Agricultural Engineering

Article Agricultural Engineering

Study of stable sodium ion storage in porous carbon derived from puffball biomass

Lianghao Yu, Linlin Zhang, Xuedong He, Xin Tao, Guangzhen Zhao, Haoliang Xie, Ruilin Zhu, Guang Zhu

Summary: In this study, low-cost puffball was thermally treated to produce cost-effective porous carbon as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries. The resulting carbon material exhibited a unique morphology and showed remarkable performance, including excellent reversible capacity, impressive cycling stability, and high initial coulombic efficiency.

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Characterization, properties and mechanism of composite synthesized Eucommia ulmoides rubber and epoxy resin for electromagnetic interference shielding application

Guo-Kai Zhao, Er-Liang Cui, Shuangyu-Zhuo Wang, Fei-Zhou Li, Ming-Qiang Zhu

Summary: The synthesis of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composites is an effective strategy to combat electromagnetic radiation pollution. In this study, Mn0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 (MZF) and carbon black (CB) were added to a emulsion made of Eucommia ulmoides rubber (EUR) and epoxy resin (EP) to prepare the MZF/CB/PEUR (EP@EUR) composites. The uniform distribution of CB created a conductive network that facilitated dipole polarization and conduction losses. Additionally, the inclusion of MZF provided a shielding mechanism through natural resonance and enhancement of the conducting network, resulting in an optimized complex dielectric constant and a high-level resonance peak in the 8.2-12.4 GHz frequency range. By conducting a series of filler loading experiments, the optimal loading concentrations of CB (5%) and MZF (25%) were determined. Furthermore, the MZF/CB/PEUR composites exhibited excellent corrosion resistance in acid/alkali environments. These findings contribute to the development, application, and mechanism research of environment-friendly dielectric-magnetic EMI shielding composites using EUR as a matrix.

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Characterization of an Arundo donax-based composite: A solution to improve indoor comfort

Eleonora Cintura, Paulina Faria, Luisa Molari, Luca Barbaresi, Dario D'Orazio, Lina Nunes

Summary: This study investigated the properties of Arundo donax as a building material and found that it has strong adaptability, high hygroscopicity, and unique sound absorption behavior. The mechanical tests also demonstrated the applicability of the Arundo donax-based composite. This opens up new possibilities for the further application of Arundo donax-based materials.

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

The morphology, inflorescence yield, and secondary metabolite accumulation in hemp type Cannabis sativa can be influenced by the R:FR ratio or the amount of short wavelength radiation in a spectrum

Stiina Kotiranta, Juha-Matti Pihlava, Titta Kotilainen, Pauliina Palonen

Summary: The effect of light spectra, particularly far-red and short wavelength radiation, on the growth and secondary metabolites of cannabis is significant. Altering the R:FR ratio can increase the concentration and yield of secondary metabolites, while short wavelength radiation does not significantly affect plant morphology and secondary metabolite concentrations.

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment: Industrial oriented high-solid twin-screw extrusion method to improve biogas production from forestry biomass resources

Pedram Karimipour-Fard, Chonlong Chio, Alyssa Brunone, Heera Marway, Michael Thompson, Niloofar Abdehagh, Wensheng Qin, Trent Chunzhong Yang

Summary: In this study, a high-solids twin-screw extrusion approach was developed to increase the biomethane production from forestry lignocellulosic waste by up to 190%. This finding provides a promising method for industrializing biomethane production.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride inhibits dark fermentative hydrogen production from waste activated sludge

Yafei Wei, Yimeng Jiao, Hongbo Chen

Summary: This study investigates the effect of polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride (PDDA) on the dark fermentation process of sludge and reveals that PDDA inhibits hydrogen production by reducing the activity of key enzymes and enriching other microorganisms, thus impeding the hydrogen production via the acetate pathway. The findings deepen the understanding of the potential effects of PDDA on sludge treatment and provide a theoretical basis for mitigating the negative impacts of quaternary ammonium-based cationic flocculants.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Effects of oxytetracycline on variation in intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistance genes during swine manure composting

Huanyu Bao, Zhiqiang Chen, Qinxue Wen, Yiqi Wu, Qiqi Fu

Summary: This study investigated the impact of oxytetracycline on antibiotic resistance genes in soil and revealed the mechanism of gene dissemination during composting. The findings showed that oxytetracycline increased the abundance of resistance genes and highlighted the importance of countermeasures to mitigate potential hazards.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Hydrolase and plastic-degrading microbiota explain degradation of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics during high-temperature composting

Xiaoxiao Li, Xinxin Liu, Junren Zhang, Fu Chen, Muhammad Khalid, Jieqi Ye, Martin Romantschuk, Nan Hui

Summary: This research investigated the degradation properties of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by PET hydrolase (WCCG) in high-temperature composting and its impact on microbial communities. The study found that the addition of WCCG enzyme slowed down the degradation of PET and reduced the abundance of thermophilic bacteria. However, potential PET degrading microbiota, such as Acinetobacter and Bacillus, were enriched in the composters where PET was reduced without WCCG addition. The external introduction of the WCCG enzyme to the compost reacted with PET and inhibited the proliferation of plastic-degrading bacteria, resulting in a 35% degradation of PET. The research suggests that both the WCCG enzyme and the microbiota associated with plastic-degradation have the potential to reduce PET, providing a novel method for mitigating pollution caused by environmental microplastics.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Numerical study on particle behavior in a Y-junction mixer for supercritical water hydrolysis

Yumi Uruno, Juwon Lee, Hanseob Jeong, Jaewon Chung

Summary: This study investigated the particle behavior in a Y-junction mixer and found that a vertically oriented mixer with an upward-directed supercritical water inlet achieved the most effective mixing, leading to improved hydrolysis efficiency. This configuration also minimized backflow.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Robust rehabilitation of anammox system by granular activated carbon under long-term starvation stress: Microbiota restoration and metabolic reinforcement

Xiaonong Zhang, Naif Abdullah Al-Dhabi, Bo Gao, Li Zhou, Xingxing Zhang, Zixuan Zhu, Wangwang Tang, Amen Chuma, Chongjun Chen, Peng Wu

Summary: This article investigates the buffering capacity and recovery-enhancing ability of granular activated carbon (GAC) in a starved anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) reactor. The findings reveal that GAC's surface characteristics enable faster recovery and improved nitrogen removal efficiency. Additionally, GAC promotes extracellular polymeric substance secretion, bacterial proliferation, and microbial community restoration. Metabolic function analysis demonstrates that GAC stimulates more diverse metabolic networks.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Effectiveness and associated mechanisms of a combination of biofilm attached cultivation and mixotrophy in promoting microalgal biomass

Yaqing Liu, Si Tang, Qi Yan, Jin Zhou, Zhonghua Cai

Summary: This study investigated the effectiveness and mechanisms of biofilm attached cultivation (BAC) under mixotrophy in promoting algal proliferation. The results showed that BAC significantly increased the biomass productivity of the algae compared to suspended cultivation. The findings suggest that the immobilized lifestyle in BAC leads to optimized growth and production of commercially valuable algal species.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Impact of mixed microalgal and bacterial species on organic micropollutants removal in photobioreactors under natural light

Kaiyi Wu, Tino Leliveld, Hans Zweers, Huub Rijnaarts, Alette Langenhoff, Tania Fernandes

Summary: Single microalgae species are effective at removing various organic micropollutants, but increased species diversity may enhance this removal. In this study, a mixed microbial community showed higher removal capacity than Chlorella sorokiniana at a specific stage, but removal efficiency decreased due to overgrowth of filamentous green algae.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Preparation of high intensity transparent fluorescent corn husk and its detection of Fe3+

Xiaoxiao Wu, Xue Mei, Xushuo Yuan, Li Liu, Haiyang Guo, Linkun Xie, Xijuan Chai, Kaimeng Xu, Guanben Du, Lianpeng Zhang

Summary: This study presents a new and sustainable method using fluorescent corn husks as a probe to visualize and detect Fe3+. The results showed that fluorescent corn husks had better mechanical properties compared to natural corn husks, and the interaction with COHS had minimal effect on its mechanical properties.

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Customization, structural synthesis, and adsorption mechanism of lanthanide-dotted bio-based carbon

Zetao Zheng, Xinyu Zhang, Ming Guo, Jie Li, Maria De Los Angeles Mibuy Mba Mikue, Lu Li

Summary: This work successfully develops functionalized biochar (MCS@La2O2CO3) by utilizing lanthanide elements to enhance pore walls. MCS@La2O2CO3 demonstrates exceptional adsorption capacity for various UV-filter pollutants and has a high surface area and magnetization value. The structure of MCS@La2O2CO3 is short-range disordered amorphous and exhibits high-energy selectivity.

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Fuel-flexible biomass off-gassing: The impact of antioxidant spent coffee grains on emissions of CO2, CO, CH4, and VOCs, physical deposits, and combustion in wood pellets

Bruno Rafael de Almeida Moreira, Victor Hugo Cruz, Marcelo Rodrigues Barbosa Junior, Paulo Renato Matos Lopes, Rouverson Pereira da Silva

Summary: This study introduces the use of biogenic extract from spent coffee grains to manage emissions of gases in solid biofuel, particularly wood pellets. The research proves the effectiveness of this method and identifies temperature and humidity as influencing factors. Findings have important implications for optimizing storage and transportation practices of pellets.

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Inoculating functional bacteria improved the humification process by regulating microbial networks and key genera in straw composting by adding different nitrogen sources

Shijia Dong, Yiyang Wei, Qi Yu, Yunfei Gao, Heshu Chen, Kaiyun Zhou, Meidi Cheng, Bo Wang, Yuquan Wei, Xiaomei Hu

Summary: This study compared the effects of functional inoculant and different nitrogen sources on straw composting. The results showed that inoculation improved the heating process and increased the formation of humus. Bioinformatics analysis revealed different bacterial genera in relation to different nitrogen sources, and network analysis showed enhanced microbial synergistic effect with inoculation and nitrogen addition.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

The potential of using sweet corn (Zea mays Saccharata) husk waste as a source for biodegradable plastics

Adhi Setiawan, Rifda N. M. Mahfud, Novi E. Mayangsari, Dika R. Widiana, Aditya P. Iswara, Denny Dermawan

Summary: This study developed cellulose-based bioplastics from corn husk waste and CMC and investigated their properties. The results showed the potential of corn husk waste as a viable bioplastic source, promoting the circular economy concept and reducing environmental pollution.

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Investigation of a Na2S-assisted deep eutectic solvent pretreatment for enhanced cellulose/xylan saccharification and high-quality lignin with abundant ether bond

Xuze Liu, Fangmin Liang, Jinyuan Cheng, Xuelian Zhou, Jia Wang, Guigan Fang, Kuizhong Shen, Xianzhi Meng, Chen Huang, Arthur J. Ragauskas

Summary: A novel Na2S-facilitated DES pretreatment method was proposed to fractionate moso bamboo, which achieved high lignin removal and preserved most cellulose and hemicellulose with excellent enzymatic digestibility.

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Development and characterization of peppermint essential oil/rice husk fibre/ corn starch active biocomposite film and its performance on bread preservation

Vishal Srivastava, Sumer Singh, Dipayan Das

Summary: In this study, an antimicrobial fibre-reinforced biocomposite using rice husk fibre and peppermint essential oil was developed to enhance the properties of packaging film. The fabricated biocomposite exhibited antimicrobial characteristics and extended the shelf life of bread packaging.

INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS (2024)

Article Agricultural Engineering

Inducement mechanism and control of self-acidification in elemental sulfur fluidizing bioreactor

Yi-Lu Sun, Jia-Yu Wang, Huu Hao Ngo, Wei Wei, Wenshan Guo, Xue-Ning Zhang, Hao-Yi Cheng, Ji-Xian Yang, Ai-Jie Wang

Summary: This study investigates the advantages and problems of sulfur fluidizing bioreactor (S0FB) in treating nitrate-rich wastewater. It reveals that self-acidification is the main problem and can be addressed by providing sufficient alkalinity. The experimental results show that S0FB has higher nitrogen and phosphate removal rates compared to conventional sulfur packing bioreactors.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY (2024)