Chemical composition of Luffa aegyptiaca Mill., Agave durangensis Gentry and Pennisetum sp.

Abstract

The particleboard industry faces problems of wood shortage, which has led to the use of non-wood lignocellulosic materials. Furthermore, there is also interest in looking for materials that improve their physical and mechanical properties. The species Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. (fruit), Agave durangensis Gentry (bagasse) and Pennisetum sp. (plant, leaves and stem) could be used in the elaboration of wood-based particleboards. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of using these materials to produce particleboards in accordance with their chemical composition. Five materials were studied, A. durangensis (bagasse), L. aegyptiaca (fruit) and Pennisetum sp. (whole plant, leaves and stem). Extractives, holocellulose, Runkel lignin and ash content was determined. The pH of the fibers was also measured and a microanalysis of the ash was performed. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were carried out, in addition Tukey and Dunn tests for group comparison were performed. Pennisetum sp. leaves presented the highest total extractives and ash content, while L. aegyptiaca fruit and A. durangensis bagasse had the highest both content of holocellulose and Runkel lignin respectively. The lowest pH was presented by the L. aegyptiaca fruit, while the highest was from the Pennisetum sp. stem. The element with the greatest presence in the five materials was potassium, except in A. durangensis bagasse showing calcium. L. aegyptiaca fruit has better characteristics to be used in particleboards with greater mechanical resistance because of its higher holocellulose content. However, Pennisetum sp. (plant, leaves and stem) could be used to make particleboards with high resistance to water absorption.

Enhancing small-scale acetification processes using adsorbed Acetobacter pasteurianus UMCC 2951 on κ-carrageenan-coated luffa sponge

“…LS is recognized as a versatile biotechnological tool and its distinctive properties have attracted considerable attention across multiple sectors ( Akinyemi & Dai, 2022 ). In particular, LS is notable for its porous structure, substantial degree of lignification ( Li, Wang & Zhang, 2024 ), and significant chemical and physical stability ( Shen et al., 2012 ); ( Moreno-Anguiano et al., 2021 ). Figure 1 illustrates the dried LS samples employed in this study, which were prepared as short cylindrical cross-sections of about six cm in diameter and 2.5 cm in height.…”

Use of Agave durangensis Bagasse Fibers in the Production of Wood-Based Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)

“…The panels presented statistically significant difference in WA and TS, both at 2 and 24 h. The results indicate that ADBF decreases the resistance of the panels to water absorption and swelling in thickness. According to Moreno-Anguiano et al [21], fiber of bagasse of A. durangensis contains 32.4% extractives, 44.7% holocellulose, 7.6% lignin, and 12.6% ash. Thus, the high content of extractives present in ADBF could have caused poor gluing of these fibers, due to the migration of extractives to the surface after high pressing temperatures [27].…”

“…The pH of the ADBF is another factor that could reduce the mechanical strength of the panels. Moreno et al [21] report that A. durangensis bagasse fiber has a pH of 5.8. According to Baharoglu et al [41], materials with low pH result in panels with low strength properties, because adhesive curing occurs before hot pressing when the pH of the fibers is low [42].…”

“…In 2019, 178,625 L of mezcal were produced in the state of Durango, Mexico [20]. That year, it is estimated that 2679 to 3572 tons of wet base agave bagasse were produced [21]. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of A. durangensis bagasse fibers on the physical and mechanical properties of wood-based MDF panels.…”

The role of wood harvest from sustainably managed forests in the carbon cycle

“…The use of wood from forests outside Europe is usually not CO 2 neutral (see Köhl et al, 2020). Agave and other species are presently tested for production of particle boards in Mexico (Moreno-Anguiano et al, 2021) in face of the conservation strategies of the EU (EU, 2020). Furthermore, increasing the pressure of wood use on forests with high diversity but far smaller protection measures would have direct and irreversible detrimental effects on global-scale biodiversity.…”