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Cotton stalk is one of the most high-quality biomass resources with a wide range of applications, such as building boards, chemical product raw materials, fuel, and papermaking. China is one of the major cotton-producing countries in the world. The planting area (3×106 hm²) has been ranked third in 2022, leading to the very abundant cotton stalk resources. The cotton stalks can be fully utilized to accelerate the green and low-carbon development of agriculture. Mechanical harvesting can be expected to efficiently remove the cotton stalks from the field. However, the current uprooting machine also needs to be improved and optimized for the cotton stalk. In this research, a clamping-type uprooting device with variable stiffness was designed for a high uprooting rate and low clamping breakage rate. The variable rigidity clamping was adjusted as follows. The flexible rubber clamping was used to prevent the cotton stalk from breaking; A rigid support structure was designed on the outside of the rubber block to obtain a greater clamping force. The better performance was achieved by clamping tightly without breaking the cotton stalk. The uprooting was also improved for the two scenarios of breakage and slippage. The device often consisted of a dividing disk, variable stiffness clamping and pulling mechanism, and tensioning guide mechanism. The dividing disk was used for the orderly feeding of cotton stalks; The variable stiffness clamping and pulling mechanism was used to realize the clamping and pulling of cotton stalks; The tensioning guide mechanism was to effectively control the clamping force and gap of cotton stalks. Two sets of chains were utilized to drive multiple clamping blocks, indicating a simple and reliable structure. Moreover, the frictional heating of traditional flexible belt mechanisms was avoided in this structure. A mechanical analysis was carried out on the cotton stalk pulling motion and the interaction between the variable stiffness clamp and the cotton stalk. The critical structural dimensions and operating parameter ranges were determined for the variable stiffness clamping device. A systematic investigation was made to clarify the influencing factors on the quality of clamping and pulling. The response surface method (RSM) was used to analyze the effects of the forward speed, the rotational speed of the active sprocket, and the clamping force on the stalk uprooting performance of the variable stiffness clamping and pulling device. The field test validated the simulation. The results showed that there was very consistency between the experimental and theoretical predictions, when the forward speed was 0.68 m/s, and the sprocket speed was 95 r/min. The tension force was 1 792 N, and the cotton stalk uprooting rate was 94.70%. The relative error between the measured and predicted uprooting rate value was 1.67%, which was less than 5%. The leakage rate and breakage rate of variable stiffness clamping and uprooting devices were 3.99% and 1.32%, respectively, compared with the existing devices of 5.19% and 3.68%, respectively. Therefore, the leakage rate and breakage rate of the device were reduced by 23.1% and 64.13%, respectively, compared with the former. The variable stiffness gripper effectively reduced the cotton stalk breakage to realize the whole stalk uprooting. The finding can provide new ideas to design the variable stiffness clamps, in order to optimize and improve the cotton stalk pullers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal liquefaction technology (HTL) is a promising thermochemical method to convert biomass into novel liquid fuels. The introduction of oxides and inorganic acids/bases during the hydrothermal process significantly impacts the yield and composition of bio-oil. However, systematic research on their effects, especially at lower temperatures, remains limited. In this paper, we examine the effects of acidity and alkalinity on cotton stalk hydrothermal bio-oil by introducing homogeneous acids and bases. Given the operational challenges associated with product separation using homogeneous acids and bases, this paper further delves into the influence of heterogeneous oxide catalysts (possessing varying degrees of acidity and alkalinity, as well as distinct microstructures and pore architectures) on the production of cotton stalk hydrothermal bio-oil. The effects of nanoscale oxides (CeO2, TiO2, ZnO, Al2O3, MgO and SiO2) and homogeneous acid–base catalysts (NaOH, K2CO3, Na2CO3, KOH, HCl, H2SO4, HNO3) on the quality of cotton stalk bio-oil under moderate hydrothermal conditions (220 °C, 4 h) were investigated. Characterization techniques including infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, and GC-MS were employed. The results revealed that CeO2 and NaOH achieved the highest bio-oil yield due to Ce3+/Ce4+ redox reactions, OH-LCC disruption, and ionic swelling effects. Nano-oxides enhanced the formation of compounds like N-ethyl formamide and aliphatic aldehydes while suppressing nitrogen-containing aromatics. The total pore volume and average pore width of oxides negatively correlated with their catalytic efficiency. CeO2 with low pore volume and width exhibited the highest energy recovery. The energy recovery of cotton stalk bio-oil was influenced by both acid and base sites on the oxide surface, with a higher weak base content favoring higher yields and a higher weak acid content inhibiting them. The findings of this research are expected to provide valuable insights into the energy utilization of agricultural solid waste, such as cotton stalks, as well as to inform the design and development of highly efficient catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential of using natural cotton stalk (CS) to enhance the properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) composite materials. Simple processed CS, used as a bio‐based filler, is integrated into the PLA/PBAT matrix with the objective of improving mechanical properties, barrier performance, and compatibility, while simultaneously reducing costs and environmental impact. The experiments conducted include tensile testing, scanning electron microscopy analysis, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, X‐ray diffraction study, thermogravimetric analysis, contact angle measurement, water absorption tests, as well as water vapor and oxygen permeability tests. The results demonstrate that the inclusion of CS significantly enhances the mechanical properties and crystallinity of PLA/PBAT composites, along with increasing their water vapor and oxygen barrier capabilities. Compared to PLA/PBAT without CS, the addition of 2% CS to PLA/PBAT led to substantial improvements in tensile strength and elongation at break, with increases of 21.5%, 41.6%, and 74.4%, respectively. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy analyses indicate that the incorporation of CS promotes the compatibility and chemical interaction between PLA and PBAT, thereby enhancing various properties of the composite material. Image analysis revealed that the distribution area of CS fibers in the polymer matrix increased with content up to a peak at 2% but decreased at higher contents due to severe agglomeration, leading to uneven distribution and performance decline. This work proposes three possible reasons for the improvement in water vapor and oxygen permeability performance. Overall, the analysis suggests that an optimal amount of CS can effectively enhance multiple properties of PLA/PBAT composites, while excessive CS may lead to a decline in performance. Highlights: Cotton stalk (CS) boosts polylactic acid/poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) tensile strength by 21.5% and elongation by 41.6% at 2% inclusion.CS addition enhances water vapor and oxygen barrier properties of PLA/PBAT.Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy show CS improves PLA/PBAT compatibility and strength.Optimal CS content at 2% identified for best mechanical and barrier performance.Study validates using agricultural waste as fillers in eco‐friendly composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose aerogel, a sustainable material characterized by low density and high porosity, demonstrates promising potential for addressing oil spill incidents. In this study, waste cotton stalk biomass was processed using formic acid and hydrogen peroxide to extract cellulose, resulting in the successful creation of a cost-effective aerogel. This material exhibits notable attributes: low density (21.1 mg cm−3), high porosity (91.5%), significant hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 147°), exceptional adsorption capacity (47.61 g g−1), and robust cycling performance (maintaining 94% adsorption capacity after 15 cycles). Moreover, the CNF/CS biomass aerogel boasts high mechanical strength and exceptional oil–water and emulsion separation properties. These characteristics position this aerogel as a promising solution for mitigating various sudden oil spill incidents, indicating its potential for widespread application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high water consumption in agriculture has led to an obvious water crisis in this sector, and the use of unconventional water sources, especially agricultural drains, is considered necessary. For this purpose, the present study was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of biological filters with different types of substrates for treating agricultural wastewater in Khuzestan province, located in the south of Iran, to use receptive resources and reuse them in agriculture. Next, the efficiency of four types of biological filters for treating agricultural drainage water with different retention times was evaluated. Sawdust, cotton stalks, wheat straw, stubble, and rice husk were used as filters. Qualitative factors included agricultural pesticides (Atrazine, Randup, Paraquat, and 2, 4-D) and nutrients (nitrate, nitrogen, phosphate, and phosphorus). By examining the trend of increasing the retention time and the corresponding removal percentage, it was observed that the retention time has a direct relationship with the amount of removal efficiency of nutrients and agricultural toxins. As the residence time increases, the average amount of nutrient compounds in different filters decreases, and their removal percentage increases. The highest removal percentage of nitrate, total nitrogen, phosphate, and total phosphorus was 74.03, 71.66, 57.97, and 61.85% in the sawdust filter and was assigned to 10 days. The highest percentage of removal of Atrazine, Tofudi, Paraquat, and Roundup toxins with a removal efficiency of 91.73, 84.27, 89.81, and 88.46% was also observed in the treatment of sawdust for 10 days. The sawdust filter showed a good performance in removing the parameters of agricultural toxins and nutrient compounds in a retention time of 10 days compared to other filters and retention times. As a general result, the sawdust filter can be cited as a reliable substrate with acceptable efficiency compared to other filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulose fillers, like cotton stalks, provide a stiffness that enhances the mechanical properties of composites. However, finding an appropriate filler loading for optimizing the mechanical performance of biocomposites remains a challenge, as there are disparities in the optimum filler loadings found in previous studies concerning the use of cotton stalk as a filler in biocomposite manufacturing. Therefore, the need for further investigations is of prime importance. Cotton-stalk-filler-reinforced high-density polyethylene (CS/HDPE) biocomposites were fabricated with different weight proportions (10-50 wt%) of the cotton stalk filler with particle size distributions 425 to 53 μm. The biocomposites were prepared using an extrusion process with a twin-screw extruder followed by compression molding in an electrically heated platen press. Results showed that the composite reinforced with 50 wt% filler gave the optimum values of tensile and flexural moduli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at solving the problems of the high cost of manual pulling, the low reliability of existing pulling devices, and the high breaking rates and high leakage rates in the process of cotton stalk reuse after removal from the field in the Xinjiang cotton area, a soil-loosening and root-cutting cotton stalk pulling and gathering machine was researched and designed; a root-cutting force model was established; the key parameters of the V-shaped root-cutting knife were calculated and optimized; and the ranges of the slide cutting angle, the cutting-edge angle, and the soil entry angle were determined. A shoveling process simulation of the V-shaped root-cutting knife and the root–soil complex was constructed, and the working mechanism of the V-shaped root-cutting knife was clarified. In order to verify the reliability and operation performance of the V-shaped root-cutting knife, the slide cutting angle, the cutting-edge angle, and the soil entry angle were used as the test factors, and a response surface test with three factors and three levels was carried out with the root-breaking force and the mean value of the cutting resistance as the test indices. The test results were analyzed by variance analysis, and the significant factors influencing the root-breaking force in descending order were the slide cutting angle, cutting-edge angle, and soil entry angle. The degrees of influence on the mean value of the cutting resistance were ordered as follows: slide cutting angle, soil entry angle, and cutting-edge angle. In order to make the V-shaped root-cutting knife achieve the optimal working state, the parameters of the test indices were optimized, and the optimal design parameters of the V-shaped root-cutting knife were set as follows: the slide cutting angle was 48.3°, the cutting-edge angle was 43.4°, and the soil entry angle was 26.2°. The field uprooting test showed that the average pass rate of root breakage was 94.8% and the average pull-out rate of cotton stalks was 93.2%. This study provides theoretical guidance for the development of a root-breaking mechanism for cotton straw harvesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is an increasing need to find new ways to purify water by eliminating bacterial biofilms, textile dyes, and toxic water pollutants. These contaminants pose significant risks to both human health and the environment. To address this issue, in this study, we have developed an eco-friendly approach that involves synthesizing a cobalt-doped cerium iron oxide (CCIO) nanocomposite (NC) using an aqueous extract of Gossypium arboreum L. stalks. The resulting nanoparticles can be used to effectively purify water and tackle the challenges associated with these harmful pollutants. Nanoparticles excel in water pollutant removal by providing a high surface area for efficient adsorption, versatile design for the simultaneous removal of multiple contaminants, catalytic properties for organic pollutant degradation, and magnetic features for easy separation, offering cost-effective and sustainable water treatment solutions. A CCIO nanocomposite was synthesized via a green co-precipitation method utilizing biomolecules and co-enzymes extracted from the aqueous solution of Gossypium arboreum L. stalk. This single-step synthesis process was accomplished within a 5-h reaction period. Furthermore, the synthesis of nanocomposites was confirmed by various characterization techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) technology. CCIO NCs were discovered to have a spherical shape and an average size of 40 nm. Based on DLS zeta potential analysis, CCIO NCs were found to be anionic. CCIO NCs also showed significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Overall, considering their physical and chemical properties, the application of CCIO NCs for the adsorption of various dyes (~91%) and water pollutants (chromium = ~60%) has been considered here since they exhibit great adsorption capacity owing to their microporous structure, and represent a step forward in water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In view of the large difference in moisture content of cotton stalk in autumn in Xinjiang, the existing process of obtaining discrete element simulation parameters of cotton stalk is low in accuracy and complicated in operation, leading to the problems of poor universality and low accuracy in regard to the discrete element simulation parameter-calibration method in the process of mechanized transportation, throwing and returning to the field. Therefore, the experimental study on cotton stalk with different moisture content was carried out with the accumulation angle as the response value, so as to construct a parameter model that can quickly and accurately calibrate cotton stalk with different levels of moisture content. The model has high applicability and flexibility, and it can be widely used in the simulation test of various cotton field-operation machinery, such as a residual film-recycling machine, cotton picker, crushing and returning machine and other equipment. The water content–accumulation angle model was established by the cylinder-lifting method, and the correlation coefficient of the model was 0.9993. Based on EDEM 2020 software, the Hertz–Mindlin model was used to simulate the stacking angle of cotton stalk, and the rolling friction coefficient, static friction coefficient and collision recovery coefficient between cotton stalk and cotton stalk–steel were obtained. Through the Plackett–Burman test, climbing test and Box–Behnken test, three significant parameters, namely the rolling friction coefficient, static friction coefficient and static friction coefficient between cotton stalk and steel, were selected from discrete element simulation parameters to characterize the moisture content of cotton stalk, and the accumulation angle–discrete element parameter model was established. The p-value of the model was less than 0.0001, and the relative error was only 2.67%. Based on the moisture content–stacking angle model and the stacking angle–discrete element parameter model, the moisture content–discrete element parameter model was constructed. The model was verified by the cylinder-lifting method and the plate-drawing method, and the relative error was only 2.79%. Finally, the model was further verified by comparing the effect of the throwing uniformity between the mechanical simulation test and field test, and the relative error was only 4.75%. The test proves that the moisture content–discrete element parameter model is accurate and reliable, not only providing the design basis and support for the mechanization research of cotton stalk conveying and returning to the field in Xinjiang but also providing ideas for the calibration of discrete element simulation parameters of other crop straws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Kazakhstan, the topic of cotton waste recycling is very relevant in modern conditions. Given that Kazakhstan is one of the largest cotton producers in the world, the issue of utilization of a large amount of cotton stalks and other waste generated after cotton harvesting is on the agenda. Inefficient utilization of these wastes leads to serious environmental problems, such as soil and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions from their incineration. In addition, the lack of efficient processing methods deprives the country of the opportunity to utilize cotton waste to produce valuable products such as pulp, limiting the economic potential of the region. Thus, the development and implementation of new efficient technologies for processing cotton waste in Kazakhstan is not only environmentally and economically relevant, but also of strategic importance for the sustainable development of the country. Processing of cotton stalks and other wastes into lignocellulose and cellulose can become a source of new economic opportunities both for the world and for Kazakhstan, where cotton is intensively grown. Recycling cotton stalks and other cotton residues helps to reduce the amount of waste that is usually disposed of in garbage or mass burned after cotton harvesting. The solution to these problems could be to recycle these wastes and get valuable products out of them to avoid global warming and other negative effects that threaten the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the research potential in utilizing biochars as adsorbents in adsorption processes has grown due to their eco‐friendly and economical nature. However, biochar often possesses a negative surface charge that limits its affinity for binding anions. Nitric acid washing and pretreatment with Coriolus versicolor can break down the lignocellulosic structure in cotton stalk waste, facilitating the subsequent impregnation of Mg and Fe metal oxides. These pretreatment steps can lead to the production of diverse and functionalized biochars with higher adsorption capacities. In this study, cotton stalk waste was first washed with diluted nitric acid and then subjected to biological pretreatment by incubation with C. versicolor, followed by impregnation with Mg and Fe to obtain CV‐CS/Fe and CV‐CS/Mg biochars. The results showed that the applied pretreatments altered the physicochemical properties and significantly increased the phosphorus adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacities of CV‐CS/Fe and CV‐CS/Mg biochars were found to be 277.88 and 507.01 mg g−1, respectively. The results indicate that the incorporation of multiple metal oxide impregnates enhances P adsorption. Furthermore, in the kinetic study, pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order models provided a well fit, determining chemical adsorption as the main adsorption mechanism for phosphorus adsorption. The biochars demonstrated compatibility with Langmuir–Freundlich models. Overall, the findings suggest the possibility of synthesizing biochars with improved adsorptive properties through pretreatment, and these engineered biochars hold promising potential as effective adsorbents in the field. Practitioner Points: Eco‐friendly, natural, and economical biochar was synthesized.Biochar was produced via Coriolus versicolor pretreatment.High adsorption capacities of CV‐PS/Mg biochars were found to be 507.01 mg g−1.Adsorption capacities of biochars can be improved by pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking heat generation as the evaluation index, the orthogonal experiment was used to optimize the combustion conditions of blending municipal sludge and cotton stalks. The result showed that the primary and secondary factors affecting the heat generation of the sludge mixture were cotton stalks blending ratio > stirring time > particle size of blending, and the optimal blending conditions were 40% of cotton stalks blending, stirring time of 5 min, and blending particle size of 0.075 mm. Under optimal mixing conditions, the ignition and combustion temperatures of urban sludge were significantly reduced, the heat generation was increased by 34%, the comprehensive combustion characteristic index was increased by 3.97 times, the activation energy was reduced by 12.74 kJ/mol, and the sludge and cotton stalks were in the stage of positive facilitation in the combustion process almost the whole time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green coal obtained by carbonizing agricultural residues and biodegradable household waste, is one of the innovative solutions currently being used in several countries to tackle deforestation. The aim of this work is to study the technical and economic feasibility for a green coal production Unit in the far North Region of Cameroun. The objectives are to assess the potential of agricultural residues in the locality, the efficiency of the carbonizer, the thermochemical characteristics of the green coal produced and its acceptability by users and the viability of the project. For this purpose, an assessment of the used agricultural residues potential was carried out by the mean of residues/products ratio, then the efficiency of the carbonizer was evaluated by calculations as well as the quality of the green charcoal by compared combustion tests conducted in a small-scale enterprise based in Maroua using a "1-barrel" carbonizer. The acceptability tests were made through survey and the Return on Investment (RI) was used as a parameter to evaluate the profitability of the green coal production unit. The results have shown that (i) the theoretical potential of sorghum/millet, maize and cotton stalks is estimated at 2,688,062.4 tons per year, (ii) the efficiency of the carbonizer varies between 22 and 25% depending of the raw material, (iii) Arabic gum is the binder that gives the best quality to the green charcoal, (iv) the green charcoal can very easily find a market. Nonetheless, the Return on Investment shows a deficit in the manufacturing of green coal. Ways for improvement have been proposed. These include the use of a "3-barrel" carbonizer and the rising of the green charcoal selling price to 500 FCFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different chemical treatment methods were employed to modify the surface of cotton stalk fibers, which were then utilized as fillers in composite materials. These treated fibers were incorporated into polylactic acid/polypropylene melt blends using the melt blending technique. Results indicated that increasing the surface roughness of cotton stalk fibers could enhance the overall mechanical properties of the composite materials, albeit potentially leading to poor fiber–matrix compatibility. Conversely, a smooth fiber surface was found to improve compatibility with polylactic acid, while Si-O-C silane coating increased fiber regularity and interfacial interaction with the matrix, thereby enhancing heat resistance. The mechanical properties and thermal stability of the composite materials made from alkali/silane-treated fibers exhibited the most significant improvement. Furthermore, better dispersion of fibers in the matrix and more regular fiber orientation were conducive to increasing the overall crystallinity of the composite materials. However, such fiber distribution was not favorable for enhancing impact resistance, although this drawback could be mitigated by increasing the surface roughness of the reinforcing fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, cotton stalks (Gossypium barbadense) and date palm stones (Phoenix dactylifera) have been used as biosorbents to remove cadmium; Cd(II), lead; Pb(II), and zinc; Zn(II) from mono- and multi-solutions. Each biosorbent was characterized using SEM-EDX, and FT-IR. The findings showed that pH, dose, contact time, metal concentration, and particle size affect the treatment process. The adsorption pattern was Pb(II) > Cd(II) > Zn(II) for both biosorbents. The adsorption performance of cotton stalks was higher than that of date palm stones. The fitted maximum uptake capacities; qm of cotton stalks were higher than those of date palm stones. The maximum adsorption at optimum conditions of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) with cotton stalks were 98%, 92.1%, and 78.9%, respectively, within 30 min. While the maximum adsorption of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) with date palm stones were 94.6%, 76%, and 68.6%, respectively. Results confirmed the antagonistic effect of heavy metal removal at optimum conditions. Biosorbents could remove ~ 100% of the metal ions from real wastewater samples. Regeneration investigation revealed a successful reusability of both biosorbents for four cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, huge amounts of cotton and sunflower stalks are generated annually. These wastes are being underutilized since they are mostly burned in the fields. So, in this work, we proposed a three-step method consisting of acid pre-treatment, alkaline hydrolysis, and bleaching for the extraction of cellulose pulps. These pulps were characterized to assess their morpho-structural and thermal properties. The design of experiments and response surface methodology were used for the optimization of the acid pre-treatment in order to achieve maximum removal of non-cellulosic compounds and obtain pulps enriched in cellulose. For cotton stalks, optimal conditions were identified as a reaction time of 190 min, a reaction temperature of 96.2 °C, and an acid (nitric acid) concentration of 6.3%. For sunflower stalks, the optimized time, temperature, and acid concentration were 130 min, 73.8 °C, and 8.7%, respectively. The pulps obtained after bleaching contained more than 90% cellulose. However, special care must be taken during the process, especially in the acid pre-treatment, as it causes the solubilization of a great amount of material. The characterization revealed that the extraction process led to cellulose pulps with around 69–70% crystallinity and thermal stability in the range of 340–350 °C, ready to be used for their conversion into derivatives for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandy soil covers a significant portion of Egypt's total land area, representing a crucial agricultural resource for future food security and economic growth. This research adopts the hypothesis of maximizing the utilization of secondary products for soil improvement to reduce ecosystem pollution. The study focuses on assessing the impact of combining phosphogypsum and modified biochar as environmentally friendly soil amendments on loamy sand soil quality parameters such as soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, nutrient levels, and wheat yield. The treatments were T1: the recommended NPK fertilizer (control); T2: 2.5 kg phosphogypsum m−2 soil; T3: 2.5 kg rice straw biochar m−2 soil; T4: 2.5 kg cotton stalk biochar m−2 soil; T5: 2.5 kg rice-straw-modified biochar m−2 soil; T6: 2.5 kg cotton-stalk-modified biochar m−2 soil; and T7 to T10: mixed phosphogypsum and biochar treatments. The results revealed that the combined use of phosphogypsum and modified cotton stalk biochar (T10) significantly enhanced soil organic carbon (SOC) by 73.66% and 99.46% in both seasons, the soil available N both seasons by 130.12 and 161.45%, the available P by 89.49% and 102.02%, and the available K by 39.84 and 70.45% when compared to the control treatment. Additionally, this treatment led to the highest grain yield of wheat (2.72 and 2.92 Mg ha−1), along with a significant increase in straw yield (52.69% and 59.32%) compared to the control treatment. Overall, the findings suggest that the combined use of phosphogypsum and modified biochar, particularly cotton-stalk biochar, holds promise for improving loamy sand-soil quality and wheat productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of straw recycling, a cotton straw-harvesting mechanism is an important piece of agricultural equipment. The mechanistic analysis method of the harvesting mechanism is a major focus of research and development in this field. Currently, in the mechanistic analysis of the cotton straw recycling mechanism, the kinematic and mechanical analysis of the recycling mechanism is generally the main focus. There is not a lot of research based on the quantitative analysis between different recycling mechanisms. In this study, a clamped cotton straw pulling mechanism is optimized and designed, and two different pulling structures are designed. In addition, a two-dimensional modeling and analysis method is used to establish the two-dimensional equations of motion of the two pulling mechanisms, analyze the leakage and breakage rates of the two clamping structures, predict the final pulling effect, and verify the results of the field tests. According to the analysis, the belt-clamping side has more uniform clamping stress and a larger clamping contact area than the chain-clamping side, and the tangential stress on cotton straw is smaller. Based on the field-test verification, the band-clamping side had a higher pulling net rate by an average of 19.32% and a lower missed pulling rate by an average of 6.01% than the chain-clamping side. Therefore, it was determined that the main reason for the lower pulling net rate of the chain-gripped side than that of the belt-gripped side was the higher pulling breakage rate, and the secondary reason was the high leakage pulling rate. Thus, the feasibility and accuracy of the analytical method of this study are verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to use diluted sulfuric acid to optimize the pretreatment conditions for cotton stalk. Different quantities (w/v) of cotton stalk (5%, 10%, 15%) were pretreated with different concentrations of H2SO4 (0.6%, 0.8%, 1%) for 4, 6 and 8 hours to degrade the crystalline structure of cellulose and to facilitate the hydrolysis of the cellulosic component. Dilute acidic pretreatment was also conducted in steam conditions at 121 °C, 15 psi. A statistical model was created using a three-level Box Behnken design (BBD) to optimize the process variables. Maximum results regarding cellulose exposure (85%) were recorded with 15% substrate loading, 0.8% acid concentration and time period of 8 hours followed by steam. Maximum total phenolic compounds (8.17 mg/mL) were observed under the same conditions, except steam. The effectiveness of the pretreatment was also analyzed by FTIR and XRD techniques. The results were analysed using ANOVA with a second order polynomial equation. The P value < 0.05 showed the significance of the model. The pretreatment conditions that allowed obtaining maximum cellulose content can be used for enzymatic hydrolysis to produce maximum sugars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the harvesting process, rigid materials are prone to causing damage to the cotton stalks, which will increase the risk of stalk breakage. A cotton stalk pulling component that blends stiff and flexible materials was devised to lower the breaking rate. The cotton stalk pulling component was made up of rollers and flexible belts that pull the stalks using clamping force and the forward speed of the tractor. The influence of various factors in the equipment on the harvesting effect of cotton stalks were analyzed through response surface experiments, and a multiple quadratic regression response surface model with missing pulling rate and breakage rate as response values was established. The significant of influencing factors on the breaking rate of cotton stalks are in a descending order as: the angle of cotton stalk pulling, tractor's forward speed, and the clamping speed of the cotton stalk component. The working parameters of the wheel-belt type cotton stalk pulling machine have been optimized using the response surface combination experimental method, and the optimal parameter combination was obtained as: tractor forward speed of 4.5 km/h, cotton stalk pulling angle of 60°, and clamping speed of the cotton stalk pulling component of 349 r/min. The results of validation experiments showed that the missing pulling rate of cotton stalks was 5.06% and the breakage rate was 13.12%, indicating a good harvesting effect of the cotton stalks. The model was reasonable and the performance parameters could meet the relevant inspection requirements. The results can provide a reference for further research on the technology of flexible cotton stalk pulling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural wastes, comprising cotton straw and livestock manure, can be effectively managed through aerobic co-composting. Nevertheless, the quality and microbial characteristics of co-composting products from different sources remain unclear. Therefore, this study utilized livestock manure from various sources in Xinjiang, China, including herbivorous sheep manure (G), omnivorous pigeon manure (Y), and pigeon-sheep mixture (GY) alongside cotton stalks, for a 40-day co-composting process. We monitored physicochemical changes, assessed compost characteristics, and investigated fungal community. The results indicate that all three composts met established composting criteria, with compost G exhibiting the fastest microbial growth and achieving the highest quality. Ascomycota emerged as the predominant taxon in three compost products. Remarkably, at the genus level, the biomarker species for G, Y, and GY are Petromyces and Cordyceps, Neurospora, and Neosartorya, respectively. Microorganisms play a pivotal role in organic matter degradation, impacting nutrient composition, demonstrating significant potential for the decomposition and transformation of compost components. Redundancy analysis indicates that potassium, total organic carbon, and C:N are key factors influencing fungal communities. This study elucidates organic matter degradation in co-composting straw and livestock manure diverse sources, optimizing treatment for efficient agricultural waste utilization and sustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The use of fossil fuels and land use change has caused a catastrophic increase in carbon in the atmosphere, which has led to a decrease in soil quality, global warming, and climate change. The deficiency of organic matter, salinity and alkalinity of the soil are three important limitations of the soils of winter rangelands in Iran. Biochar is a carbon-rich material that is produced during the pyrolysis process from raw materials containing carbon at high temperature and under almost oxygenfree conditions. It is used to improve soil quality, carbon sequestration and remove pollutants from the environment. Biochar can be engineered/designed for specific applications or to achieve specific results. Increasing the percentage of stable carbon and improving the physico-chemical properties of engineered biochars can play an important role in carbon sequestration and improving the properties of winter rangelands soils. Materials and Methods: After washing and drying, the cotton stalk was cut into pieces of less than 2 cm. Then it was immersed for 4 hours in a solution with a concentration of 20% metal salts of calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and iron chloride, and dried again. Then, in the electric furnace, at various temperatures of 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 degrees centigrade, within two hours, 20 biochars (control and engineered) were produced from treated cotton stalks with different metal salts and untreated cotton stalks. Finally, properties of produced biochars including yield percent, organic carbon percentage, stable carbon percentage, acidity and salinity were measured. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS16 software using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test. Results: The yield of produced biochars (control and engineered) significantly decreased with increasing temperature, so that the highest percentage of their yield was observed at pyrolysis temperatures of 300 °C. The highest percentage of yield (50.20%) was obtained in biochar treated with iron chloride produced at 300 °C. The highest organic carbon (50.97%) and stable carbon (99.57%) were obtained in control biochar produced at 500 °C and biochar treated with iron chloride produced at 700 °C, respectively. The highest increase in the ratio of the weight of stable carbon to the weight of the feed stock was observed in biochar treated with iron chloride produced at 300 °C. The lowest and highest electrical conductivity (1.1 and 7.43 dSm) were obtained in control biochar produced at 300 °C and calcium chloride treated biochar produced at 700 °C. The highest and lowest acidity (9.83 and 5.60) were observed in control biochar produced at 700 °C and iron chloride treated biochar produced at 300 °C. Conclusion: Considering the limitations in the soil of Iran's winter rangelands and the characteristics of control and engineered biochars along with the energy required for their production, Biochar produced from cotton stalks treated with iron chloride salt at 300°C has the highest performance and high stable carbon, the lowest acidity and acceptable electrical conductivity, therefore, it is recommended to use in carbon sequestration and plantation projects in winter rangelands of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition and thermal properties of natural fibers are the most critical variables that determine the overall properties of the fibers and influence their processing and use in different sustainable applications, such as their conversion into bioenergy and biocomposites. Their thermal and mechanical properties can be estimated by evaluating the content of cellulose, lignin, and other extractives in the fibers. In this research work, the chemical composition and thermal properties of three fibers, namely bagasse, kenaf bast fibers, and cotton stalks, were evaluated to assess their potential utilization in producing biocomposites and bioenergy materials. The chemical composition analysis followed the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Standards (TAPPI) methods. The total phenol content was quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to assess the light absorption by the bonds. To evaluate thermal stability and higher heating values, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and bomb calorimetry were performed. The chemical analysis revealed that bagasse contained 50.6% cellulose and 21.6% lignin, kenaf bast fibers had 58.5% cellulose and 10% lignin, and cotton stalks exhibited 40.3% cellulose and 21.3% lignin. The FTIR curves demonstrated a notable similarity among the fibers. The TGA analysis showed degradation temperatures of 321°C for bagasse, 354°C for kenaf bast fibers, and 289°C for cotton stalks. The DSC analysis revealed glass transition temperatures of 81°C for bagasse, 66.3°C for cotton stalks, and 64.5°C for kenaf bast fibers. The higher heating values were measured as 17.3, 16.6 and 17.1 MJ/kg for bagasse, kenaf bast fibers, and cotton stalks, respectively. The three fibers have a high potential for biocomposites and bioenergy material manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton stalks are residual biomass resulting from cotton bud harvesting, and they are composed primarily of lignocellulosic material. This material could be a source of functional polyphenols. To investigate this prospect, this study was undertaken with the view to examining whether an ethanol-based organosolv treatment could be suitable for producing extracts enriched in polyphenolic compounds. To this end, alkali catalysis was employed, and two catalysts, sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate, were tested. The initial approach based on treatment severity showed that both catalysts may be equally effective in the recovery of polyphenols, yet in most cases studied, no clear trend between treatment severity and total polyphenol yield was recorded. The following study, based on response surface methodology, provided optimized conditions for both treatments, sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate, where the recommended catalyst concentrations were 0.67 and 4%, respectively. Under a constant temperature of 90 °C and residence time of 300 min, the treatments with sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate afforded total polyphenol yields of 18.4 ± 1 and 15.6 ± 1.9 mg CAE g−1 DM, respectively, which showed no significant statistical difference (p > 0.05). However, high-performance liquid chromatography analyses revealed that the sodium carbonate-catalyzed treatment produced extract particularly enriched in two hydroxycinnamate derivatives, ferulic and p-coumaric acid. This extract also exhibited increased antioxidant activity. The outcome of this study strongly suggests cotton stalks as a bioresource of functional substances, while mild alkali-catalyzed ethanol organosolv treatment appears to be a very promising technique for effectively delivering hydroxycinnamate-enriched extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a circular economy, significant emphasis is given to the energetic valorization of agricultural byproducts. Cotton stalks are suitable as a feedstock for the production of bioenergy due to their high energy content. This study's main focal areas are the economic viability and environmental implications of a system that can gasify or pyrolyze 25,500 tons of cotton stalk annually. To learn more about how gasification and pyrolysis affect the environment, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted. This analysis evaluates the whole value chain and covers all stages of the cotton supply chain from cradle to gate, including production, harvest, transportation, and utilization. According to the findings, both systems exhibit economic viability, generating sizable profits and having quick payback times. However, despite its larger initial expenditure of EUR 2.74 million, the pyrolysis unit ends up being the better option because it has a payback period of 1.58 years, a return on investment (ROI) of 58% and a net present value (NPV) of EUR 21.5 million. Gasification is still an economically attractive alternative with a lower initial investment (EUR 1.81 million), despite having a lower ROI (36%) and NPV (EUR 10.52 million), as well as a longer payback period (2.41 years). However, the environmental implications of the gasification option are generally higher than those of pyrolysis. The impacts of gasification on fossil depletion (FDP) were estimated to be 5.7 million kg oil eq., compared to 5.3 million kg oil eq. for pyrolysis. Similarly, gasification resulted in 41.55 million kg U235 eq. and pyrolysis in 41.5 million kg U235 eq. related to impacts on ionizing radiation (IRP_HE). Other impact categories that emerge as the most important are freshwater eutrophication (FEP) and marine eutrophication (MEP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of three natural fibers, namely, bagasse, kenaf bast fibers and cotton stalk, to produce particleboard suitable for application in green furniture and thermal insulation, using tannins and casein as natural matrices at the concentration of 15%. The particleboards were tested according to the relevant European standards to determine their mechanical properties, physical properties and thermal conductivity. The results showed that particleboards made from bagasse fibers and cotton stalks with casein adhesives exhibited higher mechanical performance and complied with European standards for board used for furniture and interior fitments. The particleboards prepared using tannins failed to satisfy the EN standards. All particleboards met the thermal conductivity requirements of the European standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to address the common difficulties in pulling and harvesting whole cotton stalks, such as high pulling resistance, high miss-pulling rate, and high breakage rate, which severely hinder the recycling of cotton stalks, three different pulling mechanisms with different pulling principles (wrapping-type pulling mechanism, clamping-type pulling mechanism, transverse roller-type pulling mechanism) were designed. The pulling force on cotton stalks during the pulling process of the three different roller-type pulling mechanisms was compared and analyzed, clarifying the mechanism of roller-type whole cotton stalk pulling mechanisms and identifying situations with optimal pulling force. Field comparative experiments were conducted to compare the working performance of different roller-type pulling mechanisms in the field, and a comprehensive analysis of two key indicators in pulling cotton stalks, miss-pulling rate and breakage rate, was carried out. The results showed that the pulling method and pulling force of the pulling mechanism played a crucial role in the successful pulling of cotton straws. Comparative analysis of the three pulling mechanisms revealed that the clamping-type pulling mechanism had the highest pulling force. The standard deviation means of the missed pull rates for mechanisms X1, X2, and X3 were 0.83%, 0.59%, and 0.43%, respectively, while the standard deviation means of the breakage rates were 1.48%, 1.79%, and 0.49%, respectively. The enveloping-type pulling mechanism had a higher missed pull rate with an average of 8.32%, and the clamping-type pulling mechanism resulted in excessive breakage of cotton straw during operation, with an average breakage rate of 14.10%. In contrast, the transverse roller-type straw pulling mechanism performed the best in the field performance test, as it did not require precise alignment and had an average missed pull rate of 4.55% and an average breakage rate of only 7.55%. Considering the practical needs of agriculture production, the transverse roller-type straw pulling mechanism is recommended as the pulling device for cotton straw harvesting. The research results can provide a reference for the design selection of whole-plant straw pulling mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a circular economy, significant emphasis is given to the energetic valorization of agricultural byproducts. Cotton stalks are suitable as a feedstock for the production of bioenergy due to their high energy content. This study’s main focal areas are the economic viability and environmental implications of a system that can gasify or pyrolyze 25,500 tons of cotton stalk annually. To learn more about how gasification and pyrolysis affect the environment, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted. This analysis evaluates the whole value chain and covers all stages of the cotton supply chain from cradle to gate, including production, harvest, transportation, and utilization. According to the findings, both systems exhibit economic viability, generating sizable profits and having quick payback times. However, despite its larger initial expenditure of EUR 2.74 million, the pyrolysis unit ends up being the better option because it has a payback period of 1.58 years, a return on investment (ROI) of 58% and a net present value (NPV) of EUR 21.5 million. Gasification is still an economically attractive alternative with a lower initial investment (EUR 1.81 million), despite having a lower ROI (36%) and NPV (EUR 10.52 million), as well as a longer payback period (2.41 years). However, the environmental implications of the gasification option are generally higher than those of pyrolysis. The impacts of gasification on fossil depletion (FDP) were estimated to be 5.7 million kg oil eq., compared to 5.3 million kg oil eq. for pyrolysis. Similarly, gasification resulted in 41.55 million kg U235 eq. and pyrolysis in 41.5 million kg U235 eq. related to impacts on ionizing radiation (IRP_HE). Other impact categories that emerge as the most important are freshwater eutrophication (FEP) and marine eutrophication (MEP).

The whole cotton stalks are extremely difficult to pull out in Xinjiang in western China. Taking the cotton stalk as the research object, a stalk uprooting equipment with the toothed plate was designed and manufactured, in order to reduce the rate of breakage and leakage, a better performance was achieved without entering into the soil to take out the whole stalks plant, to reduce the influence of the working part on the recycling of the membrane. The device consisted of the V-shaped toothed plate group, the support to harvest clamping belt and tension adjustment. Mathematical analysis was performed on the movement of the V-type tooth plate group, and the support force of the harvesting belt clamping cotton stalks. The clamping point of cotton stalks and supporting stalks trajectory were established in the speed equation of the V-type tooth plate group, according to the agronomic requirements in the mechanical harvesting of cotton planting. The rotating speed of the tooth plate was greater than the proceeding speed. The speed of the clamping belt was much greater than the forward speed of the machine tool level. In order to determine the range of the working parameters, a three-factor and three-level second regression quadratic test was also designed to explore the importance of each parameter in the removal of cotton stalks using Design Expert 13 software. The forward speed, toothed-plate rotational speed, and belt speed were taken as the test factors, with the cotton stalk pulling rate and the leakage rate as the evaluation indexes. The results showed that there was the most significant effect on the pulling-off rate and the leakage rate, when the belt and forward speeds were more than 0.85, and 0.8 m/s, respectively. The response surface test was carried out to obtain the best combination of operating parameters in the cotton stalk pulling equipment, where the forward speed of 0.63 m/s, the rotational speed of the toothed plate of 58.57 r/min, and the belt speed of 0.71 m/s, the pulling breakage rate and the leakage rate were 3.90% and 4.34%, respectively. The field test showed that there was the most significant effect on the pulling breakage rate and the leakage rate, when the forward speed of 0.65 m/s, the rotational speed of the toothed plate of 58 r/min, and the belt speed of 0.71 m/s, the pulling breakage rate and leakage rate of straw pulling were 3.87%, and 4.48%, respectively, the relative error was within 5% with the theoretical prediction, indicating reliable optimization. The finding can also provide a strong reference to design the whole plant pulling device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, four solid adsorbents were prepared via green synthesis sources, namely, nanohydroxyapatite (NHAP), nanocellulose (NC), nanocellulose/nanohydroxyapatite composite (NPC), and ferric@nanocellulose/nanohydroxyapatite composite (FNPC). Synthesis procedures were based on natural sources such as sea scallop shells and cotton stalks. All the prepared solid adsorbents were characterized by TGA, XRD, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm, FTIR, pHPZC, SEM, and TEM. FNPC exhibited a higher surface area (358.32 m2/g), mesoporous surface (pore diameter, 12.29 nm), TEM particle size of 45 nm, and the availability of various surface functional groups. Static adsorption of Safranin-O (SO) dye was investigated for all the prepared solid adsorbents under different application conditions. Maximum adsorption capacity (239.23 mg/g) was achieved by FNPC after 24 h of equilibrium time, at pH 7, 2 g/L as adsorbent dosage, and 40 ℃. Adsorption of Safranin-O onto all the samples well-fitted Langmuir, Temkin, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich models. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters proved that Safranin-O adsorption is favorable, spontaneous, endothermic, and physisorption. Desorption studies confirmed that hydrochloric acid (0.03 mol/L) achieved the maximum desorption efficiency (92.8%). Reusability of FNPC showed a decrease in the adsorption capacity after five cycles of adsorption and desorption by only 7.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xinjiang has abundant cotton by-products resources, but their utilization rate is relatively low. Cotton by-products include cotton stalks, cottonseed meal, cottonseed hulls, cottonseed residue, and more. Among them, cottonseed meal is an important protein source in livestock and poultry production, while cotton stalks, cottonseed hulls, and cottonseed residue can serve as coarse feed sources for ruminant animals. However, the long-term application of cotton by-products in the livestock and poultry breeding industry is constrained due to the presence of anti-nutritional factors such as free gossypol and the relatively high crude fiber content in cotton stalks, cottonseed hulls, and cottonseed residue. The article reviews the production, types, nutritional value of cotton by-products, and their research and application in the livestock and poultry breeding industry, aiming to provide a reference for further application of cotton by-products in the livestock and poultry breeding industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass-derived carbon material has the advantages of economy and high reversible capacity, and become the research hotspot of anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, a facile process to prepare carbon material derived from pyrolysis of cotton stalks was reported. As an anode material for SIBs, the sample shows reversible capacity of 76 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles at 0.05 A g−1. In addition, it has specific capacity of 70 mA h g−1 after 1000 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g−1. This paper provides a new idea to produce carbon material from biomass waste for energy storage and makes a certain contribution to the sustainable development of waste resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar has gained popularity as green adsorbent when dealing with hexavalent chromium ions in the water environment. Herein, we prepared cotton stalk biochar (CSB) at distinct pyrolysis temperatures, i.e., 300 °C, 400 °C, and 500 °C (denoted as CSB300, CSB400, and CSB500, respectively), using cotton stalks as biomass, and we investigated its impact on Cr (VI) removal. The characterization results based on SEM–EDS, BET, CHN, XRD, and FTIR analysis showed that the surface area, surface morphology, and elemental and functional group composition of CSB were considerably influenced by pyrolysis temperature. Despite having the lowest surface area, CSB500 presented superior adsorption performance. Batch sorption experiments with Cr (VI) solutions (20 mg/L) showed the optimal removal conditions to be pH (2), contact time (2 h), and biochar dosage (3 g/L). Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were well defined by the Pseudo second order and Freundlich model. The thermodynamic studies showed the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the sorption process. The potential Cr (VI) removal mechanism mainly involved electrostatic attraction followed by Cr (VI) reduction to Cr (III) and complexation. Regeneration studies showed that the reusability aspect of the biochar could be improved, while the selected interfering ions had an insignificant effect on CSB500 adsorption capacity. In general, the current study's findings may provide mechanistic insights into the fate, mobility, and removal of Cr (VI) species in aquatic environment using biochar materials to wide range of environmental scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, severe hailstorms have caused damage to cotton leaves and stalks. In order to identify the effects of cotton leaf damage on its dry matter accumulation, protective enzyme activity and yield in different periods, in this experiment, different intensities of hail were simulated by manual leaf cutting. In this study, the effects of leaf damage on dry matter accumulation, chlorophyll fluorescence, POD (peroxidase), SOD (superoxide dismutase) and MDA levels (malondialdehyde), and yield of cotton were studied in field experiments at three stages (bud, full bud and flower boll stages) and in sub-plots with different artificial defoliation intensities (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). Removing the leaf sources had differently sized effects on the "sink" at each stage, and these are ordered as follows: flowering and boll stage > full bud stage > pregnancy stage. The greater the intensity of leaf removal, the greater the impact on the "sink". Among them, after removing 50% of the leaves at the full bud stage, the total dry matter of the cotton plant increased by 12.46% compared to that of the control, and the boll formation rate per plant increased by 14.99%, resulting in overcompensation. Mo, Vj and φDo all showed a tendency to decrease and then increase with the increase in defoliation intensity at different periods of the treatment, and the lowest values of Mo, Vj and φDo, and the largest values of φpo, ψo and φEo were found in the 50% defoliation treatment at the gestational bud stage. The values of ψo and φEo were at the maximum in the 25% defoliation treatment at the full bud stage. The values of Mo and Vj in the different defoliation treatments at the bolling stage showed a tendency to increase and then decrease with the increase in defoliation intensity, with the highest values in the 25% treatment and the smallest values of φpo, ψo and φEo in the 25% defoliation treatment. The POD enzyme activity level was elevated in the defoliation treatments at the three different periods, and the highest value was observed in the 50% defoliation group at the full bud and boll stages, which is a reflection of supercompensation. The SOD enzyme activity level tended to increase with the intensity of defoliation, and defoliation at the gestational and full bud stages first enhanced and then weakened the stress on the cotton plants. The differences between treatments decreased after 12 weeks. The stress of defoliation on cotton plants was weakened at the boll stage. With the increase in defoliation intensity, the content of MDA showed a gradual increasing trend. The cotton MDA content was higher than that of the other treatments at 75% defoliation at both the post-fertilized bud and full bud stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the residual film recycling machine work, after the recovery of residual film, cotton stalks, crushed soil, and other impurities are not easy to separate; it is challenging to realize the secondary use of the problem. A waste film and impurity wind selection device were designed to recognize waste film recycling and separate soil film rods. The overall structure and working principles of the machine are described. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model of a film rod separation device was developed. The flow field within the film rod separation unit was analyzed by numerical simulation using 2023 R1 ANSYS Fluent software. Based on the differences of impurities such as residual film, soil, and cotton stalks in terms of density, suspension velocity, and their characteristics, the pressure distribution and velocity distribution of the internal flow field of soil, residual film, and cotton stalks at the site were investigated. The air inlet velocity, screen cylinder rotation, and main shaft rotation velocity were changed. Experiments were conducted to obtain wind selection parameters for suitable soil, residual film, and cotton stalk separators. Analysis of orthogonal experiments, polar variance of analysis, and analysis of variance yielded a better combination of working parameters: when the drum sieve velocity is 25 r/min, the spindle velocity is 35 r/min, and inlet wind velocity is 14 m/s, after the separation of residual film impurity rate of 8.9%. The results of the study can provide a theoretical basis for the development of film separation equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) was cultivated on diverse substrates, encompassing wheat straw (T1), paddy straw (T2), groundnut leaves and straw (T3), sugarcane bagasses (T4), cotton stalk (T5), coconut husk (T6), pigeon pea straw (T7), and banana pseudostem (T8). The study comprised of the estimation of proximate composition, antioxidants, and mineral content of the sun-dried mushrooms during the initial two harvests. The average values of nutritional parameters were as follows: moisture (90.93 to 85.18 %), ash (7.62 to 4.86%), carbohydrates (37.57 to 20.10%), crude protein (45.45 to 23.10%), crude fiber (29.08 to 19.29%), crude fat (2.68 to 1.63%), total phenol (14.23 to 9.12 mg/g) and ascorbic acid (11.58 to 8.72 mg/100g). The average mineral content exhibited the trend K>P>Mg>Ca>Zn>Fe>Cu. Upon consideration of average values from both harvests, the groundnut leaves and straw had the highest crude protein (45.45 %), total phenol (14.23 mg/g), ascorbic acid (11.58 mg/100g), phosphorous (0.43 %), iron (7.12 mg/100g) and zinc (12.43 mg/100g). The paddy straw resulted in the highest crude fiber (29.08 %) and crude fat (2.68 %), while the wheat straw resulted in the highest potassium (1.52 %) and calcium (179.65 mg/100g). The various substrates had an impact on nutritional parameters as seen by either an increase or decrease in various parameters which can be reflected in turn by the composition of the substrates itself. In conclusion, groundnut leaves and straw (T3) along with paddy straw (T2) and wheat straw (T1) resulted in significant improvement of nutritional composition compared to other treatments. This study underscores the environmentally friendly utilization of nutrients from agricultural waste for mushroom production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is an increasing need to find new ways to purify water by eliminating bacterial biofilms, textile dyes, and toxic water pollutants. These contaminants pose significant risks to both human health and the environment. To address this issue, in this study, we have developed an eco-friendly approach that involves synthesizing a cobalt-doped cerium iron oxide (CCIO) nanocomposite (NC) using an aqueous extract of Gossypium arboreum L. stalks. The resulting nanoparticles can be used to effectively purify water and tackle the challenges associated with these harmful pollutants. Nanoparticles excel in water pollutant removal by providing a high surface area for efficient adsorption, versatile design for the simultaneous removal of multiple contaminants, catalytic properties for organic pollutant degradation, and magnetic features for easy separation, offering cost-effective and sustainable water treatment solutions. A CCIO nanocomposite was synthesized via a green co-precipitation method utilizing biomolecules and co-enzymes extracted from the aqueous solution of Gossypium arboreum L. stalk. This single-step synthesis process was accomplished within a 5-h reaction period. Furthermore, the synthesis of nanocomposites was confirmed by various characterization techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) technology. CCIO NCs were discovered to have a spherical shape and an average size of 40 nm. Based on DLS zeta potential analysis, CCIO NCs were found to be anionic. CCIO NCs also showed significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Overall, considering their physical and chemical properties, the application of CCIO NCs for the adsorption of various dyes (~91%) and water pollutants (chromium = ~60%) has been considered here since they exhibit great adsorption capacity owing to their microporous structure, and represent a step forward in water purification.

Verticillium wilt is one of the most crucial diseases caused by Verticillium dahliae that threatens the cotton industry. Statistical results showed that the return of cotton plants infected with V. dahliae to the field might be an essential cause of the continuous aggravation of cotton Verticilliumwilt. The correlation among the cotton plants infected with V. dahliae returning to the field, the occurrence of Verticillium wilt, and the number of microsclerotia in rhizosphere soil need further investigation. A potted experiment was carried out to explore the effects of the direct return of cotton plants infected with Verticillium dahliae to the field on the subsequent growth and Verticillium wilt occurrence in cotton. As a risk response plan, we investigated the feasibility of returning dung-sand (i.e., insect excreta) to the field, the dung-sand was from the larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis (Coleoptera: Cetoniidea) that were fed with the V. dahliae--infected cotton plants. The results demonstrated that the return of the entire cotton plants to the field presented a promotional effect on the growth and development of cotton, whereas the return of a single root stubble or cotton stalks had an inhibitive effect. The return of cotton stalks and root stubble infected with V. dahliae increased the risk and degree of Verticillium wilt occurrence. The disease index of Verticillium wilt occurrence in cotton was positively correlated with the number ofmicrosclerotia in the rhizosphere soil. The disease index increased by 20.00%, and the number of soil microsclerotia increased by 8.37 fold in the treatment of returning root stubble infected with V. dahliae to the field. No Verticillium wilt microsclerotia were detected in the feed prepared from cotton stalks and root stubble fermented formore than 5 days or in the transformed dungsand. There was no risk of inoculation with Verticillium wilt microsclerotia when the dung-sand was returned to the field. The indirect return of cotton plants infected with V. dahliae to the field by microorganism--insect systems is worthy of further exploration plan of the green prevention and control for Verticillium wilt and the sustainable development of the cotton industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of residual film pollution caused by large area of cotton mulched planting in Xinjiang, a strip type residual film recycling and baling machine was designed, which can complete mulching film picking up, impurities separation, baling and other operations. The picking up device, as the key part of residual film recycling machine, was designed and analyzed. The kinematics of the pick-up nail tooth was analyzed, and its motion equation, motion trajectory and the conditions for completing the film pick-up were determined. And the key parameters were determined by analyzing the conditions of no missing picking and the stress of the residual film. According to the Box-Benhnken test design principle, field experiments were carried out with the forward speed of machine, the pickup speed ratio and the number of auxiliary film removing mechanisms as the key experimental factors, and the residual film pickup rate, the cotton stalk content and the residual film winding rate as the operation performance indexes of the picking up device. The mathematical models between the experimental factors and indexes were established, and the effect of each factor was analyzed. Through multi-objective parameter optimization and field experiment, the optimal combination of operation parameters was obtained as follows: the forward speed of machine of 1.67 m/s, the pickup speed ratio of 1.13, and the number of auxiliary film removing mechanisms of 6. Under this parameter combination, the pickup rate of residual film was 88.9%, the cotton stalk content in recycled residual film of 3.9%, and the residual film winding rate of 1.5%. The absolute error with the theoretical value was less than 0.6%. The research results show that the picking up device has stable operation performance and good residual film recycling effect, which meets the design and practical operation requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field harvesting process of harvesting machinery is often affected by high workload and environmental factors that can impede/delay manual rowing, thereby leading to lower efficiency and quality in the residual film collector. To address this challenge, an automatic rowing control system using the 4mz-220d self-propelled residual film collector as the experimental carrier was proposed in this study. Cotton stalks in the ridges were chosen as the research object, and a comprehensive application of key technologies, machinery, and electronic control was used, thereby incorporating a pure tracking model as the path-tracking control method. To achieve the automatic rowing function during the field traveling process, the fuzzy control principle was implemented to adjust the forward distance within the pure tracking model dynamically, and the expected steering angle of the steering wheel was determined based on the kinematic model of the recovery machine. The MATLAB/Simulink software was utilized to simulate and analyze the proposed model, thus achieving significant improvements in the automation level of the residual film collector. The field harvesting tests showed that the average deviation of the manual rowing was 0.144 m, while the average deviation of the automatic rowing was 0.066 m. Moreover, the average lateral deviation of the automatic rowing was reduced by 0.078 m with a probability of deviation within 0.1 m of 95.71%. The research study demonstrated that the designed automatic rowing system exhibited high stability and robustness, thereby meeting the requirements of the autonomous rowing operations of residual film collectors. The results of this study can serve as a reference for future research on autonomous navigation technology in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying is an important process of cotton-stalk reconstituted material. The aim of this study was to find the best drying process of extruded cotton stalks by using three drying methods and applying single-factor experiments combined with response surface methodology (RSM). For experimental design, the central composite design approach was used. The hot-air temperature, moisture content at the conversion point, and microwave power were selected as influencing factors; the drying rate and energy consumption per unit precipitation were selected as experimental indexes. The regression equation between each experimental factor and the performance index was established, and the optimization calculation was carried out. The experimental results showed that the optimum drying parameters were as follows: hot-air temperature 95 °C, moisture content at the conversion point 57%, and microwave power 700 W. With these experimental conditions, it was verified that the drying rate was 4.14 kg (100 kg min)−1 and the energy consumption per unit precipitation was 70.89 MJ kg−1, which were 106.7% and 10.4% lower than that of hot-air drying and microwave drying, respectively. The research results will provide a theoretical and technical basis for the large-scale drying process of cotton stalks and the design of drying equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a compound enzyme treated cotton stalk chemi-mechanical pulp (CE-CSCMP) that could improve the properties of wastepaper pulp was investigated. Firstly, according to whether the enzymes (cellulase, xylanase, pectinase and lipase) could promote the mechanical properties of cotton stalk chemi-mechanical pulp (CSCMP) paper, xylanase, pectinase and lipase were selected to prepare compound enzyme. Afterwards, the underlying mechanism of enzymatic treatment of CSCMP was elucidated through the loss of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Single enzymes, such as xylanase, pectinase or lipase, could only directly act on one substrate when treating CSCMP, while non-enzymatic substrates could impede the hydrolysis of the substrate. Therefore, the exposure area of cellulose was small, and the improvement of CSCMP paper strength was limited. It is found that there was a synergistic interaction between the three components in the compound enzyme, leading to a higher hydrolysis efficiency compared to that of single enzyme. Consequently, the area available for hydrogen bonding on the fiber surface was greatly increased, and CE-CSCMP obtained the best paper properties. Finally, CSCMP were furnished with wastepaper pulp, which resulted obvious improvement of the tensile strength, tear strength and ring compressive strength of wastepaper pulp. In conclusion, CE-CSCMP was a high-yield pulp of non-wood raw materials with better performance and could be used to improve wastepaper pulp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gossypol, generally found in the roots, stems, leaves, and, especially, the seeds of cotton plants, is highly toxic to animals and humans, which inhibits the use of cotton stalks as a feed resource. Here, a promising fungal strain for biodegrading gossypol was successfully isolated from the soil of cotton stalk piles in Xinjiang Province, China, and identified as Aspergillus terreus-YJ01 with the analysis of ITS. Initial gossypol of 250 mg·L−1 could be removed by 97% within 96 h by YJ01, and initial gossypol of 150 mg·L−1 could also be catalyzed by 98% or 99% within 36 h by the intracellular or extracellular crude enzymes of YJ01. Sucrose and sodium nitrate were found to be the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources for the growth of YJ01, and the optimal initial pH and inoculum size for the growth of YJ01 were 6.0 and 1%, respectively. To further elucidate the mechanisms underlying gossypol biodegradation by YJ01, the draft genome of YJ01 was sequenced using Illumina HiSeq, which is 31,566,870 bp in length with a GC content of 52.27% and a total of 9737 genes. Eight genes and enzymes were predicted to be involved in gossypol biodegradation. Among them, phosphoglycerate kinase, citrate synthase, and other enzymes are related to the energy supply process. With sufficient energy, β-1, 4-endo-xylanase may achieve the purpose of biodegrading gossypol. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into both the basic research and the application of A. terreus-YJ01 in the biodegradation of gossypol in cotton stalks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton stalks are residual biomass resulting from cotton bud harvesting, and they are composed primarily of lignocellulosic material. This material could be a source of functional polyphenols. To investigate this prospect, this study was undertaken with the view to examining whether an ethanol-based organosolv treatment could be suitable for producing extracts enriched in polyphenolic compounds. To this end, alkali catalysis was employed, and two catalysts, sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate, were tested. The initial approach based on treatment severity showed that both catalysts may be equally effective in the recovery of polyphenols, yet in most cases studied, no clear trend between treatment severity and total polyphenol yield was recorded. The following study, based on response surface methodology, provided optimized conditions for both treatments, sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate, where the recommended catalyst concentrations were 0.67 and 4%, respectively. Under a constant temperature of 90 °C and residence time of 300 min, the treatments with sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate afforded total polyphenol yields of 18.4 ± 1 and 15.6 ± 1.9 mg CAE g−1 DM, respectively, which showed no significant statistical difference (p > 0.05). However, high-performance liquid chromatography analyses revealed that the sodium carbonate-catalyzed treatment produced extract particularly enriched in two hydroxycinnamate derivatives, ferulic and p-coumaric acid. This extract also exhibited increased antioxidant activity. The outcome of this study strongly suggests cotton stalks as a bioresource of functional substances, while mild alkali-catalyzed ethanol organosolv treatment appears to be a very promising technique for effectively delivering hydroxycinnamate-enriched extracts.

In this work, Qiqunahu (QQH) coal, cotton stalk, cellulose and lignin extracted from cotton stalk were selected as raw materials to study the effects of the co-pyrolysis of coal and cotton stalk. Online thermogravimetric mass spectrometry (TG-MS) was used to analyse mass loss and gas release characteristics during co-pyrolysis. The results reveal that the mixture of cotton stalk and coal can significantly enhance the reactivity of the blends and promote the formation of effective gas. The cellulose in the cotton stalk promotes the generation of H2 and CO2 during the co-pyrolysis of coal and cotton stalks. Lignin promotes the production of CH4 and CO2. Cellulose and lignin show an inhibitory effect on the precipitation of small molecular weight hydrocarbon gases during co-pyrolysis. This study provides a better understanding for the co-pyrolysis of biomass and coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new green composite catalyst was prepared by doping CuBi2O4/BiOBr into cotton stalk biochar, which was characterized by SEM, XRD, XPS, UV–Vis, i-t and EIS. Gaseous benzene was selected as the target pollutant to investigate the photocatalytic degradation performance of CuBi2O4/BiOBr/biochar under visible light irradiation. The results show that the photocatalytic degradation performance of CuBi2O4/BiOBr/biochar was better than those of CuBi2O4, CuBi2O4/biochar and CuBi2O4/BiOBr composites in the photocatalytic degradation of gaseous benzene. This was due to the joint action of biochar and heterojunction, which not only improved the light absorption and response range of the photocatalyst, but also promoted the photogenerated electron–hole separation. The degradation efficiency of gaseous benzene achieved 92% within 5 h. In addition, the Z-type mechanism of CuBi2O4/BiOBr/biochar photocatalyst was investigated based on electronic structure and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. The possible photodegradation mechanism of benzene was proposed. The effects on photocatalytic degradation performance of heterojunction and biochar were analyzed. The addition of biochar had a major effect on the degradation efficiency of gaseous benzene. Overall, CuBi2O4/BiOBr/biochar composite was a promising photocatalyst for the degradation efficiency of gaseous benzene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton stalk, a waste product in agriculture, serves as a beneficial, low-cost material as a medium for microbial synthesis of lactic acid as desired for polylactic acid synthesis. Cotton stalk was used as a substrate for microbial lactic acid synthesis, and a novel strain of Lactococcus cremoris was reported to synthesize 51.4 g/L lactic acid using cellulose recovered from the cotton stalk. In total, 18 Lactobacillus isolates were isolated from kitchen waste, soil, sugarcane waste, and raw milk samples screened for maximum lactic acid production. It was found that one of the Lactococcus cremoris isolates was found to synthesize maximum lactic acid at a concentration of 51.4 g/L lactic acid in the hydrolysate prepared from cotton stalk. The upstream process parameters included 10% inoculum size, hydrolysate containing reducing sugars 74.23 g/L, temperature 37 °C, agitation 220 rpm, production age 24 h. Only the racemic (50:50) mixture of D-LA and L-LA (i.e., D/L-LA) is produced during the chemical synthesis of lactic acid, which is undesirable for the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries because only the L-form is digestible and is not suitable for biopolymer, i.e., PLA-based industry where high optically purified lactic acid is required. Furthermore, polylactic acid was synthesized through direct polycondensation methods using various catalysts such as chitosan, YSZ, and Sb2O3. PLA is biocompatible and biodegradable in nature (its blends and biocomposites), supporting a low-carbon and circular bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to provide basic data and a theoretical basis for waste mulch film crushing and separation equipment, the mechanical and suspension properties of waste mulch film and cotton stalk were determined in this study. In the mechanical properties test, the tensile properties of waste mulch film and the shear properties of different parts of cotton stalk were investigated. In the suspension properties test, the suspension properties of different qualities of waste mulch film and different parts of cotton stalk were investigated. The results showed that the average maximum tensile forces and fracture displacements of the waste mulch film were 1.70 N (horizontal), 0.80 N (vertical) and 254.75 mm (horizontal), 145.22 mm (vertical). The shear properties of the cotton stem after wrapping the mulch film were greatly improved; the maximum shearing force was 186.89% higher than that of the unwrapped specimens. When the total suspension velocity was from 3.09 to 4.07 m/s, separation of mulch film and cotton stalk could be achieved by wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive phosphate content input into natural water can lead to the waste of resource and eutrophication. Biochar is a kind of low-cost adsorbent. However, its adsorption capacity for phosphate is low. In order to solve this problem, Fe compound-modified fly ash/cotton stalk biochar composites (Fe-FBC) were prepared through co-pyrolyzed fly ash and cotton stalk at 800℃, followed by infiltration of FeSO4 solution. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and zeta potential. After modification, the hydrophilicity and polarity of Fe-FBC increased. In addition, the pore volume, specific surface area, and surface functional groups were significantly improved. The adsorption behavior of Fe-FBC for the removal of phosphate from water can be well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Sips isotherm adsorption model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 47.91 mg/g. Fe-FBC maintained a high adsorption capacity in the pH range of 3–10. The coexisting anions (NO3−, SO42−, and Cl−) had negligible effects on phosphate adsorption. The adsorption mechanisms of Fe-FBC include electrostatic attraction, ligand exchange, surface complexation, ion exchange, chemical precipitation, and hydrogen bonding. Moreover, the desorption process of phosphate was investigated, indicating that the phosphate-saturated Fe-FBC could use as slow-release phosphate fertilizer. This study proposed a potentially environmental protection and recycling economy approach, which consists of recycling resources and treating wastes with wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]