SISAL

About: SISAL is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1878 publications have been published within this topic receiving 55528 citations.

Tanzania Sisal Industry: Auditing and Characterization of Sisal Post-Harvest Wastes as a Bio-Resource for Bio- Refining

Abstract: A waste audit case study was conducted for sisal po st-harvest waste (SPHW) generated at Fatemi sisal estates in Tanzani a to evaluate its potential for use as substrate for mushroom cultivation and bioga s production by integrating quantitative with qualitative methods and laborator y analysis. Annual generation of fresh sisal boles waste (SBW) and remnant leaf s tubs (RLS) per hectare was estimated at 22 and 44.5 tons, respectively. The ch emical compositions of SBW and RLS as well as the leachate extracted from the fractions were established. Regardless of the fraction analyzed, contents of vo latile solids, total carbon, total organic matter were in the ranges of 93-98%, 49-55% and 91-98% on dry weight basis, respectively. Total sugar contents of the so lid and liquid fractions ranged between 8-27% and 30-35 mg/l, respectively. The che mical oxygen demand (COD) content of the SBW and RLS fractions were bet ween 20 and 26 gO 2/l, respectively. The high values of organics contained in the SPHW fractions is indicative of its potential as feedstock for a biorefinery that produces food (mushroom), feed, biofuels (biogas, bioethanol), bi ochemicals and other bioproducts. On the basis of the established charac teristics, an innovative approach for the utilization of the waste is propos ed .

Damage tolerance behaviour of cloisite 15A incorporated recycled polypropylene nanocomposites and bionanocomposites

Abstract: In the present investigation, recycled polypropylene (rPP) used as a matrix was modified by incorporating nanofillers through melt blending technique to prepare a masterbatch of nanocomposites. Untreated sisal fibre and mercerised sisal fibres were further incorporated into the nanocomposites for the preparation of bionanocomposites. Bionanocomposites containing 40 wt% of UT fibre and 5 wt% of MA-g-PP revealed an increase in the tensile strength and modulus to the tune of 27% and 370%, respectively, compared to rPP. The flexural strength and modulus also increased to the tune of 129% and 269%, respectively, compared to rPP. Further, the surface treatment of the fibre slightly increased the mechanical properties and stiffness of bionanocomposites. Interfacial strength between fibre and matrix was also evaluated by using Turcsanyi and Sato–Furukawa models. Damage tolerance of rPP nanocomposites and its bionanocomposites was evaluated using single-edge-notch specimens. The notch length ‘a’ to width ‘...

Study of contents ratio of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin on the mechanical properties of sisal fibers reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composites

Abstract: Untreated sisal fibers (USFs) with the highest tensile strength and alkali-treated SFs (ASFs) with the maximum interfacial strength with polylactic acid (PLA) matrix were mixed to make hybrid SFs (HSFs) according to different mass ratios and then compounded with PLA to prepare PLA/HSF composites. It was found that PLA/HSFs had the best mechanical property when the mass ratio of USFs and ASFs was 4:6. and the content of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin at this moment were 71.4%, 16.6% and 12.0% respectively.