Search

Utilizing para wood ash can offer an alternative method of adding value to agricultural wastes and help to conserve the environment. The feasibility of using para rubber leaves as an environmentally friendly material for prototype lightweight flat sheet production was investigated. Properties of lightweight flat sheet made from different proportions of para rubber leaves mixed with para wood ash were compared with ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Morphology and element compositions of untreated and treated para rubber leaves with 20% NaOH solution were observed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results showed that untreated para rubber leaves consisted mainly of the elements carbon (C) and oxygen (O), accounting for 80.35% and 17.55% by weight, respectively, with minor amounts of other elements. Treated para rubber leaves consisted mainly of C, O, and calcium (Ca) at 69.53%, 28.55%, and 1.25% by weight, respectively. Bulk density and compressive strength of the control cement paste were 1.85 g/cm3and 47.78 MPa, respectively at 28 days curing. The compressive strength of the cement composite decreased with an increase in the para rubber leaves volume fraction.

Over past decades, titanium dioxide-based materials have been recognized as effectively practical photocatalysts for purification of toxicity waste. However, pure TiO2 photocatalyst is highly active under ultraviolet illumination. In this work, the effort has been focused on the synthesis of titanium-rich materials starting from minerals ores ilmenite ores and leucoxene ores by ball-milling process in combined with hydrochloric acid leaching method with optimized conditions. Crystallinity and morphologies of as-prepared samples were characterized by X-rays diffraction technique and scanning electron microscope. The photocatalytic activities of both derived-materials were studied and compared by degradation of Rhodamine B organic dye as organic toxicity compound under ultraviolet light and visible light. The results illustrate that the leucoxene-derived sample exhibits superior catalytic performance to the sample derived from ilmenite ores due to the greater Ti-content of the starting leucoxene ores.

Panicum repens is a species of grass known by many common names, including torpedo grass, creeping panic, panic rampant, couch panicum, wainaku grass, quack grass, dog-tooth grass, and bullet grass. The paper has been made from non-wood materials for long times. This research was used Panicum repens for made grass pulp as non-wood fiber. The influence of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations on properties of pulp from Panicum repens was investigated under room temperature. NaOH concentration levels were varied at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, respectively. Moreover, Paper pulp from Panicum repens was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). This research has controlled the length of fiber approximately 0.5-2.5 cm before soaked with NaOH concentration at 1 hour and soak with water for controlled pH value at 7-8. Paper pulp was formed on a sieve. The result showed that color of paper pulp made from Panicum repens was light brown and green. SEM showed that NaOH concentration affects the physical properties of paper pulp. Moreover, true density of paper pulp was also investigated in this research.