•Biochar is the solid, carbon-rich residual from the pyrolysis of biomass.•Biochars were produced from wood pellets and pelletized wheat straw.•Both biochars proved acceptable as peat replacements in ...potting substrates at levels up to 15%.
Biochar is the solid, carbon-rich product resulting from the pyrolysis of biomass in the absence of oxygen. We are examining biochars for several horticultural applications, including as a replacement for peat moss in soilless substrates used in the production of containerized greenhouse and nursery crops. Biochars were prepared from hardwood pellets and from pelletized wheat straw. Straw biochar had a higher potassium content and pH than the wood biochar. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses of the biochars showed much greater volatile content in the straw biochar. Both biochars had significantly higher bulk densities than either peat moss or vermiculite. Substituting biochar pellets (at rates of 5%, 10%, and 15%, v/v) for peat moss increased substrate pHs, bulk densities, and electrical conductivities, while having variable effects on physical properties (air porosities, container capacities, and total porosities). Greenhouse experiments were conducted using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) plants grown in 3.0-L pots. Addition of either biochar had no effect on dry weights of tomato plants after 4 weeks of growth, but significantly increased plant heights in all treatments. Marigold plant heights were greater than the control in all but the 5% wood biochar, but had only a minor effect on plant dry weights. These results indicate that both pelletized biochars would be suitable as replacements for peat in soilless substrates when used at these replacement rates.
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Methyl and ethyl esters were prepared from camelina
Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz oil by homogenous base-catalyzed transesterification for evaluation as biodiesel fuels. Camelina oil contained high ...percentages of linolenic (32.6
wt.%), linoleic (19.6
wt.%), and oleic (18.6
wt.%) acids. Consequently, camelina oil methyl and ethyl esters (CSME and CSEE) exhibited poor oxidative stabilities and high iodine values versus methyl esters prepared from canola, palm, and soybean oils (CME, PME, and SME). Other fuel properties of CSME and CSEE were similar to CME, PME, and SME, such as low temperature operability, acid value, cetane number, kinematic viscosity, lubricity, sulfur and phosphorous contents, as well as surface tension. As blend components in ultra low-sulfur diesel fuel, CSME and CSEE were essentially indistinguishable from SME and soybean oil ethyl ester blends with regard to low temperature operability, kinematic viscosity, lubricity, and surface tension.
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•Soybeans obtained from many 2013-2016 production locations around the United States.•Analysis of total isoflavone and total saponin quantification performed by HPLC.•Preprocessing algorithms were ...applied to NIRS spectra to minimize variation.•Multiple Linear Regression based models predict isoflavone content.•Predictions had high regression coefficients, low standard errors of calibration.
Over 3200 discrete soybean samples were obtained from production locations around the United States during the years 2012–2016. Ground samples were scanned on near infrared spectrometers (NIRS) and analyzed by HPLC for total isoflavone and total saponin composition, as well as total carbohydrate composition. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) analysis of preprocessed spectral data was used to develop optimized models to predict isoflavone content. The selection of a suitable calibration model was based on a high regression coefficient (R2), and lower standard error of calibration (SEC) values. Robust validated predictions were obtained for isoflavones, however less than robust calibrations were obtained for the total saponins. The correlations were not as robust for predicting the carbohydrate composition. NIRS is a suitable, rapid, nondestructive method to determine isoflavone composition in ground soybeans. Useful isoflavone composition predictions for large numbers of soybean samples can be obtained from quickly obtained NIRS scans.
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Strategic, sustainable, and ecofriendly alternatives to chemical pesticides are needed to effectively control mosquitoes and reduce the incidence of their vectored diseases. We evaluated several ...Brassicaceae (mustard family) seed meals as sources of plant derived isothiocyanates produced from the enzymatic hydrolysis of biologically inactive glucosinolates for the control of Aedes aegypti (L., 1762). Five defatted seed meals (Brassica juncea (L) Czern., 1859, Lepidium sativum L., 1753, Sinapis alba L., 1753, Thlaspi arvense L., 1753, and Thlaspi arvense-heat inactivated and three major chemical products of enzymatic degradation (allyl isothiocyanate, benzyl isothiocyanate and 4-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate) were assayed to determine toxicity (LC
) to Ae. aegypti larvae. All seed meals except the heat inactivated T. arvense were toxic to mosquito larvae. L. sativum seed meal was the most toxic treatment to larvae (LC
= 0.04 g/120 mL dH
O) at the 24-h exposure. At the 72-h evaluation, the LC
values for B. juncea, S. alba and T. arvense seed meals were 0.05, 0.08 and 0.1 g/120 mL dH
O, respectively. Synthetic benzyl isothiocyanate was more toxic to larvae 24-h post treatment (LC
= 5.29 ppm) compared with allyl isothiocyanate (LC
= 19.35 ppm) and 4-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate (LC
= 55.41 ppm). These results were consistent with the higher performance of the benzyl isothiocyanate producing L. sativum seed meal. Isothiocyanates produced from seed meals were more effective than the pure chemical compounds, based on calculated LC
rates. Using seed meal may provide an effective method of delivery for mosquito control. This is the first report evaluating the efficacy of five Brassicaceae seed meals and their major chemical constituent against mosquito larvae and demonstrates how natural compounds from Brassicaceae seed meals can serve as a promising ecofriendly larvicides to control mosquitoes.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) oil is evaluated for the first time as a feedstock for biodiesel production. Biodiesel was obtained in 82 wt % yield by a standard transesterification procedure ...with methanol and sodium methoxide catalyst at 60 °C and an alcohol to oil molar ratio of 6:1. Acid-catalyzed pretreatment to reduce the acid value of crude field pennycress oil resulted in a yield after methanolysis of 94 wt %. Field pennycress oil had high contents of erucic (13(Z)-docosenoic; 32.8 wt %) and linoleic (9(Z),12(Z)-octadecadienoic; 22.4 wt %) acids with other unsaturated fatty acids comprising most of the remaining fatty acid profile. As a result, the methyl esters (biodiesel) obtained from this oil exhibited a high cetane number of 59.8 and excellent low temperature properties, as evidenced by cloud, pour, and cold filter plugging points of −10, −18, and −17 °C, respectively. The kinematic viscosity and oxidative stability (Rancimat method) of field pennycress oil methyl esters were 5.24 mm2/s (40 °C) and 4.4 h (110 °C), respectively. Other fuel properties such as acid value, lubricity, free and total glycerol content, surface tension, as well as sulfur and phosphorus contents were also determined and are discussed in light of biodiesel standards such as ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. Also reported for the first time are cetane numbers of methyl esters of erucic and gondoic (methyl 11(Z)-eicosenoate) acids, which were found to be 74.2 and 73.2, respectively. In summary, field pennycress oil appears to an acceptable feedstock for biodiesel production.
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•Biochar is the highly porous, carbon-rich residual from the pyrolysis of biomass.•Biochar was produced from Paulownia elongata wood.•Paulownia elongata biochar had excellent chemical and physical ...properties for horticultural applications.•Treatment of Paulownia elongata biochar with chemical oxidants did not improve chemical and physical properties for horticultural applications.
Treatment of biochar with oxidants such as acids and hydrogen peroxide has been shown to alter porosity, increase adsorption of chemicals, and introduce functional groups on the biochar surfaces, all of which are desirable for their use in horticultural applications. Biochar was produced from the pyrolysis of wood from seven-year-old Paulownia elongata (PE) trees using a top-lit updraft design stove. PE biochar was subsequently treated with 30% (v/v) sulfuric acid, 30% (w/v) oxalic acid, and 10 and 30% (w/w) H2O2. After thorough rinsing with deionized water to remove residual acids and H2O2, biochars were examined for chemical and physical properties. All of the biochars had high carbon percentages, due to the high temperatures (>1000°C) reached during pyrolysis. Surface areas, micropore surface areas, % micropore surface areas, pH values, cation exchange capacities and electrical conductivities decreased with all oxidant treatments. Analysis of surface functionality by ATR-FTIR showed limited changes resulting from the treatments. TPO/MS analysis showed that all treatments resulted in chars with higher oxidation temperatures suggesting that these are more stable toward oxidation. Unlike reports of biochar derived from different feedstocks and different pyrolysis methods, it appears that treatment of PE biochar with oxidants is unnecessary for its use in horticultural applications.
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Coriander (
Coriandrum sativum L.) seed oil methyl esters were prepared and evaluated as an alternative biodiesel fuel and contained an unusual fatty acid hitherto unreported as the principle ...component in biodiesel fuels: petroselinic (6
Z-octadecenoic; 68.5
wt%) acid. Most of the remaining fatty acid profile consisted of common 18 carbon constituents such as linoleic (9
Z,12
Z-octadeca-dienoic; 13.0
wt%), oleic (9
Z-octadecenoic; 7.6
wt%) and stearic (octadecanoic; 3.1
wt%) acids. A standard transesterification procedure with methanol and sodium methoxide catalyst was used to provide
C. sativum oil methyl esters (CSME). Acid-catalyzed pretreatment was necessary beforehand to reduce the acid value of the oil from 2.66 to 0.47
mg
g
−1. The derived cetane number, kinematic viscosity, and oxidative stability (Rancimat method) of CSME was 53.3, 4.21
mm
2
s
−1 (40
°C), and 14.6
h (110
°C). The cold filter plugging and pour points were −15
°C and −19
°C, respectively. Other properties such as acid value, free and total glycerol content, iodine value, as well as sulfur and phosphorous contents were acceptable according to the biodiesel standards ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. Also reported are lubricity, heat of combustion, and Gardner color, along with a comparison of CSME to soybean oil methyl esters (SME). CSME exhibited higher oxidative stability, superior low temperature properties, and lower iodine value than SME. In summary, CSME has excellent fuel properties as a result of its unique fatty acid composition.
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Coffee is a high-value commodity that is a target for adulteration, leading to loss of quality and causing significant loss to consumers. Therefore, there is significant interest in developing ...methods for detecting coffee adulteration and improving the sensitivity and accuracy of these methods. Corn and other lower value crops are potential adulterants, along with sticks and coffee husks. Fourteen pure Brazilian roasted, ground coffee bean samples were adulterated with 1–20% of roasted, ground corn and were analyzed for their tocopherol content and profile by HPLC. They were also analyzed by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Both proposed methods of detection of corn adulteration displayed a sensitivity of around 5%, thus representing simple and fast analytical methods for detecting adulteration at likely levels of contamination. Further studies should be conducted to verify the results with a much larger sample size and additional types of adulterants.
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Fuel properties are largely dependent on the fatty acid (FA) composition of the feedstock from which biodiesel is prepared. Consequently, FA profile was employed as a screening tool for selection of ...feedstocks high in monounsaturated FAs for further evaluation as biodiesel. Those feedstocks included ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima L.), anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), arugula (Eruca vesicaria L.), cress (Lepidium sativum L.), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), Indian cress (Tropaeolum majus L.), shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris L.) and upland cress (Barbarea verna (Mill.) Asch.). Other selection criteria included saturated FA content, iodine value (IV), content of FAs containing twenty or more carbons and content of trienoic FAs. Anise oil satisfied all selection criteria and was therefore selected for further investigation. Arugula, cumin and upland cress oils were selected as antagonists to the selection criteria. Preparation of FA methyl esters (FAMEs, ≥ 92 wt % yield) following conventional alkaline-catalyzed methanolysis preceded fuel property determination. Of particular interest were oxidative stability and cold flow properties. Also measured were kinematic viscosity (40 °C), IV, acid value, free and total glycerol content, sulfur and phosphorous content, cetane number, energy content and lubricity. FAMEs prepared from anise oil yielded properties compliant with biodiesel standards ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 whereas the antagonists failed at least one specification contained within the standards. As a result, FA profile was an efficient predictor of compliance with biodiesel standards and is therefore recommended as a screening tool for investigation of alternative feedstocks.
► Fatty acid methyl esters were prepared from several alternative feedstocks. ► Fatty acid composition was a principal factor influencing fuel properties. ► Oxidative stability and cold flow properties of biodiesel were examined in detail. ► Limits were developed based on fatty acid composition of common feedstocks. ► Fatty acid composition was an effective tool for selection of feedstocks.
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10.
New crop oils—Properties as potential lubricants Cermak, Steven C.; Biresaw, Girma; Isbell, Terry A. ...
Industrial crops and products,
January 2013, 2013, 2013-1-00, Volume:
44
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
► New crops were compared to common commodity vegetable oils for their fatty acid (FA) profiles, low temperature, lubricating, and oxidative stability properties. ► Additionally, new crop oils ...compared favorably to both petroleum and synthetic commercial standards. ► Spider plots were used to compare the new crop oils on a defined visual and goodness scale.
New crop oils such as lesquerella (Lesquerella fendleri), field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba L.), and cuphea PSR-23 (Cuphea viscosissima×Cuphea lanceolata) were investigated and compared to common commodity vegetable oils for their fatty acid (FA) profiles, low temperature, lubricating (viscosity and wear), and oxidative stability properties. The new crop oils were compared as crude, refined, bleached, and deodorized – RBD, and purified (removal of fatty acids, FAs). Additionally, the physical properties of the new crop oils were compared to commercial vegetable oils, as well as to petroleum and synthetic motor oils. Pennycress and lesquerella had some of the best pour pints (PP, ASTM D 97-96) among the new crop oils, −21 and −24°C respectively, while castor from the commercial side had a PP of −30°C. All the plant based oils, except castor and lesquerella, had excellent viscosity index (VI, ASTM D 2270-93) in the range of 167–231. New crop oils with an antioxidant additive (1–3%) were as oxidatively stable as current commercial petroleum products based on the rotating pressurized vessel oxidation test (RPVOT, ASTM D 2272-98) and gave times >200min. Wear scar diameters (WSD, ASTM D 4172-94) of the vegetable-based oils from the 4-ball anti-wear test showed best results for cuphea and pennycress with WSD of 0.530 and 0.594mm, respectively. In general, the new crop oils were found to have specific unique advantages over traditional commodity vegetable oils. Additionally, new crop oils compared favorably to both petroleum and synthetic commercial standards. Spider plots were used to compare the new crop oils on a defined visual and goodness scale.
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