Eucalyptus wood and coffee parchment for particleboard production: Physical and mechanical properties / Madeira de eucalipto e pergaminho de café na produção de aglomerados: Propriedades físicas e mecânicas

ABSTRACT The wood panel industry is constantly growing, being necessary the innovation in technologies and raw materials to improve the quality of the final product. Considering the shortage and pressure to decrease the dependence of wood, there is an interest in other renewable materials such as agricultural wastes. Among these wastes, coffee parchment is one which deserves notoriety. An alternative use for coffee parchment could be for production of particleboard in association with wood particles. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using coffee parchment for production of particleboard. The following percentages of wastes were used: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% in association to eucalyptus wood. The panels were produced with 8% of urea formaldehyde (based on dry weight of particles). The pressing cycle consisted by: pre-pressing of 0.5 MPa for 10 minutes followed by pressing of 4.0 MPa, and temperature of 160° C for 15 minutes. The compaction ratio of particleboards produced using higher quantities of parchment improved the physical properties. The properties of Water Absorption (2 and 24 h) and Thickness Swelling (2 h) decreased with increasing percentage of coffee parchment. The Thickness Swelling (24 h) showed not significant effect with an increase of coffee waste. The Modulus of Elasticity for coffee parchment particleboards was in the range 646.49 ± 112.65 to 402.03 ± 66.24 MPa, while the Modulus of Rupture ranged from 8.18 ± 1.39 to 4.45 ± 0.75 MPa. The results showed that 10% of coffee parchment could be added for production of particleboards.

RESUMO A indústria de painéis de madeira vem em constante crescimento, sendo necessária a inovação em tecnologias e matéria-prima para melhorar a qualidade do produto final. Considerando a escassez e pressão na diminuição da dependência por madeira, existe um interesse em outros materiais renováveis, como os resíduos agrícolas. Entre esses resíduos, o pergaminho de café merece destaque. Uma alternativa para utilização do pergaminho de café poderia ser na produção de particulados, em associação com partículas de madeira. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a viabilidade de utilização do pergaminho de café para produção de aglomerados. As porcentagens de resíduo utilizadas foram: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 e 50% em associação com madeira de eucalipto. Os painéis foram produzidos com 8% de uréia-formaldeído (base massa seca de partículas). O ciclo de prensagem consistiu de: pré-prensagem de 0,5 MPa por 10 minutos, seguido por prensagem de 4,0 MPa e temperatura de 160° C por 15 minutos. A razão de compactação dos painéis produzidos com maiores quantidades de pergaminho melhorou as propriedades físicas. As propriedades de absorção de água (2 e 24 h) e inchamento em espessura (2 h) diminuíram com o aumento da porcentagem de pergaminho de café. O inchamento em espessura (24 h) não apresentou diferenças significativas com o aumento de resíduo de café. O Módulo de Elasticidade dos painéis variou de 646,49 ± 112,65 até 402,03 ± 66,24 MPa, enquanto o Módulo de Ruptura variou de 8,18 ± 1,39 até 4,45 ± 0,75 MPa. Os resultados mostraram que até 10% de pergaminho de café poderia ser adicionados para a produção de painéis aglomerados.

Optimization of solid state fermentation conditions for the production of cellulase by Trichoderma reesei.

Cellulase production studies have been carried out using the fungal strain Trichoderma reesei NCIM 992 by using three different lignocellulosic materials by solid state fermentation (SSF). The effect of basic fermentation parameters (pH, temperature, moisture content, particle size of substrate and moistening agent) on enzyme production was studied. Maximum cellulase production was 2.63 U ml-1 using wheat bran as substrate. The optimal conditions for cellulase production for wheat bran were found to be: initial moisture content-70%, initial medium pH-5.0, temperature-30oC, moistening agents (MSS) and particle size of substrate (500 @m).The optimal incubation time for production was six days. Results indicate the scope for further optimization of the production conditions to obtain higher cellulase titres using the strain under SSF.

A practical culture technique for enhanced production of manganese peroxidase by Anthracophyllum discolor Sp4

In this study, different growth conditions of Anthracophyllum discolor Sp4 including the effect of agitation, additions of lignocellulosic support, inducer and surfactant were evaluated on the MnP production in Kirk medium using a culture system made up of the tubes containing the glass bead . The highest MnP production (1,354 U/L on day 13) was obtained when the medium was supplemented with wheat grain and 0.25 mM MnSO4 as inducer, under static conditions at 30°C. Two isoenzymes were purified (35 and 38 kDa respectively). MnP presented a maximal activity in the pH range between 4.5 and 5.5, a relatively high temperature tolerance (50ºC) and a high catalytic activity for 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and hydrogen peroxide.