Xiaojian Zhou^1,2, Hui Wang¹, Jun Zhang², Zhifeng Zheng¹, Guanben Du^1,2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.1, pp. 68-74, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634150

Abstract Pineapple leaf nanofibers (PLNFs) extracted from pineapple leaf fiber were used for reinforcing biobased polyurethane foam (BPU). The dispersion performance of PLNF in the foaming mixture system, nanocomposite foaming behavior, cell morphology, cell size, density, compressive strength and dimensional stability were investigated. The viscosity of the mixtures increased with increasing the PLNF content. The addition of a tiny amount of PLNF did not influence the exothermic temperature of the foam system, but reduced the expansion and gel time of the nanocomposite foams. This reduced time was found to increase the production efficiency. Scanning electron More >

M. Asim¹, M. Jawaid^1,2*, M. Nasir³, N. Saba¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.4, pp. 383-393, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634162

Abstract This study deals with the analysis of dynamic mechanical, thermal and flammability properties of treated and untreated pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and kenaf fiber (KF) phenolic composites. Results indicated that storage modulus was decreased for all composites with increases in temperature and pattern of slopes for all composites, having almost the same values of E' at glass transition temperature (Tg). The peak of the loss modulus of pure phenolic composites was shown to be much less. After the addition of kenaf/PALF, peaks were higher and shifted towards a high temperature. The Tan delta peak height More >

Galia Moreno, Karla Ramirez, Marianelly Esquivel, Guillermo Jimenez*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.4, pp. 362-369, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634167

Abstract Cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and nanocellulose were prepared from three agricultural waste resources: pineapple leaf (PALF), banana rachis (BR), and sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Each waste resource was first converted into microcrystalline cellulose which was subsequently converted into cellulose nanoparticles by using mild (30% w/v) and strong (60% w/v) sulfuric acid concentrations for extraction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize each waste resource and extracted cellulosic materials. Furthermore, nanocelluloses were studied by zeta potential, size analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cellulose nanowhiskers were successfully obtained and More >

M. Asim¹, M. Jawaid^1,4*, K. Abdan², M.R. Ishak³, O.Y. Alothman^4,5

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.1, pp. 38-46, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634148

Abstract In this study, pineapple leaf fiber (PALF), kenaf fiber (KF) and PALF/KF/phenolic (PF) composites were fabricated and their mechanical properties were investigated. The mechanical properties (tensile, flexural and impact) of the PALF/KF/PF hybrid composites were investigated and compared with PALF/KF composites. The 3P7K exhibited enhanced tensile strength (46.96 MPa) and modulus (6.84 GPa), flexural strength (84.21 MPa) and modulus (5.81 GPa), and impact strength (5.39 kJ/m2) when compared with the PALF/PF and KF/PF composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the fracture surfaces of the tensile testing samples. The microstructure of the 7P3K More >

Ramírez H¹, JC Sánchez-Canseco¹, VM Zamora-Villa², JH Rancaño-Arrioja³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.86, pp. 282-289, 2017, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2017.86.282

Abstract It is well established that the climatic change is altering yield in fruit trees. This adversity reflects, among others, extreme temperature modifications in northern Mexico. This effect modifies negatively the physiology of apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.), originating excessive shoot growth and a decrease in flower bud formation. In this study, Prohexadione-Ca (P-Ca), 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) and N6-furfuryladenine (kinetin) were evaluated on shoot and reproductive growth in Golden Delicious apple trees in Arteaga Coah., Mexico. A completely randomized design with 12 treatments was used. These were: Control, Prohexadione calcium (Ca-P) at doses of 150, 300… More >

Guerrero-Prieto VM¹, DI Berlanga-Reyes², JL Jacobo-Cuellar¹, C Guigón-Lopez³, DL Ojeda-Barrios⁴, GD Ávila-Quezada⁴, A Núñez-Barrios⁴, OA Hernández-Rodríguez⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.86, pp. 74-78, 2017, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2017.86.074

Abstract Calcium content and damage severity of Penicillium expansum because of its high concentration on “Red Delicious” postharvest apples were evaluated during the 2012-2013 winter in Cuauhtemoc, Chih. Mexico. Fruit weight, diameter, total soluble solids, pulp firmness and starch index were also determined. Penicillium expansum was inoculated into two wounds of eight mm diameter and 10 mm depth, on a total of 20 apple fruits per treatment. The inoculum was 0.2 mL of a suspension containing 1×10⁸ conidia/mL. After inoculation, apple fruit was stored at 0 °C and 90% relative humidity during five weeks. Treatments were: apple fruit with More >

Melissa Camacho¹, Yendry Regina Corrales Ureña^*,1, Mary Lopretti², Leonel Bustamante Carballo¹, Galia Moreno¹, Brian Alfaro¹, Jose Roberto Vega Baudrit^1,3

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.5, pp. 271-279, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634117

Abstract Pineapple peel biomass was used as raw material for nanocellulose extraction. The raw material is a residue from the Costa Rican fruit industry. The nanocellulose was obtained by a two-step hydrolysis process. Firstly, the cellulose was hydrolyzed with HCl to obtain microcrystalline cellulose. In the second step, the hydrolysis was carried out using H2SO4 to obtain smaller fragments and decrease the lignin content. A timedependent study was carried out to determine the particle size decrease depending on the contact time with the H2SO4. The chemical, thermal and morphological properties were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared More >

M. Toujani¹, R. Djebali², L. Hassini¹, S. Azzouz¹, A. Belghith¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.98, No.5, pp. 469-485, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2014.098.469

Abstract In the present work we aim to simulate unsteady two-dimensional evolution of the moisture content, temperature and mechanical stress in a parallelepiped apple sample during convective drying. The model is based on the heat and mass transfer equations and the mechanical equilibrium equation under the assumptions of plane deformation, viscoelasticity and isotropic hydric shrinkage. The Finite Elements COMSOL Multiphysics solver is used to solve the developed model. The hydro-thermal model was validated on experimental data drawn in our laboratory for moisture and temperature internal profiles of the product. Excellent agreement has been obtained between numerical More >

ISRAEL A. VEGA^*1,2, FEDERICO A. DELLAGNOLA¹, JORGE A. HURST³, MARTÍN S. GODOY¹ AND ALFREDO CASTRO-VAZQUEZ^1,2

BIOCELL, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 47-55, 2012, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2012.36.047

Abstract Pigments present in the brown-greenish C morph of an intracellular endosymbiont of Pomacea canaliculata were investigated. Acetone extracts of the endosymbiotic corpuscles showed an absorption spectrum similar to that of chlorophylls. Three fractions obtained from silica gel column chromatography of the acetone extracts (C_I , C_II and C_III ), were studied by positive ion fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry (FAB–MS) and hydrogen-nuclear magnetic resonance (H-NMR). Results indicated the presence of (1) a sterol in the yellow colored C_I fraction; (2) a mixture of pheophorbides a and b in the major green fraction, C_II; and (3) a modified pheophorbide a in the More >

Zhang YG, SX Guo, HY Dai

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.81, pp. 229-232, 2012, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2012.81.229

Abstract The length, dimension and type of the vessel elements in the secondary xylem of columnar and standard apple trees were studied by isolation method and micrograph. Results showed that the shoot xylem vessel cells were reticulate and pitted in columnar and standard apples. Most of the end walls were simple perforation plates. Compared with columnar apple trees, standard apple trees showed more abnormal cells in the xylem vessel cells. The average diameter of the xylem vessel cells of shoots was significantly wider in columnar apple (43.27μm) than in standard apple, (32.64 μm). Length of the More >