Lu Zhu, Qiuyue Ma, Shushun Li, Jing Wen, Kunyuan Yan, Qianzhong Li^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.89, No.2, pp. 385-403, 2020, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.09259 - 22 April 2020

Abstract Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) technology has been extensively used to estimate gene expression levels, and the selection of appropriate reference genes for qRT-PCR analysis is critically important for obtaining authentic normalized data. Acer palmatum is an important colorful leaf ornamental tree species, and reference genes suitable for normalization of the qRT-PCR data obtained from this species have not been investigated. In this study, the expression stability of ten candidate reference genes, namely, Actin3, Actin6, Actin9, EF1α, PP2A, SAMDC, TIP41, TUBα, TUBβ and UBQ10, in two distinct tissues (leaves and roots) of A. palmatum under four different abiotic stress conditions (cold,… More >

Gerardo Montelongo-Ruíz¹, Yolanda del Rocio Moreno-Ramírez¹, María Cruz Juárez-Aragón¹, Nohemí Niño-García², Reyna Ivonne Torres-Acosta², Torres-Castillo Jorge Ariel^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.89, No.2, pp. 361-373, 2020, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.08499 - 22 April 2020

Abstract This work aims to determine the phytochemical characterization of the pericarp of Chamaedorea radicalis Mart. fruit as a non-timber product with potential to obtain phytochemicals with potential applications in the industry. Fruit from C. radicalis were grouped in four ripening stages named as S1, S2, S3 and S4, according to maturity; S1 the most unripe stage and S4 the completely ripe stage. Determinations of total phenolic compounds, free radical scavenging activities and total flavonoid contents using spectrophotometric methods were done. Also, the tentative identification of phytochemicals during fruit ripening was done using UPLC-MS-MS. Total phenolic compound (TPC)… More >

Samsul Rizal¹, Fizree, H. M.², Chaturbhuj K. Saurabh³, Deepu A. Gopakumar², N. A. Sri Aprilia⁴, D. Hermawan⁵, A. Banerjee⁶, Fazita M. R. M², Haafiz M. K. M.², Abdul Khalil H. P. S.^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1269-1278, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07227

Abstract Oil palm ash (OPA) is an agro-industry waste and it has disposable problems. In the present study, an effort was made for value addition to OPA by incorporating it as a micro-filler in different concentration (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%) and sizes (100, 200, and 300 mesh size particles) in the epoxy matrix. Prepared micro OPA was having a crystallinity index of 65.4%, high inorganic elements, and smooth surface morphology. Fabricated composites had higher void content as compared to neat epoxy matrix. Mechanical properties of fabricated composites had a maximum value at 30%… More >

Mehdi Jonoobi^1,*, Masoud Shafie¹, Younes Shirmohammadli¹, Alireza Ashori², Hamid Zarea- Hosseinabadi¹, Tizazu Mekonnen³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.11, pp. 1055-1075, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.08188

Abstract Date palm (phoenix dactylifera), which is mostly found in the middle east countries such as Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United States (California) that play a significant role in the economical and the environmental condition in those areas. The main purpose of planting dates is its fruit, which is consumed as fresh, dried or processed forms. There are approximately 100 million date palm trees in the worldwide that 62 million of these trees located in the Middle East and North Africa. In Saudi Arabia only, 15000 tons of date palm leaves is prepared as… More >

Fatma Kharrat¹, Rania Chaari¹, Mohamed Khlif¹, Loic Hilliou², José A. Covas², Mohamed Haboussi^3,*, Hedi Nouri¹, Chedly Bradai¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.9, pp. 891-901, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.06827

Abstract Biocomposite films prepared with melt compounding and film blowing have become a new trend in plastic research to deliver more eco-friendly packages. Polylactic acid (PLA) was melt compounded with minimally processed date palm leaf fiber (DPLF) and converted into films by blown film extrusion. The compounding was done in order to enhance the film mechanical properties in one hand, and to decrease the film production cost in the other hand. In this present study, a reference PLA film and films with 1%, 2%, and 5% of DPLF (weight %) were produced with different process parameters.… More >

Nina Graupner^1,*, Koranat Narkpiban^2,5, Thiprada Poonsawat³, Porntip Tooptompong⁴, Jörg Müssig¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.8, pp. 693-711, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.06785

Abstract Toddy palm fruit have an apparent density below 0.8 g/cm³ and offer an interesting lightweight construction potential in polylactide (PLA) composites reinforced with 37 mass-% fibres. Single fibre bundles show similar mechanical properties compared with coir: tensile strength of 240 MPa, Young´s modulus of 3.8 GPa and an elongation at break of 31%. However, density and diameter (~ 50 μm) of fruit fibre bundles are significantly lower. The compression moulded composites have a density of 0.9 g/cm³ and achieved an unnotched Charpy impact strength of 12 kJ/m², a tensile strength of 25 MPa, Young’s modulus… More >

Abeer M. Adel¹, Amira M. El-Shafei², Atef A. Ibrahim¹, Mona T. Al-Shemy^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.6, pp. 567-582, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00034

Abstract In this study, nanocrystalline celluloses were used to enhance physical, mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of chitosan films for potential food packaging applications. Two different mineral acids (sulfuric and phosphoric) were used to extract nanocrystalline cellulose from date palm sheath fibers. The influence of cellulose I and cellulose II on the properties of the isolated nanocrystalline celluloses (e.g., yield, energy and length of intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and degree of substitution) were studied too. The characteristics of chitosan biocomposite film with phosphorylated nanocrystalline cellulose were compared to those with sulfated nanocrystalline cellulose. Results More >

Nantharat Phruksaphithak^1,*, Chalermkiet Kaewnun², Sompong O-Thong²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.5, pp. 493-504, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00020

Abstract A new biocomposite was preformed between bacterial cellulose (BC) pellicle and polyethylene glycol (PEG) at different concentrations (0%, 5, 10%, 15% and 20%) and different molecular weight (600, 1000 and 2000). The structure and mechanical properties of BC/PEG biocomposite were investigated. The results indicated that the properties of the BC were improved by the addition of PEG. The morphology of the BC and BC/PEG blend was examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). These showed that PEG was coated with a large pore size fibril on the BC and the BC/PEG was dense with an More >

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 >

A. Atiqah¹, M. Jawaid^1,*, S. M. Sapuan^1,2, M. R. Ishak³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.5, pp. 477-492, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634188

Abstract The aim of the present study was to develop sugar palm fiber (SPF) reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites and to investigate the effects of fiber surface modification by 2% silane treatment and fiber loading (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt%) on the mechanical and thermal properties of the obtained composites. Surface treatment was employed to improve the fiber-matrix interface, which was expected to boost the mechanical strength of the composites, in terms of tensile, flexural and impact properties. Thermal properties were also investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)… More >