Author:Mokhothu, Thabang H; John, Maya JDate:Mar 2017The use of bio-based fillers as alternative replacement for synthetic fillers has been dictated by increasing ecological concerns as well as depleting petroleum resources. The other aspect is a growing need for eco-friendly, renewable and ...Read more
Author:Greben, HA; Joubert, LM; Tjatji, MP; Whites, HE; Botha, ADate:Apr 2007A series of lignocellulosic fungi, capable of cellulase and/or xylanase production, were isolated from soil to be used for cellulose degradation and nitrate removal from nitrate-rich wastewater in simple one-stage anaerobic bioreactors ...Read more
Author:John, Maya J; Thomas, SDate:Jun 2010Cellulose is the most abundant polymer on earth- has emerged as an ideal candidate for providing nanoparticles as reinforcing agents. There is a growing interest in cellulose nanocomposites within the research community and especially if the ...Read more
Author:John, Maya JDate:Mar 2017The aim of this chapter is to discuss the design and manufacturing of bio-based sandwich structures. As the economic advantages of weight reduction have become mandatory for many advanced industries, bio-based sandwich panels have emerged as ...Read more
Author:Mtibe, Asanda; Muniyasamy, Sudhakar; Motaung, TEDate:Jul 2020Biobased polymer and bio-nanocomposites have provided significant improvement in material science, moving towards the development of green materials to replace petro-based materials. The present study investigated the value-added utilisation ...Read more
Author:Tywabi, Zikhona; Deenadayalu, Nirmala; Sithole, Bishop BDate:Mar 2017The paper presents a method of obtaining wood cellulose by dissolution of eucalyptus sawdust in a mixture of ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [Emim][OAc] together with co-solvents; dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylsulphoxide ...Read more
Author:Thoresen, M; Malgas, S; Gandla, ML; Jonsson, LJ; Sithole, Bishop B; Pletschke, BIDate:Aug 2021Lignocellulosic biomass is an important renewable resource to produce biofuels, due to its abundance and high polysaccharide content. Bioconversion is generally achieved in two stages: (i) pre-treatment, to reduce biomass recalcitrance, and ...Read more
Author:Jayaramudu, J; Reddy, GSM; Varaprasada, K; Sadikua, ER; Ray, SS; Rajulu, AVDate:Apr 2013The development of commercially viable "green products", based on natural resources for the matrices and reinforcements, in a wide range of applications, is on the rise. The present paper focuses on Sterculia urens short fiber reinforced pure ...Read more
Author:Joseph, S; John, Maya J; Pothen, LADate:2010Biopolymers from renewable resources have attracted much attention in recent years. Increasing environmental consciousness and demands of legislative authorities have given significant opportunities for improved materials from renewable ...Read more
Author:Mtibe, Asanda; John, Maya J; Andrew, Jerome E; Mokhena, TCDate:Jul 2022This work reports on the extraction and characterization of carbohydrates such as cellulose, cellulose nanofibres, hemicellulose, and lignin from agricultural waste, i.e. maize stalks and sugarcane bagasse. The chemical compounds were extracted ...Read more
Author:Tywabi, Z; Deenadayalu, N; Sithole, Bishop BDate:Sep 2017Biomass processing in ionic liquids (ILs) is a promising technology but involves the simultaneous optimization of many variables in parallel. Here we investigated how dissolution of dissolving wood pulp in IL molecular co-solvents affects the ...Read more
Author:Greben, HA; Baloyi, LJ; Eisberg, R; Joubert, LM; Botha, A; Venter, SNDate:May 2006Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) needs to be treated, before it is recharged in rivers and dams. The biological treatment of AMD can be applied using degradation products of cellulose, for example Volatile Fatty Acids as carbon sources. The aim of ...Read more
Author:Stafford, William HL; De Lange, Willem JDate:May 2018The overall aim of this project is to develop a pre-feasibility guideline that can be used as an opportunity analysis for the FTTP industry. The guideline will focus on two major waste streams generated by the sector viz. sawdust and sludge. ...Read more