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Bulk density (Db) and subsequent physical properties are determined by the substrate and packing method. Packing method is the way one fills and compresses a substrate within a given volume. Bulk density produced in the laboratory may not align with “expected” published ranges due to variations in packing. Additionally, it is unknown if ranges identified as “typical” using a small volume sample ring reflect Db occurring in larger production size containers packed using commercial potting practices. Therefore, our objectives were to 1) emulate nursery practices and document the Db associated with a potted 2.8-L (#1) container, 2) develop and test the new “shim and compression” method to determine if it consistently packs sample rings to a Db commensurate with that of a 2.8-L nursery container, and 3) demonstrate how static physical properties are affected by the new “shim and compression” sample ring packing method compared with the traditional bench top tap method. When emulating nursery potting practices with 100% pine bark, coir, and peat, and blends of each, Db ranged from 0.08 g.cm-3 (coconut coir) to 0.17 g.cm-3 (pine bark). We used an espresso tamp and shims to pack the aforementioned substrates in sample rings. The Db achieved using a range in number of presses and discs was largely dependent on the substrate, but the desired Db was consistently achieved for each substrate. There was no effect of disc number on Db (P 5 1.000) for any substrate. There was no effect of tamp number (P $ 0.0602) for all substrates except peat-amended, for which five tamps yielded a greater Db than one tamp (P 5 0.0324). In an experiment in which a different technician who was accustomed to the conventional benchtop tap packing method performed both methods, method influenced Db (P < 0.0001), and the conventional method more closely attained the target Db. To our knowledge, this is the only report of Db observed in commercial container production facilities (i.e., “native”). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conditional image retrieval (CIR), which involves retrieving images by a query image along with user-specified conditions, is essential in computer vision research for efficient image search and automated image analysis. The existing approaches, such as composed image retrieval (CoIR) methods, have been actively studied. However, these methods face challenges as they require either a triplet dataset or richly annotated image-text pairs, which are expensive to obtain. In this work, we demonstrate that CIR at the image-level concept can be achieved using an inverse mapping approach that explores the model's inductive knowledge. Our proposed CIR method, called Backward Search, updates the query embedding to conform to the condition. Specifically, the embedding of the query image is updated by predicting the probability of the label and minimizing the difference from the condition label. This enables CIR with image-level concepts while preserving the context of the query. In this paper, we introduce the Backward Search method that enables single and multi-conditional image retrieval. Moreover, we efficiently reduce the computation time by distilling the knowledge. We conduct experiments using the WikiArt, aPY, and CUB benchmark datasets. The proposed method achieves an average mAP@10 of 0.541 on the datasets, demonstrating a marked improvement compared to the CoIR methods in our comparative experiments. Furthermore, by employing knowledge distillation with the Backward Search model as the teacher, the student model achieves a significant reduction in computation time, up to 160 times faster with only a slight decrease in performance. The implementation of our method is available at the following URL: https://github.com/dhlee-work/BackwardSearch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft clay is a problematic type of soil because it has high water content, low shear strength, low bearing capacity, and high compressibility. This study explores the effectiveness of stabilizing soft clay using a combination of coir fiber, coconut husk ash, and wood ash. This research investigated the impact of incorporating 0.75% coir fiber and varying levels of a coconut husk ash-wood ash mixture (ranging from 0% to 10%) on the shear strength properties of soft clay. The study applied two different curing times: seven and 21 days. An unconsolidatedundrained triaxial test was conducted following ASTM D2850-03. The results demonstrated that combining coir fiber reinforcement with chemical stabilization through the ash mixture significantly enhanced the deviatoric stress, cohesion, internal friction angle, shear strength, and elastic modulus of soft soil. Specifically, an 8% ash content with a 21-day curing time achieved the highest deviatoric stress and shear strength. This highest shear strength value was 210% greater than soil solely reinforced with coir fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the cyclic loading behaviour of a two-layered unpaved road model reinforced with untreated/treated woven and non-woven coir geotextiles over 10,000 cycles. In this study, research efforts were made to develop artificial-neural-network (ANN)-based prediction models for the plastic deformation of untreated/treated coir geotextile-reinforced unpaved road models. Pearson's coefficient of correlation (R2) and the root mean square error (RMSE) was utilized to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the predictive models. Key discoveries include a substantial reduction in plastic deformation for the reinforced two-layered unpaved road models (Types W1, W2, NW1, and NW2), showcasing decreases of 69%, 74%, 58%, and 66%, respectively, compared to the unreinforced model, particularly in unsoaked conditions. The results demonstrated reduction in the plastic deformation in treated coir geotextiles reinforced models. The study reveals an escalation in plastic deformation at 60% cyclic load as opposed to 30%, evident in both unsoaked and soaked conditions. The selected neural network model exhibits high accuracy, with R2 values exceeding 0.95 and RMSE values below 1, indicating precise prediction of plastic deformation of untreated/treated coir geotextile-reinforced unpaved road model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumice is an abundant natural resource in New Zealand and its application in horticulture could save significant costs. To investigate the effect of pumice substrates on raspberry growth and fruit quality, two dwarfing selections (sel.8 and sel.110) were grown hydroponically in (1) coconut coir (control); (2) pumice; (3) pumice/coir (50/50 v/v); (4) pumice/flax (50/50 v/v). Results showed that the addition of pumice to coir significantly increased bulk density, which provided better root anchor support for plants, and also increased the water holding capacity (WHC). Pure pumice had a higher bulk density and lower porosity compared to the other tested substrates, which enhanced fruit quality and yield, although the vegetative growth was slightly lower compared to the control. Mixed pumice/flax substrate had the lowest porosity and poorer WHC, resulting in inferior raspberry growth vigour and productivity. Our results furthermore suggested different substrates could affect the one-year-old cane height, crop yield and fruit characteristics. Pumice was more suitable for sel.8, while the pumice/coir mixture promoted a higher yield for sel.110. In conclusion, pumice and pumice-based mix substrates can be successfully used for hydroponic dwarfing raspberry production without compromising yield and fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report a simple method for producing citric-acid-modified cellulose adsorbent from coir waste for the remediation of cationic methylene blue dyes. The modification of cellulose nanofibers with citric acid increased the surface area and porosity of the adsorbent, thereby enhancing its adsorption capacity. The morphology and chemical structure of the modified adsorbent were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. The adsorption of methylene blue (MB) onto the adsorbent was studied at different pH, MB concentrations, adsorbent dosages, temperatures, contact times, and in the presence of other salts. The adsorbent demonstrated a remarkable removal efficiency of 99% at dye concentration of 10 mg/L. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was 156.25 mg/g at an initial dye concentration of 15 mg/L, adsorbent dosage of 0.15 g/L, pH of 9, and temperature of 303 K after 240 min of duration. The adsorption kinetics and equilibrium adsorption isotherms were consistent with pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the removal of methylene blue dye by the modified adsorbent was endothermic, and spontaneous in nature. Furthermore, reusability experiments revealed that the adsorbent exhibited 93% efficiency, even after five cycles of adsorption and desorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era of technological advancements, the quest for sustainable products has taken a center stage. The utilization of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites has become crucial in the manufacturing of eco‐friendly products due to their low cost, renewability, biodegradability, and comparable properties to synthetic composites. Coir‐based composites have been utilized in roofing, composite panels, furniture, and bio‐based insulation applications, providing enhanced strength and sustainability. In the current investigation, an exploratory data analysis (EDA) was conducted to understand the relationship between the various input variables and the flexural properties of short coir polymer composites (SCPCs). The data analysis revealed that manufacturing process had a significant impact on the flexural properties of SCPCs. Based on the insights gained from the EDA, an optimized Random Forest prediction model was developed to predict the flexural properties. Genetic algorithm approach for hyperparameter optimization led to lower objective loss in contrast to Bayesian optimized Random Forest model. The model's performance was subsequently evaluated through holdout validation, and the outcome demonstrated the model's proficiency in accurately predicting the properties. The developed model can be used as a tool for optimizing the design of SCPCs for specific applications, by predicting the flexural properties of the composites. Highlights: Flexural behavior of short coir polymer composites was analyzed and modeled.Manufacturing process has the highest impact on the flexural properties.Random forest model predicted the flexural properties with high accuracy.Genetic algorithm optimized model further enhanced the model performance.The developed framework provides insights into designing biocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Coir fiber (COIRF) reinforced glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) functionalized ethylene butyl acrylate (CF‐EBA) composites (COIRF/CF‐EBA) were processed by extrusion and injection molding. A good COIRF/CF‐EBA interfacial adhesion was indicated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE‐SEM). Fourier Transform Infra‐Red (FTIR) spectroscopy established this adhesion emerging from etherification and hydrogen bonding between the functional groups of CF‐EBA and of COIRF. The composites exhibited higher tensile properties than pristine CF‐EBA, and also exhibited increase in their tensile properties with increase in COIRF contents in them. The storage modulus and loss modulus of the composites also increased as the amount of COIRF in them increased, but the values of these properties decreased with increasing temperature. Thermal stability of the composites was observed to be intermediate between that of COIRF and CF‐EBA. Coir Fiber/Chemically Functionalized Ethylene Butylene Acrylate Composites. CF‐EBA/COIRF bonding by etherification and hydrogen bonding between them. The COIRF/CF‐EBA composites show higher properties than their CF‐EBA matrix. 30/70 COIRF/CF‐EBA composite showed the highest tensile strength (10.93 MPa). COIRF/CF‐EBA composite show thermal stability upto approx. 245°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Black gram (Vigna mungo L.) and green gram (Vigna radiata L.) were mostly used as chemical residue indicators for testing the persistence of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, etc. in the soil. Presently, the coir pith was used as a medium of nursery for many seeds and seedling production. This study evaluated the inhibition effects and screening of allelopathic chemicals from aqueous extracts of coir pith and composting coir pith on the black gram and green gram by response index method and GCMS/ MS analysis. Methods: The coir pith and composted coir pith soaked the ratio of 1:10 for 24 hrs, filtered through Whatman No.1 filter paper. The inhibition effect tested for germination and seedling growth of black gram and green gram was sown in poly pots. The carbon: nitrogen ratio and the total organic carbon were analyzed by dry combustion method, Kjeldahl method and GCMS/MS analysis. Result: The phytotoxic substances are present in coir pith, which can be exterminated by composting the coir pith for better growth and development of seedlings. The negative response index (RI), high C: N ratio and chemical compounds like tocopherol, fucoxanthin, tetramethyl heptadeca, dichloroacetamide, tetrazole, hydroxyethyl palmitate, neocurdione and uridine derivations present in raw coir may have the phytotoxic effect and produced yellowing symptoms in young plants compared to composted coir pith. This is exterminated by composting the coir pith for better growth and development of seedlings as well as used for various agricultural and horticultural nurseries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, four distinct composite samples (Samples A, B, C, and D) were fabricated using varying compositions of biochar, rice bran, coconut coir, and epoxy matrix. Sample A, serving as the baseline with 90% epoxy and 10% biochar, exhibited moderate mechanical properties. Sample B, with 80% epoxy and 20% biochar, demonstrated significantly higher tensile and flexural modulus values, indicative of improved stiffness. Sample C, incorporating 10% rice bran alongside 80% epoxy and 10% biochar, displayed reduced mechanical properties compared to Sample B, potentially due to the lower strength of rice bran particles. Sample D, comprising 80% epoxy, 10% biochar, and 5% coconut coir, demonstrated weaker tensile properties but higher flexural modulus, suggesting enhanced resistance to bending forces. Mechanical testing, water absorption analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and SEM imaging provided comprehensive insights into the mechanical and chemical characteristics of the composites, underscoring their potential for diverse applications in sustainable materials development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perennials are usually pre-cultivated on vegetation mats consisting of coconut fiber (coir), which require weather-dependent irrigation and regular fertilization with fast-acting fertilizer to achieve a saleable condition as quickly as possible. In the pre-cultivation of sheep's wool–coir–vegetation mats, nitrogen (N) is already sufficiently contained in the vegetation mats due to the natural nitrogen content of the sheep's wool fibers, so that additional liquid fertilization during pre-cultivation can be dispensed with if necessary. In this study, sheep's wool–coir–vegetation mats of 4.5 kg/m2 were pre-cultivated with 16 perennial plants (8 species) in 2018. Variant 1 (V1) received regular fertilization with mineral liquid fertilizer (total 8.7 g N/m2) during pre-cultivation. Variant 2 (V2) was not fertilized during pre-cultivation. In spring 2019, all pre-cultivated vegetation mats were lifted and laid on an area prepared with topsoil. No additional fertilization was applied after laying. The overall impression, plant height, number of flowering perennials, and plant coverage were examined in the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, with only minor differences observed between V1 and V2. The number of flowers, biomass, and nitrogen content were determined for the two aster species used. There were differences between V1 and V2 in 2018, but not in 2019. The coverage of perennials of 50%, which is the prerequisite for the saleability of the vegetation mats, was already achieved on both V1 and V2 after 4 months of pre-cultivation. The overall impression of the perennials on both V1 and V2 also did not differ during pre-cultivation nor in the following year. Therefore, liquid fertilization is not necessary during the pre-cultivation of perennials on sheep's wool–coir–vegetation mats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractTo address the issues of high porosity and low strength in calcium sand of artificial islands, this study focuses on improving the calcium sand’s mechanical properties. The effects of WER curing methods and coconut fiber modification on the UCS and microscopic mechanisms of calcium sand are investigated. The results indicate that both fiber incorporation and the increase in WER ratio can enhance the unconfined compressive strength of calcareous sand, with the addition of a certain amount of coconut coir fiber showing a more significant strength increase. The optimal recommended dosage of WER is 15%, which results in an UCS of 1218 kPa, an increase of nearly 4.27 times compared to 9% WER dosage. Coconut coir fiber has good tensile strength that can improve the compressive strength of calcareous sand after curing. The UCS of calcareous sand cured with a fiber content of 0.3% to 0.5% is increased by 1247 kPa to 1792 kPa compared to cured soil with no fiber. The strong binding nature of WER addresses the issue of large porosity in calcareous sand. Together with the penetrating coconut coir fibers, it forms a three-dimensional reticular framework structure, thereby enhancing the compressive performance of the calcareous sand-cured soil mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractResearch on peat-free substrates is increasing due to the environmental concerns associated with peat extraction and with the aim of promoting sustainable horticultural practices. Previous research has shown that green compost mixed with coconut coir dust and stabilized wood fiber can be a valuable peat-free alternative for growing media. This study extends this knowledge by exploring the possibility of reducing fertilization levels by exploiting the nutrient content of green compost. In this paper we tested two ornamental herbaceous perennial plants, Leucanthemum vulgare Lam. and Dianthus barbatus L. For each species, we carried out five different substrate mixtures: 1) peat:pumice 70:30 v v−1; 2) coconut coir dust:pumice 70:30 v v−1; 3) coconut coir dust:green compost 55:45 v v−1; 4) green compost:stabilized wood fiber 60:40 v v−1; and 5) coconut coir dust:green compost:stabilized wood fiber 40:30:30 v v−1. For each mixture, we explored three different levels of fertilization: i) no fertilizer application; ii) low dosage of a controlled-release fertilizer at 2 g L−1; and iii) high dosage of the same controlled-release fertilizer at 4 g L−1. Plant biomass, biometric parameters, eco-physiological parameters, and plant mineral content were measured as performance indicators. The results showed that the nutrient surplus provided by the peat-free substrate, particularly when it contains green compost, can enhance the growth potential of the plants. Adding green compost to non-peat substrates can be an opportunity to optimize plant nutrition while reducing the presence of peat in plant nurseries and the use of chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of natural fibers in polymer biocomposites is on the rise owing to their ready availability, lightweight nature, excellent mechanical strength and eco-friendly characteristics. In this study, a solution casting method was performed to synthesize biodegradable composite films based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with 10 to 30% polyethylene glycol loading (PEG, matrix) and 10% untreated or alkali treated coir fiber (reinforcement). SEM, FTIR, XRD, mechanical properties and contact angle studies were used to examine how the alkaline treatment affected the structure and characteristics of the synthesized films. Alkali treatment on coir fiber removed hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin and significantly improved its crystalline nature from 38.3% to 69.5%, confirmed by the XRD test. Adding 10 wt% polyethylene glycol with alkali treated coir fibers attained the highest tensile strength which was 38.6% greater than untreated coir fiber and demonstrated the best reinforcing effects of treated coir on these biocomposite films. According to our research, coir fiber's alkali treatment considerably enhances its ability to interact with polyvinyl alcohol polymer and polyethylene glycol polymer blends, making it possible to fabricate composite films with improved mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unwanted sound is called noise. Noise from any direction can be reduced by employing sound-absorbing material. All materials have some sound absorption capabilities and can be efficiently regulated by selecting the right material and their construction. The effect of perforated panel thickness (A), hole diameter in the perforated panel (B), hole spacing in the perforated panel (C), porous coir matt thickness (D), density of the porous non-woven (E), porosity (%) of the non-woven (F), percentage of latex added with the non-woven (G), and air gap (H) on sound absorption was discussed in this article. The plan of experiments was determined using the Taguchi L27 experimental design, and the optimization was calculated using S/N ratio analysis. Sample number 24 was found to be an optimized one, and the results show that the optimal combination of process variables and their levels is A3B1C1D1E3F2G3H3. The corresponding optimized NRC value is 0.762. SEM research revealed that the diameter of coir fibers ranges from 120 to 300 µm, while the length of fibers ranges from 80 to 240 mm. Furthermore, the inclusion of latex caused more voids within the surfaces. The influence of all process parameters versus NRC levels was also investigated using univariate ANOVA. The model was significant, and except for porosity percentage, all of the primary effects of individual parameters were significant with NRC value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries or SFURTI is one of the flagship schemes of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises for the creation of common facility centres and infrastructure development. This scheme has been integral to the achievement of various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the past few years, including Goal 8, 'Decent Work and Economic Growth' and Goal 9, 'Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure'. Many state-of-the-art machines and equipment have been set up, helping MSMEs bring innovation in their work. The objective of this study is to examine the physical and financial performance of the coir industry clusters (CICs) in India, and to estimate the technical efficiency of CICs. The methodology adopted is collection of secondary input data like the number of common facility centres created, investment by artisans using domestic savings and grants from the Government of India, and employment created, and output data like production, sales and monthly earnings of artisans after the application of the cluster development approach. The data was collected from various websites and success stories of the CICs. The study reveals an improvement in the state-wise physical and financial performance of CICs in India, and increase in production, sales and earnings per month of artisans before and after the intervention. Thus, due to the implementation of the cluster development approach, nine coir clusters are efficient and if the other 11 clusters follow the slack variables, input and output targets, and peer cluster to increase their production, sales and monthly earnings of artisans, they can become efficient. There is an average increase in production, sales and monthly earnings of artisans. Domestic savings by artisans, and investments in the cluster along with grants from the Government of India are the reason for improvement in the performance of 20 coir clusters in India. This trend will continue if the cluster development approach is continued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical regions, heavy rainfall induces erosion and shallow landslides on road embankments. Cement-based stabilization methods, common in these regions, contribute to climate change due to their high carbon footprint. This study explored the potential application of coir fiber-reinforced laterite soil-bottom ash mixtures as embankment materials in the tropics. The objective is to enhance engineered embankment slopes' erosion resistance and stability while offering reuse options for industrial byproducts. This study examined various mix designs for unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and permeability, utilizing 30% bottom ash (BA) and 1% coir fiber (CF) with varying sizes ranging from 10 to 40 mm, 6% lime, and laterite soil (LS), followed by microstructural analyses. The results demonstrate that the compressive strength increases as the CF length increases to 25 mm. In contrast, permeability increases continuously with increasing CF length. Lime-treated mixtures exhibit superior short- and long-term strength and reduce permeability owing to the formation of cementitious materials, as confirmed by microstructural analyses. A lab-scale slope box was constructed to evaluate the surface erosion of the stabilized laterite soil embankment. Based on the rainfall simulation results, the LS-BA-CF mixtures show better resistance to erosion and deformation compared to untreated LS, especially when lime is added to the top layer. This study provides insights into a sustainable and cost-effective approach for slope stabilization using BA and CF, offering a promising solution for tropical regions susceptible to surface erosion and landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of geotechnical engineering, reinforced pond ash is an alternative building material that has the potential to be utilized. The effects of using woven coir geotextile and polymeric geogrid for pond ash reinforcement were studied through experimental investigations. A triaxial test was performed on reinforced the pond ash. Two different types of geotextiles such as polymeric geogrid (rigid biaxial and flexible biaxial), two types of woven coir geotextile (different mass per unit area), and two types of pond ash (coarse and fine) were considered. The geotextile reinforcements were placed in the triaxial samples in various combinations in one, two, and three layers. The effects of the type of geotextile, position, and number of geotextile layers on the strength of pond ash were investigated. Both unreinforced and reinforced pond ash were subjected to a series of unconsolidated undrained (UU) triaxial tests to examine the shear strength response. The present research examines how the shear strength response of pond ash is affected by confining pressure (σ3), the number of geotextile layers (N), and the types of geotextiles used. To maintain constant maximum dry density throughout the layers, varying compaction energies were applied to different layers. The findings show that with improvement in confining pressure and number of layers, the shear strength of pond ash i.e., value of cohesion (c), angle of shearing resistance (φ), and strength ratio enhanced significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural fibers as an alternative to synthetic fibers for reinforcing composites is increasing. However, the poor interfacial adhesion between natural fibers and polymer matrices limits their applications. Several approaches have been considered to improve fiber-matrix adhesion via chemical and/or physical treatment. However, the effectiveness of these treatments varies based on the type of fiber, its source, and its composition. Thus, it is imperative to understand the effectiveness of treatment conditions. In this study, we investigated the influence of alkali treatment and fiber sizing on the chemical, thermal, morphological, and mechanical properties of coir fibers and the interface between coir fiber and polypropylene matrix. It was found that using a 5 wt% sodium hydroxide solution for 6 h at room temperature was the optimal treatment condition that led to an improvement in tensile strength by 58%, tensile modulus by 71%, and elongation at break by 37% compared to untreated fibers, and an increment in interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between coir fibers and polypropylene matrix by 32%. The alkali treatment removed the fiber surface impurities, made the fiber surface rough, and enhanced the fiber crystallinity. Sizing of the alkali-treated fiber led to an improvement in IFSS by 87% with no modification of the fiber's mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buton Asphalt is natural asphalt originating from Buton Island (Indonesia), with the potential deposit amount reaching up to 662 million tons. This substantial domestic mining potential must be utilized for domestic road needs and to boost the country's economy. However, Buton asphalt's utilization is minimal compared with imported oil asphalt, which reached a usage rate of up to 94 % in 2022. Therefore, as a form of a solution-oriented policy, Buton asphalt is included as one of the 21 commodities in the Strategic Roadmap for Downstream Investment in Indonesia, followed by various supportive regulations for developing this Buton asphalt product. One of the leading products the government targets is natural pure Buton asphalt. This product consists of >99 % bitumen content after extraction, also called Pure Buton Asphalt. The idea was to modify pure Buton asphalt with coconut coir to increase the Marshall Stability and Dynamic Stability values to make the asphalt mixture more resistant to vehicle loads and rutting. The tests were conducted to determine the optimum asphalt content (OAC) of the mixtures, Marshall's Stability comparison, and the dynamic stability test using a Wheel Tracking Machine to identify the comparison of permanent deformation. This study analyzed the Marshall characteristics and dynamic stability characteristics with variations in coconut coir content of 0.5 %, 0.75 %, and 1 % by weight of asphalt and variations in coconut coir length of 0.5 cm, 1 cm, and 1.5 cm. Based on the results of this study, the optimum asphalt content in this study is 6.76 %, where pure Buton Asphalt modified with coconut coir has an increase in Marshall's stability value and dynamic stability value compared to pure Buton asphalt without additional coconut coir [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the thermal conductivity and moisture absorption characteristics of bamboo, coir, and date palm fiber composites, specifically examining their suitability for use in solar distillation applications. Four composite samples comprising alkali-treated bamboo and coir fiber (sample 1), untreated bamboo and coir fiber (sample 2), treated coir and date palm fiber (sample 3), and untreated coir and date palm fiber (sample 4) have been experimentally analyzed. Samples 1 and 3 showed 17.6 and 16.6% lower thermal conductivities and 45.8 and 44.2% lower moisture absorptions than untreated samples 2 and 4. Alkali-treated fibers had decreased lignin and hemicellulose and more cellulose, supporting the observed benefits after chemical analysis. Post-alkali scanning electron microscopy showed improved fiber surface morphology, highlighting cellulose energy-saving significance. The results indicate that these composites, due to their improved thermal insulation characteristics, provide a sustainable choice for integration into solar distillation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar-based chromium adsorption is a relatively new and affordable method for remediation of hazardous metal species from contaminated environments. Coir fiber is an agricultural waste produced from coconut processing industry. This study focused on the synthesis of coconut coir-based biochars and evaluated their Cr(VI) removal efficiency. Biochar samples were prepared under different pyrolysis temperatures (300–700 °C) and characterized using Thermogravimetric, Carbon–Hydrogen–Nitrogen–Sulfur–Oxygen and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analyzer. Following a screening process to determine the efficacy of removing Cr(VI) of all biochar samples, coconut coir biochar prepared at 400 °C (CBC400) showed relatively better (~ 90%) Cr(VI) removal. The effects of various physicochemical factors such as pH, initial metal concentration, treatment time, and adsorbent dosage on Cr(VI) removal process are investigated and optimized. It was also found that at 50 mg/L initial Cr(VI) concentration, the CBC400 can remove 40.3 mg (qmax) Cr(VI) per 1 g adsorbent dosage within 24 h under optimum condition. It was demonstrated that Cr(VI) adsorption using CBC400 has a good fit with Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics model. The interaction between Cr(VI) ions and biosorbent were well established by characterising prior and post-Cr(VI)-treatment of biochar samples using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. From the overall findings of the study, it was concluded that CBC400 can be suitably applied for Cr(VI) removal with possible safe disposal in cost-effective and environmentally safe way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the UK, strawberry is mostly grown in coconut coir substrate under protection. Coir substrate is usually used only for one or two cropping seasons because the continuous reuse of coir without any treatment leads to yield decline. In this study, we investigated the changes in bacterial and fungal communities in strawberry roots and bulk coir in relation to (i) the coir substrate age (cropping seasons) and (ii) oak or beech biochar amendment at planting. Coir age did not affect fungal/bacterial alpha (within-sample) diversity but affected beta (between-sample) diversity. Amendment with either oak or beech biochar did not lead to significant changes in either alpha or beta diversity for both fungi and bacteria, but it did alter the relative abundance of 13 fungal ASVs. This study identified six bacterial and 20 fungal ASVs with a significant positive linear relationship with coir age and also eight bacterial and 22 fungal ASVs with a significant negative linear relationship with coir age. Notably, the observed strawberry yield decline in reused coir substrate could be associated with a generalist root pathogen, Ilyonectria destructans (ex. Cylindrocarpon destructans), of which the abundance increased annually by 225% and 426% in strawberry root and bulk coir, respectively. Future research is needed to confirmthe role of I. destructans in reused coir on strawberry plant health and fruit productivity and then to identify management strategies for yield decline mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancement of the mechanical and thermal characteristics of 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) composites reinforced by coir fiber powder (CFP) has been investigated by varying the weight percentage (wt%) of the reinforcement and annealing process. CFP/PLA composite filaments with CFP compositions of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt% were fabricated. These filaments were used to print CFP/PLA test specimens. The specimens were annealed at 90°C for 120 min in a hot air oven followed by cooling at room temperature. Mechanical, morphological, crystalline, and thermal characterizations were conducted on these specimens. The tensile and flexural strength of neat PLA were observed as 49.7 and 82.4 MPa which decreased by 6.4% and 8.13% respectively for printed composite specimens with 0.5 wt% CFP as reinforcement material. On the other hand, the annealed CFP/PLA composite specimen, with 0.1 wt% CFP as a reinforcement material, demonstrated higher tensile and flexural strength. Specifically, it exhibited a maximum tensile strength of 56.4 MPa and a maximum flexural strength of 92.9 MPa, which are 13.5% and 12.7% higher, respectively, than neat PLA. These strengths are 15.5% and 16.7% higher, respectively, than those of the unannealed CFP/PLA composite specimen with the same wt% of CFP reinforcement. The annealing process increased the crystallinity of composites by enhancing the crystallinity index (63%) and crystalline size (6.7 nm). The high thermal stability of composites (with a glass transition temperature of 256°C) makes them suitable for applications in food and medical packaging. Highlights: Enhancement of thermo‐mechanical characteristics of 3D printed bio‐composites.Annealing process improved mechanical features of 3D printed bio‐composites.Annealed composite with 0.1 wt% as reinforcement demonstrated better properties.SEM and XRD studies confirmed failure mechanisms and crystalline structure.Thermal and mechanical assets favor its utilization in food wrapping applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coir fiber, boron nitride and fly ash-reinforced epoxy polymer composites were fabricated for testing and analysis. The design of the experiment method of response surface methodology (RSM) is considered to prepare the specimens. Central composite design, a model available in RSMб was used to obtain different composition of specimens. The significance of reinforcing parameters like wt% of coir fiber, boron nitride, and fly ash on the impact energy of composite were investigated by performing an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The regression equation, obtained by means of ANOVA reveals that the wt% influence of the coir fibers is more significant than that of boron nitride and fly ash. Optimization study was carried out to determine the combination of optimized parameters to get maximum impact energy. The confirmation experiment validates the optimization study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the biodegradable and fracture toughness of Polylactic Acid (PLA) composites supplemented with coir fibres at different fibre weight fractions. Sustainable composite materials are made by combining fibres from coconut coir with PLA, a biodegradable polymer sourced from renewable resources. To improve their characteristics, the fibres are treated with sodium hydroxide, and twin-screw extrusion and injection moulding are used to create the composites. According to ASTM standards, tensile, impact, and flexural strength tests show that untreated coir fibre reinforced PLA composites have higher tensile and impact strengths than pure PLA, whereas treated fibres offer marginal increases at particular weight fractions. As fibre content rises, flexural strength often falls; untreated composites outperform treated ones in this regard. These results demonstrate the potential of PLA composites reinforced with coir fibre as greener substitutes for traditional polymers, with prospective uses in structural contexts where mechanical integrity and biodegradability are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the production and assessment of fracture toughness in Polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with different weight fractions of treated and untreated coconut coir fibres. The potential of natural fibres, especially those obtained from agricultural waste like coconut coir, to create lightweight, affordable, and environmentally friendly composite materials has drawn attention. In the study, coir fibres were cleaned and chemically treated with NaOH before being incorporated into PP using injection moulding and extrusion techniques. According to ASTM guidelines, composites with 10%, 20%, and 30% coir fibre concentrations underwent Single Edge Notched Bend (SENB) testing to determine their fracture toughness. The fracture toughness of composites containing 10% and 20% untreated coir fibres was found to be higher than that of pure PP, but composites containing 30% untreated and all treated coir fibres showed reduced fracture toughness. The best composite, with 20% untreated coir, showed the best mix of fibre content and material performance, emphasizing how chemical treatment hurt fibre brittleness and the composites' overall ability to support loads. The potential of untreated natural fibres to improve composite materials for industrial applications- particularly in the automotive industry- is highlighted by this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coir is a promising natural fiber that can be used for soil stabilization through fiber reinforcement. In this paper, weight gain, reduction in water absorption, and single-fiber tensile strength tests are performed to evaluate the application of different natural agents such as neem oil, kerosene, and cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) in improving the mechanical properties and durability of coir fibers. Tri-axial tests are performed on soil specimens cured for 3, 28, and 180 days to determine the improvement in their shear strength when reinforced with coir fibers treated with different agents. The fiber reinforcement led to an increase in the shear strength of the soil by improving cohesion and friction angle. Among the different agents used, the CNSL is found to be the most effective agent for coir fiber treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizosphere pH determines nutrient bioavailability, but this pH is difficult to measure. Standard pH tests require adding water to growth media. This dilutes hydrogen ion activity and increases pH. We used a novel, in situ, pointed-tip electrode to estimate rhizosphere pH without dilution. Measurements from this electrode matched a research-grade pH meter in hydroponic nutrient solutions. We then compared measurements from this electrode to saturated paste and pour-through methods in peat moss, coconut coir, and pine bark. The pointedtip electrode was unable to accurately measure pH in the highly-porous pine bark media. Adding deionized water to the other media at container capacity using the saturated paste method resulted in a pH that was 0.59 ± 0.30 units higher than the initial in situ measurement at the top of the container. This increase aligns with established solution chemistry principles. Measurements of pH using the pour-through method were 0.38 ± 0.24 pH units higher than in situ measurements at the bottom of the container. We conclude that in situ pH measurements are not subject to dilution and are thus more representative of the rhizosphere pH than the saturated paste and pour-through techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-materials in the nano size are promising high-value products with diverse applications. The green synthesis of lignin nanoparticles has opened a novel method to utilize lignin in advanced uses. In the present study lignin nanoparticles with dimensions of about 35nm were prepared from alkaline lignin extract directly in the moist condition. By rapid acid precipitation using methane sulphonic acid, accompanied by mild ultrasonication. The size, surface morphology, and thermal properties of the lignin nanoparticles were studied using different techniques such as; DLS, FTIR, XRD, UV, SEM, TGA, and DTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Vermicomposting of phenolics-rich lignocellulosic materials takes a long time to reach maturity, while worm mortality and weight loss are often encountered. Phenolic compounds have antimicrobial properties which may affect the vermicomposting process. The present study aims at investigating the effect of the initial total phenolic content (TPC) on coir pith vermicomposting. Method: The earthworm activities and performance during vermicomposting of coir pith and cow manure containing 4.8 (T0), 6.4 (T1), 7.2 (T2), 8.8 (T3), 10.3 (T4) and 12.7 (T5) mg initial TPC g-1 substrate using Eudrilus eugeniae were investigated. Results: Total carbon loss increased as initial TPC increased and only T0 and T1 reached maturity. Earthworm mortality and weight loss increased as initial TPC of materials increased in a concentration dependent manner. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results showed that the total numbers of water-soluble phenolics of coir pith and cow manure were, respectively, 17 and 16 out of which 5 and 4 were unique to coir pith and cow manure, respectively. By the end of vermicomposting, almost all of phenolics present in cow manure disappeared while those in coir pith remained intact, albeit, reduced in concentrations. 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-coumaric acid were detected in all treatments. Disappearance of 4.90 and 6.35 minute-peaks was observed with T0, T1 and T2 whilst a new phenolic (5.30 minute-peak) was detected only in T1 indicating the better degradation of phenolic compounds. Conclusion: Results indicated a significant role of initial TPC on earthworm activities during coir pith vermicomposting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on developing and examining the abrasive wear attributes of a unique epoxy composite reinforced with four fibers: rice straw (RS), coconut coir (CC), sugarcane bagasse (SB), jute fiber (JF), and one filler as neem wood powder (NWP). By altering the percentages of coconut coir, sugarcane bagasse, rice straw, and NWP, four types of composites A1, B2, C3, and D4 were created. Using a pin-on-disk wear testing machine, dry sliding wear tests were carried out for each composition at various sliding velocities (1, 2, and 3 m/s) while applying standard loads of 5, 10, 30, and 50 N. The plots of the frictional force, friction coefficient and wear rate were made at all sliding velocities against the usual load and sliding distance. The outcome shows that the wear attributes of the composite improve as the amount of NWP enhances. When worn surfaces are observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) wear direction, broken particles, microfracture, voids, fiber matrix separation, and bonded matrix are all visible. Apart from being useful to the automobile industry, this particular type of composite material can be adapted to other sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]