Utilizing and Valorizing Oat and Barley Straw as an Alternative Source of Lignocellulosic Fibers

Abstract

The transition to sustainable, biodegradable, and recyclable materials requires new sources of cellulose fibers that are already used in large volumes by forest industries. Oat and barley straws provide interesting alternatives to wood fibers in lightweight material applications because of their similar chemical composition. Here we investigate processing and material forming concepts, which would enable strong fiber network structures for various applications. The idea is to apply mild pretreatment processing that could be distributed locally so that the logistics of the raw material collection could be made efficient. The actual material production would then combine foam-forming and hot-pressing operations that allow using all fractions of fiber materials with minimal waste. We aimed to study the technical features of this type of processing on a laboratory scale. The homogeneity of the sheet samples was very much affected by whether the raw material was mechanically refined or not. Straw fibers did not form a bond spontaneously with one another after drying the sheets, but their effective bonding required a subsequent hot pressing operation. The mechanical properties of the formed materials were at a similar level as those of the conventional wood-fiber webs. In addition to the technical aspects of materials, we also discuss the business opportunities and system-level requirements of using straw as an alternative source of lignocellulosic fibers.

Conversion of Waste Agricultural Biomass from Straw into Useful Bioproducts—Wheat Fibers and Biofuels

“…It has been proven as a satisfactory renewable source for cellulose fiber isolation and biomass fuel production. As far as the authors know, in the literature [6,[10][11][12]15,, this is the first study on the full utilization of leading wheat varieties in Croatia. In this paper, a diminished quantity of alkali substance was employed during the retting process to maintain the integrity and quality of the fibers.…”

“…Following harvest, substantial quantities of agro-residues, such as wheat straw, are often either abandoned in fields, burned, or left unused, which negatively impacts the environment and endangers ecosystems [7][8][9][10]. Wheat straw, a crucial component of waste lignocellulosic biomass, comprises substantial cellulose content, approximately ranging from 30% to 50% [11][12][13], making it a promising resource of cellulose when compared to other more prominent options (Table 2). Over the past decade, Europe accounted for more than 30% of the world's wheat production, while Asia contributed 44%, and North and South America produced 15% [5].…”

Influence of Partially Carboxylated Powdered Lignocellulose from Oat Straw on Technological and Strength Properties of Water-Swelling Rubber

“…The main component of leaves, bromes and stems of annual agricultural plants is cellulose with a small amount of lignin. The advantage of this type of raw material is annual renewability, ease of processing and low cost [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. It helps to reduce the high dependence on petrochemical resources [ 8 ].…”

Ability of Deep Eutectic Solvent Modified Oat Straw for Cu(II), Zn(II), and Se(IV) Ions Removal

“…Oat straw is a low-cost, widely available waste co-product that is left behind after the harvesting of oat (Avena sativa) [11]. Since waste straw is produced in large quantities during agri-food processing to reduce environmental impact and create economic value, its appropriate utilization is of great importance.…”

“…For this reason, numerous studies have investigated its potential applications. Consequently, Borrega et al [11] investigated the potential valorization of oat straw as an alternative source of lignocellulosic fibers. On the other hand, Szufa et al [12] have considered oat straw after torrefaction treatment as a potential energy source and additive to organic fertilizers, while Onyenwoke et al [13] applied steam explosion pretreatment to oat straw to improve the quality of biofuel pellets generated from these feedstocks.…”