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Wednesday, 27 July 2016

Quality Characteristics and Radioactive Contamination of Wood Pellet Imported in Italy

DOI: 10.4236/ojapps.2015.55018
Author(s)   
Massimo Calabrese1*, Matteo Quarantotto2, Chiara Cantaluppi3, Andrea Fasson3, Paolo Bogoni1
1Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
2University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
3Institute for Energetics and Interphases, National Research Council of Italy, Padova, Italy.
The problem of Caesium-137 (137 Cs) contamination of the imported wood pellet used for burning has been reported in Italy since June 2009. Since then, sampling and analysis were performed at the crossing border points of the provinces of Trieste and Gorizia, on request of the Health and Customs Border Bureau. This paper presents the results of the analysis performed on 65 samples from August 2010 to March 2012, which covered a total of products over 1500 tons of various origins, imported from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Most of the samples showed very low 137 Cs activity concentrations; only a few hot spots showed 137 Cs activity concentrations higher than 100 Bq·kg-1. The results of dose evaluations for wood pellet stoves users under the hypotheses assumed in this study were largely below the threshold of radiological relevance.
KEYWORDS
Radioactivity, Wood Pellet, Biofuels, Caesium-137, Radioprotection
Cite this paper
Calabrese, M. , Quarantotto, M. , Cantaluppi, C. , Fasson, A. and Bogoni, P. (2015) Quality Characteristics and Radioactive Contamination of Wood Pellet Imported in Italy. Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 5, 183-190. doi: 10.4236/ojapps.2015.55018.
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[4]Associazione Italiana per le Energie Agroforestali (AIEL) (2009) Allegato 3 al “Regolamento Generale Relativo alle Regole Particolari per l’Attestazione di Qualità—Pellet Gold. AIEL, 5-6.
[5]Chandrasekaran, S.R., Hopke, P.K., Rector, L., Allen, G. and Lin, L. (2012) Chemical Composition of Wood Chips and Wood Pellets. Energy & Fuels, 26, 4932-4937. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef300884k
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[7]Chiaberto, E., Tripodi, R., Bertino, M. and Magnoni, M. (2009) Stima di Dose alla Popolazione Dovuta all’Impiego nelle Stufe di Pellets Radioattivi—Prime Valutazioni. ARPA Piemonte—Relazione tecnica no. 406/IR.
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[9]Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione, Energia Nucleare (1991) Determinazione del 137 Cs per Spettrometria Gamma Diretta. UNI 9890.
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Assessing the potential of wood welding for Australian eucalypts and tropical species

Author
  • , 
  • Barbara Ozarska, 
  • Antonio Pizzi

    • Abstract

    The wood welding potential of Australian and tropical species has been investigated. Optimized parameters for Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus pilularis, Corymbia maculata, Ochroma pyramidale, and Tectona grandis were determined using a standard tensile strength test. The results confirmed the importance of density in the optimisation process. The grain direction also proved to have a significant impact on the welded joint strength of species featuring large wood rays or vessels in diagonal and/or radial pattern. Wood welding could therefore be an alternative for such species where gluing is required.

    References

    1. ASTM (2012) Standard test methods for evaluating properties of wood-base fiber and particle panel materials. ASTM D1037. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken
    2. Belleville B, Stevanovic T, Pizzi A, Cloutier A, Blanchet P (2013) Determination of optimal wood-dowel welding parameters for two North American hardwood species. J Adhes Sci Technol 27(5–6):566–576CrossRef
    3. Ganne-Chedéville C, Pizzi A, Thomas A, Leban J-M, Bocquet J-F, Despres A, Mansouri HR (2005) Parameter interactions in two-block welding and the wood nail concept in wood dowel welding. J Adhes Sci Technol 19:1157–1174CrossRef
    4. Gfeller B, Zanetti M, Properzi M, Pizzi A, Pichelin F, Lehmann M, Delmotte L (2003) Wood bonding by vibrational welding. J Adhes Sci Technol 17(11):1573–1589CrossRef
    5. Pizzi A, Leban J-M, Kanazawa F, Properzi M, Pichelin F (2004) Wood dowel bonding by high speed rotation welding. J Adhes Sci Technol 18:1263–1278CrossRef
    6. Rodriguez G, Diouf P, Blanchet P, Stevanovic T (2010) Wood dowel bonding by high-speed rotation welding—application to two Canadian hardwood species. J Adhes Sci Technol 24:1423–1436CrossRef

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    Upgraded Pellet Making by Torrefaction—Torrefaction of Japanese Wood Pellets

    DOI: 10.4236/jsbs.2015.53008
    Author(s)   
    Takahiro Yoshida1*, Takashi Nomura2, Hideki Gensai2, Hiroki Watada2, Tetsuya Sano1,3, Seiji Ohara1
    1Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan.
    2Fukui Prefectural Green Center, Sakai, Japan.
    3Present Address: Tohoku Institute of Technology, Sendai, Japan.
    Upgraded wood pellets were produced and evaluated by torrefaction of wood pellets. In this study, conventional wood pellets were initially prepared and subsequently torrefied on a laboratory and then larger scale. During the laboratory scale production, pellets from wooden parts of Japanese cedar (sugi, Cryptomeria japonica) and Japanese oak (konara, Quercus serrata) trees were heat- treated in an inert gas oven under nitrogen atmosphere around 170°C - 320°C. For the Japanese cedar, the calorific values were improved by heat treatment up to 260°C. By heat treatment at 240°C, the upgrade ratio of higher heating value (HHV) was nearly 30% and the energy yield was 97%. For the Japanese oak, the calorific values were improved by heat treatment up to 320°C. By heat treatment at 280°C, the upgrade ratio of HHV exceeded 30% and the energy yield was 84%. On a larger scale, a conventional charcoal oven was modified for torrefied wood pellet production, meaning that torrefied wood pellet with 25 MJ/kg of calorific value was produced during heat treatment at 350°C. A mixture of conventional and torrefied pellets was applied to a commercial pellet stove, and torrefied wood pellets produced in this study might be usable as fuel for conventional pellet stoves.
    KEYWORDS
    Component, Wood Pellet, Torrefaction, Calorific Value
    Cite this paper
    Yoshida, T. , Nomura, T. , Gensai, H. , Watada, H. , Sano, T. and Ohara, S. (2015) Upgraded Pellet Making by Torrefaction—Torrefaction of Japanese Wood Pellets. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems, 5, 82-88. doi: 10.4236/jsbs.2015.53008.
    [1]Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan (2015) Annual Report on Trends in Forest and Forestry in Japan. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo.
    [2]Deutmeyer, M. (2012) 2 Torrefaction Technologies and Initiatives for Improving Biomass Feedstock Specifications: Possible Effect of Torrefaction on Biomass Trade. IEA Bioenergy Task 40.
    [3]van der Stelt, M.J.C., Gerhauser, H., Kiel, J.H.A. and Ptasinski, K.J. (2011) Biomass Upgrading by Torrefaction for the Production of Biofuels: A Review. Biomass and Bioenergy, 35, 3748-3762.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2011.06.023
    [4]Bergman, P.C.A., Boersma, A.R. and Kiel, J.H.A. (2007) Torrefaction for Biomass Conversion into Solid Fuel. Proceedings of the 15th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Berlin, 7-11 May 2007, 78-81.
    [5]Uslu, A., Faaij, P.C.A. and Bergmann, P.C.A. (2008) Pre-Treatment Technologies, and Their Effect on International Bioenergy Supply Chain Logistics. Techno-Economic Evaluation of Torrefaction, Fast Pyrolysis and Pelletisation. Energy, 33, 1206-1223.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2008.03.007
    [6]Stelte, W., Clemons, C., Holm, J.K., Sanadi, A.R., Ahrenfeldt, J., Shang, L. and Henriksen, U.B. (2011) Pelletizing Properties of Torrefied Spruce. Biomass and Bioenergy, 36, 4690-4698.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2011.09.025
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef4023674
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.01.039
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef3004027
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef401787q
    [12]Yoshida, T., Sano, T., Nomura, T., Gensai, H., Watada, H. and Ohara, S. (2013) Fundamental Study on the Production of “Hyper Wood Pellet”—Effect of Torrefaction Condition on Grinding and Pelletizing Properties. Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 7, 705-710.
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef300633c
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    Large Wood Volume and Longitudinal Distribution in Channel Segments Draining Catchments with Different Land Use, Chile

    DOI: 10.4236/ojmh.2014.42005
    Author(s)   
    A. Iroumé, L. Mao, H. Ulloa, C. Ruz, A. Andreoli
    Faculty of Forest Sciences and Natural Resources, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
    Department of Ecosystems and Environments, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
    Faculty of Forest Sciences and Natural Resources, Universidad Austral de Chile, Graduate School, Valdivia, Chile.
    Faculty of Engineering Sciences, School of Civil Engineering, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
    The storage, longitudinal distribution and recruitment processes of in-stream large wood (LW) were studied comparing channel segments draining four Chilean mountain catchments with different land use. The segments were divided into relatively uniform reaches of different lengths and surveyed for LW (piece dimensions, position in the channel, orientation to flow and aggregation) and stream morphology (slope and bank full channel width and depth) characterizations. LW volume stored in the Pichun, El Toro and Vuelta de Zorra study channels are within the range informed in international researches from streams draining catchments with similar forest covers. However, the 1057 m3/ha of LW stored in Tres Arroyos is extremely high and in the same order of magnitude than the reports from old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest of USA. The size of the area that can potentially provide wood to streams depends on the wood supply mechanisms within any catchment, and the LW stored in the study segments increases as the size of this area increases. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge on the effects of LW in mountain channels, gathering new information and expanding investigations developed in Chile since 2008. This research was carried out within the framework of Project FONDECYT 11106209.
    KEYWORDS
    Large Wood, Wood Storage, LW Longitudinal Distribution, Mountain Catchments
    Cite this paper
    Iroumé, A. , Mao, L. , Ulloa, H. , Ruz, C. and Andreoli, A. (2014) Large Wood Volume and Longitudinal Distribution in Channel Segments Draining Catchments with Different Land Use, Chile. Open Journal of Modern Hydrology, 4, 57-66. doi: 10.4236/ojmh.2014.42005.
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0169-555X(02)00326-4
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/esp.2135
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/esp.1593
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/esp.1541
    [9]Iroumé, A., Andreoli, A., Comiti, F., Ulloa, H. and Huber, A. (2010) Large Wood Abundance, Distribution and Mobilization in a Third Order Coastal Mountain Range River System, Southern Chile. Forest Ecology and Management, 260, 480-490.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.05.004
    [10]Iroumé, A., Ulloa, H.,Lenzi, M.A., Andreoli, A. and Gallo, C. (2011) In-Stream Large Wood Mobility and Recruitment in Two Channels in the Coastal Mountain Range, Chile. Bosque, 32, 247-254.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92002011000300006
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92002011000300005
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92002013000300008
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2010WR009854
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/esp.1800
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    http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/esp.1722

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    Study on Water Resistance of Polydopamine Treatment Wood Flour/Polypropylene Composites

    DOI: 10.4236/msce.2016.45002
    Author(s)    
    Do Khoa Thi Lanh1*, Tran Duc Thien2
    1Department of Polymer Science and Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
    2Vietnam National University of Forestry, Hanoi, Vietnam.
    This paper aims to investigate the water absorption of wood flour/polypropylene composites and its effects on dimensional stability and crystallization properties. Wood-plastic composites (WPCs) makes using polydopamine modified wood flour (WF-D), virgin polypropylene, maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MA) and antioxidant, by using hot-pressing moulding. Water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS) and failure of flexural properties of the composites have studied for a range of immersion times. It is found that the WA and TS have increased with WF content and immersion time. The water absorption and thickness swelling of WPCs are 0.85% and 0.99%, respectively, after 8 days immersion. With the prolonging of immersion time, the impact strength, flexural strength and flexural modulus of WPCs increase first and then decrease. The impact strength decreases from 3.32 kJ/m2 to 2.94 kJ/m2, the retention rate is 88.55%; the flexural strength and flexural modulus by 68.58 Mpa and 3.92 Gpa, respectively. WPCs crystallization and thermal properties decrease slightly. Microstructures of the composites are examined to understand the mechanisms for the wood-plastic interaction which affects the water absorption and thickness swelling. Our work demonstrates that using polydopamine treatment wood flour for preparing WPCs can be an efficient way to improve the water resistance of WPCs.
    KEYWORDS
    Wood Flour, Water Absorption, Polypropylene, Wood-Plastic Composites, Polydopamine, Thickness Swelling
    Cite this paper
    Lanh, D. and Thien, T. (2016) Study on Water Resistance of Polydopamine Treatment Wood Flour/Polypropylene Composites. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 4, 7-15. doi: 10.4236/msce.2016.45002.
    [1]Homkhiew, C. (2013) Optimal Formulation of Recycled Polypropylene/Rubber Wood Flour Composites on Mechanical and Creep Behaviors. Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Systems Engineering Prince of Songkla University.
    [2]Wang, Y., Cao, J.Z., Zhu, L.Z., et al. (2012) Interfacial Compatibility of Wood Flour/Polypropylene Composites by Stress Relaxation Method. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 126, 89-95.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.36682
    [3]Livia, D., Karoly, R., Janos, M., et al. (2007) Wood Flour Filled Polypropylene Composites: Interfacial Adhesion and Micromechanical Deformations. Polymer Engineering and Science, 47, 1246-1255.
    [4]Ezequiel, P., Lucia, F., Pardo, S.G., et al. (2012) Tensile and Fracture Behaviour of PP/Wood Flour Composites. Composites: Part B, 43, 2795-2800.
    [5]Sheng, X.M. and Li, Y.B. (2012) Recent Development of Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites. New Chemical Materials, 40, 1-3.
    [6]Cai, P.X., Lu, Q., Liang, M.J., et al. (2012) Water Absorption and Effect of PP/WPC. China Plastics Industry, 4, 104- 111.
    [7]Liang, M.J., Lu, Q., Cai, P.X. and Cao, Z.H. (2012) Water Absorption of Polyethylene/Wood Flour Composite and Its Effects on Mechanical Properties of the Composite. Plastic, 41, 46-59.
    [8]Li, Y.H., Fan, M., Wu, K., et al. (2015) Polydopamine Coating Layer on Graphene for Suppressing Loss Tangent and Enhancing Dielectric Constant of Poly (Vinylidene Fluoride)/Graphene Composites. Composites: Part A, 73, 1-26.
    [9]Liu, T., Lu, S.R. and Huang, A.M. (2012) Study on Water Resistance of Polypropylene/Sisal Fiber Wood-Plastic Composites. China Plastics, 26, 76-80.
    [10]Sun, Z.Y., Li, D.G., Wu, Z.Y., et al. (2005) Study on the Swell Rate of Wood-Plastic Composites by Soaking in Water. Journal of Fuzhou University (Natural Science), 33, 322-325.
    [11]Adhikary, K.B., Pang, S.S. and Staiger, M.P. (2008) Long-Term Moisture Absorption and Thickness Swelling Behaviour of Recycled Thermoplastics Reinforced with Pinus radiata Sawdust. Chemical Engineering Journal, 142, 190- 198.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2007.11.024
    [12]Tamrakar, S. and Lopez-Anido, R.A. (2011) Water Absorption of Wood Polypropylene Composite Sheet Piles and Its Influence on Mechanical Properties. Construction and Building Materials, 25, 3977-3988.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.04.031

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    Assessment of Safety Practices and Injuries Associated with Wood Processing in a Timber Company in Ghana

    DOI: 10.4236/ojsst.2015.51002
    Author(s)    
    Stephen J. Mitchual, Mark Donkoh, Francis Bih
    Department of Construction and Wood Technology Education, University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi Campus, Kumasi, Ghana.
    This paper reports the assessment of safety practices and injuries in a timber company in Ghana. A cross-sectional survey design was used for the study. Data were collected from 300 respondents at a sawmill in Ghana using a 5-point Likert-type scale questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the data analyses. The result indicates that the mean rating of the respondents on their use of personal protective equipment ranged from 1.09 to 2.51. This implies that the workers of the sawmill rarely or never wear: gloves, overall, goggles, face shield, nose and mouth mask, earplugs or helmet during wood processing. Additionally, the mean ratings of the respondents regarding safety practices, machine and maintenance ranged from 2.42 to 4.03 with three out of the eight items having mean ratings higher than the theoretical mean of 3.0. The ratings of the respondents of the saw doctoring department on their practice of safety on machine and maintenance were significantly higher than those of the other departments. The result of the study further suggests that the workers of this sawmill do rarely report of: skin irritation/dermatitis, eye irritation, lack of appetite, arm/leg amputation, neck pains, hearing loss and poor eye sight problems. However, they usually report of headaches, nausea, respiratory problems, small cuts, back pains, and hip and leg pains. The outcome of this study therefore suggests that the management of the sawmill studied needs to do more to enforce practice of safety, especially the use of personal protective equipment, to reduce hazards and injuries associated with wood processing in the firm.
    KEYWORDS
    Safety Practices, Wood Processing, Wood Processing Injuries, Woodworkers
    Cite this paper
    Mitchual, S. , Donkoh, M. and Bih, F. (2015) Assessment of Safety Practices and Injuries Associated with Wood Processing in a Timber Company in Ghana. Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology, 5, 10-19. doi: 10.4236/ojsst.2015.51002.
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    Variability in Wood Density and Wood Fibre Characterization of Woody Species and Their Possible Utility in Northeastern Mexico

    DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2016.77109
    Author(s)    
    Humberto Gonzalez Rodriguez1*, Ratikanta Maiti1, Aruna Kumari2, N. C. Sarkar3
    1Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Linares, México.

    2Crop Physiology, Professor Jaya Shankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Agricultural College, Jagtial, India.
    3Department of ASEPAN, Institute of Agriculture, Birbhum, India.
    Context: Preliminary screening has been undertaken by woody species of Tamaulipan thornscrub for wood density and its utilization northeastern Mexico for different purposes and to find possible relationship of density with wood fibre characteristics. This technique can be used in the selection of species with high wood density for possible utility. Aims: It is to determine the variability in wood density and in fiber cell morphology and its length and among wood species of the Tamaulipan thornscrub, northeastern Mexico. Methods: Wood density and wood fibres are characterized in these woody species following standard methodology. Results: The results reveal large variability in wood density and in fibre cell morphology h. The species have been classified on the basis of wood density and its fibber cell morphology and has been recommended for their possible utilization for different purposes. Conclusions: Species desirable for strong furniture making, paper pulp, soft furniture, fence etc. can be selected on the basis of fibre length to breadth ratios as strong fibres for furniture and fibre cells with broad lumen and thin cell wall use for fabrication of paper pulp and other utilities.
    KEYWORDS
    Woody Plants, Wood Density, Fibre Characterization, Variability, Wood Fibres, Tamaulipan Thornscrub
    Cite this paper
    Rodriguez, H. , Maiti, R. , Kumari, A. and Sarkar, N. (2016) Variability in Wood Density and Wood Fibre Characterization of Woody Species and Their Possible Utility in Northeastern Mexico. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 7, 1139-1150. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2016.77109.
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