Developing routes to produce cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from high-lignin wood residues is essential for expanding sustainable nanocellulose feedstocks. In this work, Meranti (Shorea sp.) sawdust was valorized into CNCs by integrating ammonium persulfate (APS) pretreatment with subsequent sulfuric acid hydrolysis. To establish a severity map and define an operating window, APS pretreatment severity was systematically varied by adjusting APS concentration and the sawdust-to-APS (solid-to-liquid) ratio, and its influence on CNC structural properties was evaluated. APS pretreatment partially disrupted and oxidized the lignocellulosic matrix, enabling acid hydrolysis to liberate crystalline cellulose domains. XRD analysis confirmed the preservation of the cellulose I crystalline structure, with a maximum crystallinity index of 72% at 2 M APS and a sawdust-to-APS ratio of 1:30 (w/v), and an average crystallite size of approximately 10 nm estimated using the Scherrer equation. SEM and TEM analyses revealed rod-like CNCs with smooth surfaces and relatively homogeneous dimensions. The optimized samples exhibited CNC lengths of 188.71 ± 5.01 nm and widths of 26.79 ± 1.72 nm. These results demonstrate that Meranti sawdust, a high-lignin wood residue, can be converted into structurally well-defined CNCs using a two-step APS/acid process without prior alkaline pulping or bleaching. This study clarifies the role of APS oxidation in enabling CNC production from feedstocks with lignin contents above 20% and provides a basis for valorizing Meranti sawdust as a renewable precursor for CNCs in advanced material applications.
Among the undesirable effects of soil compaction is a measurable reduction in plant growth and crop yield. The prevailing belief is that compacted tillage pans are caused by repetitive farming practices, heavy tractors, tillage tools, and field traffic. This experiment was conducted to determine and map the hardpan layers across an agricultural field through advanced technologies of precision agriculture. These valuable techniques such as data logger, yield map, and data analysis of performance indicators were linked with accurate global positioning systems (GPS) datasets. These important technologies provided the farmers and helped them to identify and manage areas of the fields with higher compacted layers. Three ground speeds 4.3
... Show MoreIn this work, the nuclear density distributions, size radii and elastic electron scattering form factors are calculated for proton-rich 8B, 17F, 17Ne, 23Al and 27P nuclei using the radial wave functions of Woods-Saxon potential. The parameters of such potential for nuclei under study are generated so as to reproduce the experimentally available size radii and binding energies of the last nucleons on the Fermi surface.
The current study was conducted to investigate Annona fruit pulp effects on the levels of various physiological biomarkers linked with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus after disease induction in mice, as well as indications of oxidative stress and male hormones. The rats were separated into four groups, three of which were given Alloxan (90 mg/kg body weight) to induce diabetes, while the fourth served as a negative control. The first group of diabetic mice received no therapy, the second received metformin (600 mg/kg body weight) and the third received Annona fruit puree. The mice were sacrificed at the end of the experiment, to acquire blood and tissue samples from the liver, kidneys and spleen. The first untreated gro
... Show MoreThe exchange rate is the backbone of any economy in the world, whether developed or developing, where most countries adopted many policies, in order to ensure the stability of the exchange rate of the currency, because of its importance as a link between the local economy and the others ,And it contribute in the achievement of internal and external balance and despite the many different factors that affect it, but there is wide consensus on the effectiveness of the role of spending and the currency window in the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar, especially in the Iraqi economy, effectiveness As the increase in government spending lead to an increase in the supply of money and increase domestic demand and high pr
... Show MoreChanging the Wine into Vinegar