Topic Review
Alternative Materials from Agro-Industry for Wood Panel Manufacturing
The growing demand for wood-based panels for buildings and furniture and the increasing worldwide concern for reducing the pressure on forest resources require alternatives to wood raw materials. The agricultural industry not only can provide raw materials from non-wood plants but also numerous residues and side streams. An overview of the availability was supplied, chemical composition, and fiber characteristics of non-wood lignocellulosic materials and agricultural residues, i.e., grow care residues, harvest residues, and process residues, and their relevance for use in wood panel manufacturing. During the crop harvest, there are millions of tons of residues in the form of stalks, among other things. Usually, these are only available seasonally without using storage capacity. Process residues, on the other hand, can be taken from ongoing production and processed further. Fiber characteristics and chemical composition affect the panel properties. Alternatives to wood with long fibers and high cellulose content offer sufficient mechanical strength in different panel types. In general, the addition of wood substitutes up to approximately 30% provides panels with the required strength properties. However, other parameters must be considered, such as pressing temperature, adhesive type, press levels, and pretreatments of the raw material. 
  • 756
  • 14 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Applications of Lignin in Wood
Lignin is the most abundant aromatic polymer in nature and the second most abundant biomass on earth. In paper production and other processes, lignin is obtained as a side product and mainly used energetically. The use of lignin in wood adhesives or for wood modification has received a lot of scientific attention.
  • 2.0K
  • 25 May 2021
Topic Review
Applications of Superhydrophobic Wood Surfaces
Wood is a renewable material that has been widely utilized as indoor and outdoor construction and decoration material in our daily life. Although wood has many advantages (i.e., light weight, high strength, low price and easy machinability), it has some drawbacks that influence dimensional stability, cracking and decay resistance in real practical applications. To mitigate these issues, superhydrophobic surfaces have been introduced to wood substrates, creating superhydrophobic wood surfaces (SHWSs) that can improve stability, water resistance, ultraviolet radiation resistance and flame retardancy. Due to excellent surface superhydrophobicity, SHWSs has been extensively utilized in various fields, including anti-fungi, anti-bacteria, oil/water separation, fire resistance, anti-UV irradiation, photo-response, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, anti-icing and wood-based devices.
  • 128
  • 19 May 2023
Topic Review
Bamboo Node’s Vascular Bundle
The vascular bundle is an important structural unit that determines the growth and properties of bamboo. A high-resolution X-ray microtomography (μCT) was used to observe and reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) morphometry model of the vascular bundle of the Qiongzhuea tumidinoda node due to its advantages of quick, nondestructive, and accurate testing of plant internal structure.
  • 2.5K
  • 23 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Bark in a Biorefineries Context
Bark-based biorefineries are estimated to become a trending topic in the coming years, particularly with their adsorbent applications and antioxidant production. While the potential benefits of bark-based biorefineries are well-recognized, it is not known how to develop a bark-based biorefinery considering different unit operations and the potential end products.
  • 205
  • 06 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Basic Principles of Microwave and Ultrasound Treatments
In the context of biorefinery and bioeconomy, lignocellulosic biomass is increasingly used to produce biofuels, biochemicals and other value-added products. Microwaves and ultrasound are emerging techniques that enable efficient and environmentally sustainable routes in the transformation of lignocellulosic biomass. 
  • 350
  • 30 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Birch Plywood
Increasing demand pressures on the fibre supply are forcing manufacturers to explore using new species in plywood. Here authors investigated aspen and black alder, alone and in combination with birch faces, and with different veneer thicknesses in plywood production.
  • 2.6K
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Cellulose-Based Metallogels
Metallogels are a category of materials formed by combining polymer gels with metal ions, creating coordination bonds with the functional groups of the gel. The incorporation of metal phases into hydrogels offers diverse possibilities for functionalization. Cellulose stands out as a preferred choice for producing hydrogels from various standpoints, including economic, ecological, physical, chemical, and biological aspects. It possesses advantages such as cost-effectiveness, renewability, versatility, non-toxicity, remarkable mechanical and thermal stability, a porous structure, a significant number of reactive OH groups, and excellent biocompatibility.
  • 196
  • 21 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Chemical Composition on Heating Value of Biomass
Biomass has become an increasingly important resource for energy generation. It is well known that the heating value of lignin is significantly higher (23.26–25.58 MJ/kg) than that of polysaccharides (18.6 MJ/kg), while extractives often have higher heating values (HHVs) over 30 MJ/kg, depending on their oxidation levels. Therefore, the proportions of the chemical components in biomass determine its HHV.
  • 930
  • 31 May 2023
Topic Review
Chitosan, Zein and Essential Oil as Bio-Based Coating
Modifications of the packaging paper surface play an important role in a variety of industries, especially in the food sector. Uncoated paper has poor water and oil barrier properties due to its porous structure. Packaging paper could be successfully coated with different coating solutions containing combinations of chitosan, zein and rosemary essential oil. The chitosan and zein were actually coated in two layers; the mixed chitosan–rosemary oil and the mixed zein–rosemary oil were each applied as one layer to the paper. The results showed increased oil barrier properties in the papers coated with mixed zein–rosemary oil and reduced water permeability in the papers coated with the chitosan–rosemary oil coating solution. The result of this two-layer coating showed excellent water and oil barrier properties. All the coated papers showed a high thermal stability, especially those coated with chitosan, zein and rosemary oil layer by layer. Scanning electron microscopy was used to verify the surface di erences of the coated papers, such as the closed structure, pores and smoother surface, especially in the layer-wise coated samples. Due to their good mechanical and chemical properties, coated papers with rosemary oil can be used in many applications, possibly also in the field of repellents.
  • 392
  • 12 Jan 2023
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