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https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/01bd/d18e426b609b4128689914f9203b56a0bed1.pdf
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389408016610
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Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Banana (Musa, AAA
cv. Cavendish) Fruits Peel
Abstract: The fresh green and yellow banana peel of, (Musa, cv.
Cavendish) fruits were treated with 70% acetone, which were
partitioned with chloroform (CHCl3) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc),
sequentially. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were
evaluated by using the thiocyanate method, ß-carotene
bleaching method and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free
radical elimination. While, antimicrobial activities of the extracts
and isolated components were evaluated using paper disc
methods and Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC). The
EtOAc and water soluble fractions of green peel displayed high
antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, respectively. Antioxidant
activity of water extracts was comparable to those of synthetic
antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated
hydroxytoluene. Among all isolated components ß-sitosterol,
malic acid, succinic acid, palmatic acid, 12-hydroxystrearic acid,
glycoside, the d-malic and 12-hydroxystrearic acid were the
most active against all the Gram-negative and positive bacterial
species tested. The MIC of d-malic and succinic acid was varying
between 140-750 ppm, respectively. Key words: Banana, ß-
sitosterol, malic acid, succinic acid, palmatic acid, 12-
hydroxystrearic acid, glycoside
Low cost biosorbent “banana peel” for the removal of phenolic
compounds from olive mill wastewater: Kinetic and equilibrium
studies
Abstract
The aim of this work is to determine the potential of application
of banana peel as a biosorbent for removing phenolic compounds
from olive mill wastewaters. The effect of adsorbent dosage, pH
and contact time were investigated. The results showed that the
increase in the banana peel dosage from 10 to 30 g/L
significantly increased the phenolic compounds adsorption rates
from 60 to 88%. Increase in the pH to above neutrality resulted in
the increase in the phenolic compounds adsorption capacity. The
adsorption process was fast, and it reached equilibrium in 3-h
contact time. The Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models
were used for mathematical description of the adsorption
equilibrium and it was found that experimental data fitted very
well to both Freundlich and Langmuir models. Batch adsorption
models, based on the assumption of the pseudo-first-order,
pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion mechanism,
showed that kinetic data follow closely the pseudo-second-order
than the pseudo-first-order and intraparticle diffusion. Desorption
studies showed that low pH value was efficient for desorption of
phenolic compounds. These results indicate clearly the efficiency
of banana peel as a low-cost solution for olive mill wastewaters
treatment and give some preliminary elements for the
comprehension of the interactions between banana peel as a
bioadsorbent and the very polluting compounds from the olive oil
industry.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261306909002775 Development and material properties of new hybrid plywood
from oil palm biomass

Abstract
Shortage of wood as a raw material has forced wood-based
industries to find alternative local raw materials. Currently,
oil palm biomass is undergoing research and development
(R & D) and appears to be the most viable alternative. This
work examines the conversion of oil palm trunk (OPT) and
oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) into new plywood
and analyses its properties. We prepared five-ply veneer
hybrid plywood (alternating layers of oil palm trunk veneer
and empty fruit bunch mat) with different spread levels
(300 g/m2 and 500 g/m2) of resins (phenol formaldehyde
and urea formaldehyde). We then studied the mechanical
and physical properties of the plywood. The results show
that hybridisation of EFB with OPT improves some
properties of plywood, such as bending strength, screw
withdrawal and shear strength. The thermal properties of
the plywood panels were studied by thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA). The panels glued with phenol formaldehyde
with a spread level of 500 g/m2 showed better thermal
stability than the other panels. Scanning electron
microscope (SEM) was used to study the fibre matrix
bonding and surface morphology of the plywood at
different glue spread levels of the resins. The fibre–matrix
bonding showed good improvement for the hybrid panel
glued with 500 g/m2 phenol formaldehyde.

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/07e7/584c2c6525c03e4b3d6cf4b51629908e19c9.pdf Bamboo: An Alternative Raw Material for Wood and Wood-

Based Composites

Abstract Bamboo is the most important non-wood species which

is abundantly grows in most of the tropical and subtropical zone.
It has developed as a specially valuable and superior alternate
for wood composite manufactured, such as for pulp and paper,
stripboards, matboards, veneer, plywood, particleboard and
fiberboard. Moreover, several researches have used it as raw
material for structural composites such as Oriented Strand
Board (OSB), Glue Laminated Timber (GLT), Parallel Strip Lumber
(PSL) and Oriented Strand Lumber (OSL). Nowadays, there are
many kinds of bamboo composite are produced and traded in
the world. However, there are several differences between
bamboo and wood for example macroscopic and microscopic
characteristics, chemical composition, physical and mechanical
properties. For this reason, the methods, technology and
equipment for wood processing cannot be directly applied in
bamboo utilization. Further research is noticeably required on
the information on bamboo properties, cost-effective
technologies and managements. With modern techniques and
adapted technologies, bamboo can be processed into a wide
range of products which successfully compete with wood and
other raw materials in the future. Keywords: bamboo,
alternative raw material, wood-based composites
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1516- Alternative castor oil-based polyurethane adhesive used in the
14392004000300007&script=sci_arttext&tlng=pt production of plywood

ABSTRACT
Plywood is normally produced with urea-
formaldehyde and/or phenol-formaldehyde
adhesives. However, the former is considerably
toxic and environmentally damaging, while the
latter is expensive, thus motivating the search for
alternative raw materials in plywood production.
The castor oil-based polyurethane adhesive
developed at the São Carlos Institute of Chemistry,
University of São Paulo, is an environmentally
friendly vegetal oil-based polymer that is harmless
to humans. The wood species Eucalyptus
grandis offers favorable properties for plywood the
manufacture. The study reported on here involved
the use of castor oil-based polyurethane adhesive
to produce plywood with Eucalyptus grandis layers.
The plywood's performance was evaluated based on
the results of physical and mechanical tests
recommended by the Brazilian code, ABNT. Tests
results showed higher values than those reported in
the literature and recommended by the ABNT,
indicating that the castor oil-based polyurethane
adhesive is a promising glue for the manufacture of
plywood.
Keywords: plywood, polyurethane adhesive based
on castor oil, properties

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026087741100238X Studies on banana fruit quality and maturity stages using

hyperspectral imaging

Abstract
Banana fruit quality and maturity stages were studied at
three different temperatures, viz., 20, 25, and 30 °C by
using hyperspectral imaging technique in the visible and
near infrared (400–1000 nm) regions. The quality
parameters like moisture content, firmness and total
soluble solids were determined and correlated with the
spectral data. The spectral data were analyzed using the
partial least square analysis. The optimal wavelengths were
selected using predicted residual error sum of squares. The
principal component analysis was also used to test the
variability of the observed data. By using multiple linear
regressions (MLR), models were established based on the
optimal wave lengths to predict the quality attributes. The
coefficient of determination was found to be 0.85, 0.87, and
0.91 for total soluble solids, moisture and firmness of the
banana fruits, respectively. The change in TSS and firmness
of banana fruits stored at different temperatures, viz., 20,
25, and 30 °C during the ripening process followed the
polynomial relationships and the change in moisture
content followed a linear relationship at different maturity
stages.
Highlights
 ► Banana fruit quality and maturity stages were analyzed
at different temperatures. ► Moisture content, firmness
and TSS were correlated with spectral data. ►
Hyperspectral imaging technique was used to determine
banana fruit quality.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1021070006895 Recent Industrial Applications of Lignin: A

Sustainable Alternative to Nonrenewable
Materials
Abstract
Lignin represents a vastly under-utilized natural polymer
co-generated during papermaking and biomass
fractionation. Different types of lignin exist, and these
differ with regard to isolation protocol and plant resource
(i.e., wood type or agricultural harvesting residue). The
incorporation of lignin into polymeric systems has been
demonstrated, and this depends on solubility and
reactivity characteristics. Several industrial utilization
examples are presented for sulfur-free, water-insoluble
lignins. These include materials for automotive brakes,
wood panel products, biodispersants, polyurethane
foams, and epoxy resins for printed circuit boards.