Lina Bufalino

Evaluation of reaction factors for deposition of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles on cellulose fibers

This study aimed to evaluate reaction conditions for deposition of SiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of cellulose fibers and their influence on moisture adsorption of the hybrid organic-inorganic material formed. SiO2 nanoparticle deposition was carried out with the sol-gel process testing four reaction times (2, 12, 18, and 24h) and three contents of the tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS) precursor (1.9, 4.2 and 8.4g g(-1) of cellulose fiber). Modification time and TEOS content directly influence the amount of Si deposited on the fiber surface, nanoparticle diameter distribution, thermal stability, and resistance to moisture adsorption. There is a tendency of slight increase of nanoparticle size and the amount of Si deposited with increasing reaction time. SiO2 nanoparticles were bonded on the surface of the cellulose fibers and are able to improve thermal stability of the material, increasing onset degradation temperature. The moisture adsorption capacity of the modified cellulose fiber was reduced up to 50%.

How the chemical nature of Brazilian hardwoods affects nanofibrillation of cellulose fibers and film optical quality

A wide range of alternative cellulose fibers for the development of new green nanomaterials can be obtained from Brazil’s natural resources. The objective of the work is to evaluate the influence of the chemical composition of hardwoods on the nanofibrillation process and optical quality of nanofiber films. Wood wastes were selected from three native Amazonian species and from exotic planted Eucalyptus grandis species. Wood sawdust was submitted to chemical alkali and bleaching pretreatments. Nanofibers were produced from the bleached fibers after 10, 20, 30 and 40 passes through a Super Mass Colloider grinder, and films were produced by the casting method. Raw sawdust, alkali-treated fibers and bleached fibers were evaluated by the major chemical components, syringyl/guaiacyl ratio, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, oxygen/carbon ratio and scanning electron microscopy. Morphological characteristics of nanofibers and films were analyzed by transmission and scanning electron microscopies. Optical parameters studied for the films were the opacity, total color difference and b value. The main challenge to delignification was attributed to the low syringyl/guaiacyl ratio. The different chemical natures of Amazonian and eucalyptus hardwoods greatly affected pretreatments and, consequently, the nanofibrillation and optical quality of the films. Consequences observed for highly purified cellulose starting fibers are: (1) lower diameters for individual nanofiber elements; (2) fewer opaque and colored films produced from nanofibers; (3) a tendency to stabilization of the nanofibrillation process after 20 passes through the grinder. For species whose chemical nature hindered cellulose purification, the increased number of passes through the grinder continuously decreased the opacity.

Canonical correlations between chemical and energetic characteristics of lignocellulosic wastes.

Canonical correlation analysis is a statistical multivariate procedure that allows analyzing linear correlation that may exist between two groups or sets of variables (X and Y). This paper aimed to provide canonical correlation analysis between a group comprised of lignin and total extractives contents and higher heating value (HHV) with a group of elemental components (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur) for lignocellulosic wastes. The following wastes were used: eucalyptus shavings; pine shavings; red cedar shavings; sugar cane bagasse; residual bamboo cellulose pulp; coffee husk and parchment; maize harvesting wastes; and rice husk. Only the first canonical function was significant, but it presented a low canonical R². High carbon, hydrogen and sulfur contents and low nitrogen contents seem to be related to high total extractives contents of the lignocellulosic wastes. The preliminary results found in this paper indicate that the canonical correlations were not efficient to explain the correlations between the chemical elemental components and lignin contents and higher heating values.

Biocomposite of cassava starch reinforced with cellulose pulp fibers modified with deposition of silica (SiO 2 ) nanoparticles

Eucalyptus pulp cellulose fibers were modified by the sol-gel process for SiO2 superficial deposition and used as reinforcement of thermoplastic starch (TPS). Cassava starch, glycerol, and water were added at the proportion of 60/26/14, respectively. For composites, 5% and 10% (by weight) of modified and unmodified pulp fibers were added before extrusion. The matrix and composites were submitted to thermal stability, tensile strength, moisture adsorption, and SEM analysis. Micrographs of the modified fibers revealed the presence of SiO2 nanoparticles on fiber surface. The addition of modified fibers improved tensile strength in 183% in relation to matrix, while moisture adsorption decreased 8.3%. Such improvements were even more effective with unmodified fibers addition. This result was mainly attributed to poor interaction between modified fibers and TPS matrix detected by SEM analysis.

Torrefaction and carbonization of briquettes made with residues from coffee grain

This research aimed to evaluate the briquettes made with residues from processing of coffee grain submitted to carbonization and torrefaction. The briquettes were carbonized at a heating rate of 1.67 oC min-1 with initial temperature of 50 oC and final of 450 oC, which was kept during 30 min. The torrefaction of the briquettes was made in a muffle furnace at two heating rates: 1.5 and 3.0 oC min-1 until 250 oC, temperature kept during 60 min. The yields in torrefied and carbonized briquettes, pyroligneous liquor, non-condensable gases and fixed carbon were determined. For all briquettes the fixed carbon, ash, volatile and elemental components (C, H, N, S, O) contents and higher heating value, apparent and energetic density and resistance to diametric compression were quantified. The carbonized briquette presented high energetic potential due to higher fixed and elemental carbon content and heating value, but had low mechanical resistance. The briquettes torrified at the two considered heating rates presented similar energetic properties and characteristics, but lower energetic density than carbonized and fresh briquettes.

Impact of nanofibrillation degree of eucalyptus and Amazonian hardwood sawdust on physical properties of cellulose nanofibril films

The production of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from Amazonian wood wastes could reduce pollution and raw material costs for cellulose industry. Further studies are required to analyze the feasibility of using hardwood sawdust for the production of high-quality CNF films. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of various nanofibrillation degrees of waste sawdust generated from the primary processing of different hardwood species on the physical properties of CNF films. Raw sawdust was submitted to alkaline and bleaching pre-treatments. The chemical composition of the bleached fibers was determined. The CNFs were obtained by mechanical shearing of the bleached fibers using a grinder Super MassColloider after 10, 20, 30 and 40 passages. CNFs were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. The CNF films were formed by the casting method. Residual lignin and hemicelluloses content greatly varied among species after bleaching. No clear influence of the number of passages on apparent density was observed. None of the films was degraded in significant amounts after water immersion. Water vapor absorption (WVA) consistently decreased with more passages through the Super MassColloider for Amazonian species until 30 passages. Residual hemicelluloses of the bleached fibers adversely affected WVA. Bleached fibers made of highly purified cellulose or containing residual lignin showed lower WVA after 30 and 40 passages. Water vapor permeability showed consistent relation with the apparent density of the films. For hardwood wastes, 10–30 passages through the grinder are recommended.

Alternative compositions of oriented strand boards (OSB) made with commercial woods produced in Brazil

This work aimed to investigate the feasibility of using and mixing Toona ciliata, Eucalyptus urophylla/grandis and Pinus oocarpa woods in OSB production. Three one- species and four mixed-species combinations were compared. Layer structure varied by positioning different wood species in the surface and core of the panels. Phenol- formaldehyde (PF) adhesive was applied at 9% for all OSB panels. Three-layer mats with mass proportion of 25/50/25% for surface/core/surface were produced. Pressing time was 8 min, under a 4 MPa pressure and temperature of 180°C. Physical and mechanical properties were evaluated and compared to EN (300) commercialization standard. Most OSB panels did not fully attain such requirements. OSB panels made with Eucalyptus urophylla/grandis and Pinus oocarpa woods have potential to be commercialized as OSB/1 and OSB/2 types, respectively. Among panels made with T. ciliata wood, those produced with this species in the surface and Eucalyptus urophylla/grandis wood in the core met the requirements established for OSB/1 commercialization. Eucalyptus wood has great potential to substitute Pinus wood in OSB production. The utilization of T. ciliata wood for OSB production decreased mechanical performance, but remarkably enhanced water resistance properties.

Nanocellulose Films from Amazon Forest Wood Wastes: Structural and Thermal Properties

The aim of this work was to determine the best fibrillation intensity that should be used to produce high crystalline and thermal stable microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and nanocellulose films from C. goeldiana veneer wastes. The number of passages (cycles) of cellulose suspension tested in grinder were 10, 20, 30 and 40. Important properties to be analyzed included changes in morphology from the raw wood to the nanocellulose films, increases/decreases in cellulose crystalline index for inference on biomaterial strength, and thermal behavior changes to support conclusions on biomaterials processing and application possibilities. After chemical treatments for cellulose isolation, mechanical shearing was applied to produce cellulose nanostructures; hence nanocellulose films could be successfully produced from C. goeldiana wood wastes. Influence of more refining cycles on thermal properties, indicated higher stability for 40-cycles nanocellulose films. In general, grinder refining process decreased crystalline index of cellulose.

Lignocellulosic Composites Made from Agricultural and Forestry Wastes in Brazil

The Brazilian market of wood panels is in a consolidation process and presents great dynamism, which requires the search for new alternative raw materials that may contribute in quantity and quality to the continuous increase of this economic sector. Transforming residues generated by Brazilian agricultural industry and forestry sector into high quality panels is an interesting solution for solving raw material demand problem. The present work aims to show the potential of different types of residues for panel production showed in several research works, which were conducted in the Experimental Unit of Panel Production (UEPAM) located at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Minas Gerais state, Brazil. According to results obtained, sugarcane bagasse, candeia wood and castor oil bean husk were the most promissory residues for particleboard production among the materials studied.

Use of Coffee Plant Stem in the Production of Conventional Particleboards

When the productivity of a coffee plantation drops considerably, the crop must be renewed. In this case, the removed plants become residues to be discarded. This work aimed to verify the utilization of the coffee plant stem in the production of conventional particleboards. The basic density and chemical composition of the coffee stem was obtained. 3 particleboards were produced with urea-formaldehyde at 6% and paraffin at 1%. The target density of the panels was 0.600 g/cm3. The pressing cycle used was: pressure of 0.32 MPa, temperature of 160°C and time of 8 minutes. Apparent density (AD), water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS) after 2 and 24 hours immersion and thickness non-return rate (TNRR) were the physical properties obtained. Mechanical properties evaluated were parallel compression (CP), static bending (MOE and MOR) and internal bonding (IB). The average basic density, total extractive, lignin, mineral components and holocelluloses contents obtained were 0.581gcm-3, 11%, 28%, 2% and 59%, respectively. The average values of the physical and mechanical properties of the boards, followed by their standard deviation were: AD= 0.577 gcm-3 (0.018); CR = 1.03 (0.12); WA_2h = 55% (2.3); WA_24r = 76% (2.5); TS_2h = 32% (4.4); TS_24h = 59% (7.8); TNRR = 62 % (2.0); IB = 0.43 MPa (0.03); CP = 4.9 MPa (0.23); MOE = 1324.4 MPa (1.02); and MOR = 13.4 MPa (1.02). Coffee stem conventional particleboards presented poor physical resistance. On the other hand, they may be commercialized for general uses in dry-conditions.