 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks of exposure. The static modulus of elasticity (MOEs) and percentage of mass loss were also measured at the different stages of exposure. The results show that both static and dynamic MOE measurements provide a more sensitive insight into property changes from fungal degradation compared with mass loss percentages. In this regard MOEd is more reliable compared with MOEd,l. There was also a good correlation (r=0.97) between the MOEs and MOEd for both sound and decayed Iranian beech.

India has large resources of natural fibres such as Banana, Khus, Sisal, Korai grass, Talipot, Palm leaf, Coconut, Pineapple, Screwpine, Golden grass, Jute and Sabai among others. In the past, trade of the village folk depended on harvesting fibres grown in their villages. Natural fibers have recently gaining attraction of researchers due to their low cost eco-friendly and biodegradability characteristics they are exploited as a replacement for the conventional fibre, such as glass, aramid and carbon. Use of lignocellulosic fillers offers both cost saving and reduction in density as compared to inorganic particulates. This paper deals with fabrication of composite samples using coconut coir, epoxy resin (with hardener) and lignocellulosic particulate fillers such as cow dung, wheat husk and rice husk. after fabrication composite samples were exposed to different environmental conditions such as ultraviolet radiations, soil burial, high temperature, water (at room and high temperature) to study degradation behaviour of coir fiber reinforced epoxy composites filled with organic lignocellulosic fillers. Composite samples were fabricated using compression moulding technique. Degradation was confirmed by change in mechanical properties (Tensile, flexural and impact strength) and microstructure.