Assessment of selected properties of LDPE composites reinforced with sugar beet pulp

This study measured the effect of sugar beet pulp (SBP) and maleated polyethylene (MAPE) concentrations on the properties of low density polyethylene (LDPE) composites. SBP concentration has significantly increased density, thickness swelling (TSW), water absorption (WA), flexural strength (FS), tensile modulus (TM) and flexural modulus (FM) of composites while reducing tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EatB) and impact strength (IS). Presence of MAPE has improved TSW, WA, TS, FS, TM and FM. However, EatB and IS were slightly worsened by MAPE use. Composites showed two main decomposition peaks; one coming from SBP (360–368 °C) and the second one from LDPE degradation (484–490 °C). SEM images showed improved dispersion of SBP. The composites has provided less than 2% weight loss and classified as ‘very durable material’ against white-rot and brown-rot fungi attack. Through this study, potential utilization of SBP in LDPE matrix was demonstrated.     

Application Of Superconducting High Gradient Magnetic Separation Technology On Silica Extraction From Iron Ore Beneficiation Tailings

Comprehensive utilization of tailings resources not only solves environmental problems but also creates huge economic benefits. In this paper, fine weakly magnetic particles were extracted from iron ore beneficiation tailings and silica (SiO₂) was separated and purified using a superconducting high gradient magnetic separator. Based on plenty of contrast experiments, SiO₂ content of the magnetic concentrate could be increased from 68.67% to 92.57% with the selected optimal parameter combination, i.e., a magnetic flux density of 3.2 T, a pulp concentration of 40 g/L and a slurry flow velocity of 500 mL/min. The concentrate can be utilized as low-grade normal SiO₂ sands for industrial use, or act as the raw materials for preparing high-purity SiO₂ product.     

Cellulosic fines: Properties and effects

Any cellulosic pulp consists of particles of different dimensions. When trying to understand and control its properties, it is important to consider not only the bulk amount of long fibres, but also the material known as ‘fines’, which may comprise between 1 and 40% of a pulp. These fines have a great impact on the behaviour of pulp, on its processing, and on the characteristics of the resulting products. We compiled a review of research efforts to characterise the fines fraction by origin, morphology, and chemical composition, and to evaluate the fines’ effects especially in papermaking. The main feature of fines is the large specific surface area associated with their size. Their chemical constitution, particularly their charge, and the magnitude of their surface are the basis for their interactions with other pulp components such as extractives, fillers, and retention aids. The surface of fines affects drainage, as well as sheet density and strength. Several optical paper properties are influenced by the morphology of fines and by their chemical composition, which deviates from that of the long fibre fractions. The targeted utilisation of fines is a potential control variable in papermaking applications in order to obtain desirable paper properties.     

Dissolving grade eco-clean cellulose pulps by integrated fractionation of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) stalk biomass

A biorefinery scheme with separate processing of the two main carbohydrate streams (cellulose and hemicellulose-derived) was employed to the energy crop cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) to fractionate the whole stalk material. A high quality xylose-enriched substrate was obtained after selective one-step dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis of hemicelluloses, yielding 18.1 g of xylose per 100 g of dry biomass. The xylan-free solid residue was delignified by sulfur-free organosolv pulping to produce dissolving grade pulps having 93.8% of α-cellulose (33.1 g per 100 g dry initial biomass) and 79.5% degree of crystallinity. About 76% of crop lignin (13.8 g per 100 g dry initial biomass) was recovered from the spent pulping liquor as a high purity reactive precipitated organosolv lignin. Response surface methodology was used for statistical modeling and optimization of the applied separation processes. The central composite rotatable design was applied to assess the effects of the principal technological parameters on the main reaction outputs.     

Estimating the value of energy saving in industry by different cost allocation methods

In complicated systems, such as a highly integrated industrial plant with its own energy production, estimating the value of energy conservation is not so straightforward. Often, heat is priced using different kinds of methods for allocating the fuel cost to heat and electricity. However, there is no consistent way to valuate the process steam in industry, and not just one useful method for allocating costs to heat and power. In this paper, the energy method, exergy method, benefit distribution method and market‐based method are evaluated and compared from different decision‐making perspectives. The results of this study indicate that the allocation methods may overestimate by up to 200–300% the benefits from the mill perspective compared to the benefits from the mill site perspective. So, the most suitable method may vary, depending on the selected system boundary, i.e. the decision‐making perspective, the type of CHP plant and energy prices. Based on the results of this study, the exergy method fits well with the CCGT plant with a condensing unit and constant fuel input. On the other hand, the market‐based method is the most correct way to estimate the value of heat when heat conservation reduces the production of CHP electricity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

纸浆废液接枝共聚脂肪族减水剂的试验研究

对由纸浆废液制备的木质素磺酸盐与脂肪族减水剂接枝共聚合成木聚脂肪族减水剂进行了试验研究.通过红外光谱分析对减水剂分子共聚反应进行表征,按照单因素法进行工艺优化,确定了最佳合成工艺参数.性能测试结果表明,制得的木聚脂肪族减水剂具有良好的分散性和保塑性,综合性能优于脂肪族减水剂和物理复配减水剂.     

Sulfonated Beet Pulp as Solid Catalyst in One-Step Esterification of Industrial Palm Fatty Acid Distillate

In this research a new heterogeneous catalyst has been prepared for biodiesel production. The catalyst was prepared by sulfonating industrial sugar waste. Unlike homogeneous catalysts, which require further purification and separation from the biodiesel production reaction media, this inexpensive synthetic catalyst does not need to go through an additional separation process. This advantage consequently minimizes the total application costs. The catalyst was prepared by partially carbonizing sugar beet pulp at 400 °C. The carbonization product was then sulfonated with concentrated H₂SO₄ vapor in order to produce a solid catalyst. The prepared catalyst was used in the esterification reaction between palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and methanol. The effects of the temperature, methanol/PFAD ratio, reaction time and catalyst dosage on the efficiency of the production were individually investigated. The optimum biodiesel production occurred at 85 °C, a reaction time of 300 min, catalyst dosage of 3 g and methanol/PFAD ratio of 5:1 (mol/mol), lowering the acid value from 198 to 13.1 (mg KOH/g oil) or the equivalent, with a fatty acid methyl ester yield of around 92 %. The results suggest that the synthesized inexpensive catalyst is useful for biodiesel production from PFAD.