Sisal, sugarcane bagasse and microcrystalline celluloses: Influence of the composition of the solvent system N,N-dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride on the solubility and acetylation of these polysaccharides

The present work describes an investigation concerning the acetylation of celluloses extracted from short-life-cycle plant sources (i.e. sugarcane bagasse and sisal fiber) as well as microcrystalline cellulose. The acetylation was carried out under homogeneous conditions using the solvent system N,N-dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride. The celluloses were characterized, and the characterizations included an evaluation of the amount of hemicellulose present in the materials obtained from lignocellulosics sources (sugarcane and sisal). The amount of LiCl was varied and its influence on the degree of acetate substitution was analyzed. It was found that the solvent system composition and the nature of the cellulose influenced both the state of chain dissolution and the product characteristics. The obtained results demonstrated the importance of developing specific studies on the dissolution process as well as on the derivatization of celluloses from various sources.

Hybrid Reinforcement of Sisal and Polypropylene Fibers in Cement-Based Composites

Several studies using vegetable fibers as the exclusive reinforcement in fiber-cement composites have shown acceptable mechanical performance at the first ages. However, after the exposure to accelerated aging tests, these composites have shown significant reduction in the toughness or increase in embrittlement. This was mainly attributed to the improved fiber-matrix adhesion and fiber mineralization after aging process. The objective of the present research was to evaluate composites produced by the slurry dewatering technique followed by pressing and air curing, reinforced with combinations of polypropylene fibers and sisal kraft pulp at different pulp freeness. The physical properties, mechanical performance, and microstructural characteristics of the composites were evaluated before and after accelerated and natural aging. Results showed the great contribution of pulp refinement on the improvement of the mechanical strength in the composites. Higher intensities of refinement resulted in higher modulus of rupture for the composites with hybrid reinforcement after accelerated and natural aging. The more compact microstructure was due to the improved packing of the mineral particles with refined sisal pulp. The toughness of the composites after aging was maintained in relation to the composites at 28 days of cure.

Drilling delamination outcomes on glass and sisal reinforced plastics

Nowadays, fibre reinforced plastics are used in a wide variety of applications. Apart from the most known reinforcement fibres, like glass or carbon, natural fibres can be seen as an economical alternative. However, some mistrust is yet limiting the use of such materials, being one of the main reasons the inconsistency normally found in their mechanical properties. It should be noticed that these materials are more used for their low density than for their high stiffness. In this work, two different types of reinforced plates were compared: glass reinforced epoxy plate and sisal reinforced epoxy plate. For material characterization purposes, tensile and flexural tests were carried out. Main properties of both materials, like elastic modulus, tensile strength or flexural modulus, are presented and compared with reference values. Afterwards, plates were drilled under two different feed rates: low and high, with two diverse tools: twist and brad type drill, while cutting speed was kept constant. Thrust forces during drilling were monitored. Then, delamination area around the hole was assessed by using digital images that were processed using a computational platform previously developed. Finally, drilled plates were mechanically tested for bearing and open-hole resistance. Results were compared and correlated with the measured delamination. Conclusions contribute to the understanding of natural fibres reinforced plastics as a substitute to glass fibres reinforced plastics, helping on cost reductions without compromising reliability, as well as the consequence of delamination on mechanical resistance of this type of composites.

Preparação de carvões activados a partir de sisal por activação química. Aplicação como catalisadores

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

O aproveitamento do resíduo da indústria do sisal no controle de larvas de mosquitos

Descreve-se o aproveitamento do resíduo do desfibramento das folhas de Agave sisalana, como um larvicida para o combate a mosquitos transmissores de doenças tropicais. Durante 24 horas, larvas de Aedes aegypti e Culex quinquefasciatus foram expostas a concentrações diferentes do extrato da planta para determinar as concentrações letais. Para A. aegypti foi constatada a CL50 em 322ppm e para C. quinquefasciatus em 183ppm. Foi investigada a ação de saponinas existentes na planta, ficando evidenciado que o resíduo de A. sisalana é ativo através da interação de vários dos seus componentes. Este extrato poderá ser utilizado em campo, na concentração de 100ppm para C. quinquefasciatus com um aumento do tempo de exposição para três dias, obtendo-se uma mortalidade de 100% das larvas. Este produto, porém, não é recomendado para o controle de A. aegypti, devido à necessidade de uma alta concentração para a obtenção de 100% de mortalidade das larvas e ao fato destas se desenvolverem preferencialmente em água potável.

Institutional entrepreneurship and professionalization of the rural development of the sisal region in Brazil

This work analyses the professionalization of rural development in the Brazilian Northeastern region and how this created opportunities for entrepreneurship when the professional practices of funding bodies were transformed in accordance with local reality. This professionalization has its own characteristics, including fluid formats and the rolling out of networks, and it contributes to the theorization and dissemination of certain practices instead of being concentrated in professional associations and formal links with educational institutions. The main implications are commonly related to institutional processes related to professionalization, such as the emergence of certain organizational formats and the dissemination of professional practices that are considered legitimate. An additional consequence was observed in the area of rural development: the ideas and practices disseminated through professionalization were reinterpreted when the local entrepreneurs adapted them to their own thinking and needs.

Características físicas e químicas de substratos à base de pó de coco e resíduo de sisal para produção de mudas de sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth)

O experimento foi instalado com o objetivo de analisar as características físicas e químicas ocorridas em substratos com diferentes concentrações de pó de coco (PC), resíduo de sisal (RS) e Argissolo Vermelho- Amarelo distrófico (Arg), no crescimento de mudas de sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth), produzidas em recipientes com capacidade para 2 dm³. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com 13 tratamentos e quatro repetições, contendo oito vasos por repetição, num total de 416 unidades amostrais. Avaliaram-se as características físicas e químicas, bem como as variáveis da altura total das plantas e do diâmetro do coleto a cada 30 dias, a área foliar, o número de folhas e a massa seca da parte aérea. Recomenda-se o uso de pó de coco como componente para substratos, pois suas propriedades físicas e químicas, aliadas à sua estrutura e durabilidade, apresentaram condições para a produção de mudas de sabiá. Não se recomenda o uso do resíduo de sisal como componente para substratos na produção de mudas de sabiá, pois esse resíduo revelou valores de condutividade elétrica (CE) e pH inadequados ao cultivo.

Crescimento inicial de mudas de Acacia mangium cultivadas em mantas de fibra de coco contendo substrato de lodo de esgoto

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento inicial de mudas de Acacia mangium semeadas em "manta" de fibra de coco contendo substrato de lodo de esgoto. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com 13 tratamentos e três repetições, distribuídos em esquema fatorial (6 x 2 + 1) com seis proporções de fibra de coco e resíduo agregante, combinados com substratos com e sem lodo de esgoto, mais o tratamento-controle (terra de subsolo). Foram avaliados o índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE), a percentagem de emergência (EM) e a altura das plantas aos 40 e 60 dias após a emergência. O tratamento- controle apresentou melhores resultados em relação ao IVE e EM quando comparado com os tratamentos utilizando "manta" de fibra de coco e resíduo agregante. Não houve diferença entre o controle e os tratamentos com "mantas" em altura das plantas aos 40 e 60 dias. Não foram observadas interações entre o tipo de substrato utilizado no semeio e as diferentes proporções de fibra de coco na "manta". A presença de lodo no substrato não influenciou o IVE e a EM, contudo verificou-se que o substrato sem lodo de esgoto proporcionou maior crescimento em altura das plantas. O uso de "mantas" contendo 50 e 100% de fibra de coco proporcionou maior crescimento às mudas de acácia em condições de campo.

Characterization and treatment of sisal fiber residues for cement-based composite application

Sisal fiber is an important agricultural product used in the manufacture of ropes, rugs and also as a reinforcement of polymeric or cement-based composites. However, during the fiber production process a large amount of residues is generated which currently have a low potential for commercial use. The aim of this study is to characterize the agricultural residues by the production and improvement of sisal fiber, called field bush and refugo and verify the potentiality of their use in the reinforcement of cement-based composites. The residues were treated with wet-dry cycles and evaluated using tensile testing of fibers, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Compatibility with the cement-based matrix was evaluated through the fiber pull-out test and flexural test in composites reinforced with 2 % of sisal residues. The results indicate that the use of treated residue allows the production of composites with good mechanical properties that are superior to the traditional composites reinforced with natural sisal fibers.

Modification of Polypropylene/Polystyrene blend using Nanoclay and Sisal Cellulose nano fiber

Cochin University of Science and Technology

Proyecto para la elaboración de padding y sisal en la empresa Chaide y Chaide S.A.

El presente trabajo analizó la viabilidad económica de poner en marcha una fábrica de producción de padding y sisal, productos aislantes que se emplean en los colchones de resortes. Se realizó un análisis de la situación actual del mercado de padding y sisal determinándose que existen únicamente dos proveedores que manejan el mercado y que por lo tanto limitan las opciones de negociación y las exigencias de calidad, es por esto que se tomó la decisión de evaluar la opción de llevar a acabo un proyecto de integración vertical, que le permita a la empresa Chaide y Chaide proveerse de su propio padding y sisal y así asegurar su aprovisionamiento. Cabe señalar que Chaide es el principal consumidor de estos productos (70% del mercado), por lo tanto al realizar este proyecto los actuales productores se quedarán sin su principal cliente, y posiblemente cerrarán sus plantas, lo que en un futuro le abrirá a la planta de padding y sisal la posibilidad de ampliarse y cubrir el mercado que se quedaría desabastecido. Con las proyecciones de inversión, se ha podido determinar que es un proyecto totalmente viable y con una atractiva rentabilidad; que además de dar rendimientos a los inversionistas, permitirá asegurar el aprovisionamiento de este material fundamental, y además garantizar la calidad de los mismos.

Phenol-furfural resins to elaborate composites, reinforced with sisal fibers - Molecular analysis of resin and properties of composites

Resol type resins were prepared in alkaline conditions (potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate) using furfural obtained by acid hydrolysis of abundant renewable resources from agricultural and forestry waste residues. The structures of the resins were fully determined by H-1, C-13, and 2D NMR spectrometries with the help of four models compounds synthesized specially for this study. MALDI-Tof mass spectrometry experiments indicated that a majority of linear oligomers and a minority of cyclic ones constituted them. Composites were prepared with furfural-phenol resins and sisal fibers. These fibers were chosen mainly because they came from natural lignocellulosic material and they presented excellent mechanical microscopy images indicated that the composites displayed excellent adhesion between resin and fibers. Impact strength measurement showed that mild conditions were more suitable to prepare thermosets. Nevertheless, mild conditions induced a high-diffusion coefficient for water absorption by composites. Composites with good properties could be prepared using high proportion of materials obtained from biomass without formaldehyde. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sisal chemically modified with lignins: Correlation between fibers and phenolic composites properties

Sisal fibers have been chemically modified by reaction with lignins, extracted from sugarcane bagasse and Pinus-type wood and then hydroxymethylated, to increase adhesion in resol-type phenolic thermoset matrices. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) results showed that acidic sites predominate for unmodified/modified sisal fibers and for phenolic thermoset, indicating that the phenolic matrix has properties that favor the interaction with sisal fibers. The IGC results also showed that the phenolic thermoset has a dispersive component closer to those of the modified fibers suggesting that thermoset interactions with the less polar modified fibers are favored. Surface SEM images of the modified fibers showed that the fiber bundle deaggregation increased after the treatment, making the interfibrillar structure less dense in comparison with that of unmodified fibers, which increased the contact area and encouraged microbial biodegradation in simulated soil. Water diffusion was observed to be faster for composites reinforced with modified fibers, since the phenolic resin penetrated better into modified fibers, thereby blocking water passage through their channels. Overall, composites` properties showed that modified fibers promote a significant reduction in the hydrophilic character, and consequently of the reinforced composite without a major effect on impact strength and with increased storage modulus. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.