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Aiqin Wang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Preparation and oil absorbency of Kapok-g-butyl methacrylate
Environmental technology, 2017Co-Authors: Jintao Wang, Yian Zheng, Aiqin WangAbstract:Butyl methacrylate (BMA) was grafted onto Kapok fiber using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator. The structure of the grafted Kapok was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results illustrated that BMA was successfully grafted onto the Kapok fiber surface. The effects of monomer concentration, temperature and time on the oil absorbency of grafted Kapok fiber were investigated. The oil absorbencies of raw Kapok, NaClO2-treated Kapok fiber and Kapok-g-butyl methacrylate were evaluated and compared. Compared with raw Kapok fiber, grafted Kapok fiber showed the highest oil absorbency, with the increase percentage of 63.4%, 42.5% and 56.4% for chloroform, toluene and n-hexane, respectively. Furthermore, the as-developed grafted Kapok fiber exhibited excellent reusability, and can be utilized as an eco-friendly material for recovering oil released into the surroundings.
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Research and application of Kapok fiber as an absorbing material: A mini review
Journal of environmental sciences (China), 2014Co-Authors: Yian Zheng, Jintao Wang, Yongfeng Zhu, Aiqin WangAbstract:Abstract Kapok fiber corresponds to the seed hairs of the Kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra), and is a typical cellulosic fiber with the features of thin cell wall, large lumen, low density and hydrophobic–oleophilic properties. As a type of renewable natural plant fiber, Kapok fiber is abundant, biocompatible and biodegradable, and its full exploration and potential application have received increasing attention in both academic and industrial fields. Based on the structure and properties of Kapok fiber, this review provides a summary of recent research on Kapok fiber including chemical and physical treatments, Kapok fiber-based composite materials, and the application of Kapok fiber as an absorbent material for oils, metal ions, dyes, and sound, with special attention to its use as an oil-absorbing material, one predominant application of Kapok fiber in the coming future.
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Kapok Fiber: Applications
Biomass and Bioenergy, 2014Co-Authors: Yian Zheng, Aiqin WangAbstract:Kapok fiber is obtained from the seed hairs of Kapok trees (Ceiba pentandra) and belongs to a natural cellulosic fiber. Kapok fiber is consisted of abundant hollow microtubes with the unique structure of void content as high as 80–90 %. Conventionally, Kapok fiber is used as the stuffing for pillows, bedding, and some soft toys. Owing to excellent buoyancy and air-filled lumen, Kapok fiber is also utilized as the buoyant material (such as life preservers) and insulation materials against sound and heat. Due to better warm retention property, Kapok fiber can blend with other fibers to achieve the required apparel textiles. Kapok fiber contains wax layer on its surface, which affords this fiber to show excellent hydrophobic–oleophilic characteristics, and accordingly, this fiber has received much attention in recent years as the oil-absorbing material. Featured with natural microtubes structure, Kapok fiber can also be used as a desirable template material or supported candidate such as for catalyst carriers. This chapter provides a summary of recent applications of Kapok fiber, with special attention to some fields being developed.
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Kapok Fiber: Structure and Properties
Biomass and Bioenergy, 2014Co-Authors: Yian Zheng, Aiqin WangAbstract:Due to the development of sustainable technology, green renewable resources have attracted increasing interests in recent years. Kapok fiber belongs to a typical cellulosic fiber, which is obtained from the seed hairs of Kapok trees (Ceiba pentandra). Kapok fiber possesses the features of thin cell wall, large lumen, low density, and hydrophobic–oleophilic properties. This chapter focuses on the structure and properties of Kapok fiber.
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acetylated modification of Kapok fiber and application for oil absorption
Fibers and Polymers, 2013Co-Authors: Jintao Wang, Aiqin WangAbstract:A novel Kapok fiber-based sorbent for oil absorption was successfully prepared by the modification of Kapok fiber with acetic anhydride using pyridine as a catalyst. The acetylated Kapok fiber was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effects of volume ratio of pyridine to acetic anhydride, reaction temperature and time on the oil absorbency were investigated. The highest oil absorbency of as-prepared acetylated Kapok fiber was 44.0 g/g, 52.5 g/g, and 84.4 g/g for cyclohexane, toluene, and chloroform, respectively. In addition, the oil absorbency for cyclohexane, toluene, and chloroform reduces by 33.9 %, 39.0 %, and 35.7 % after recycling nine times, respectively. Therefore, the natural renewable Kapok fiber could replace those of non-biodegradable oil sorbents in removing toxic organic solvents from industrial sewage.
Ning Zhao - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Investigation on sound absorption properties of Kapok fibers
Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2013Co-Authors: Haifan Xiang, Dong Wang, Hui-chao Liua, Ning ZhaoAbstract:Sound absorption properties of natural Kapok fibers have been investigated. Kapok fibrous assemblies with different bulk density, thickness, fiber length and orientation were manufactured, and their acoustical performances were evaluated by using an impedance tube instrument. Results show that the Kapok fiber has excellent acoustical damping performance due to its natural hollow structure, and the sound absorption coefficients of Kapok fibrous assemblies are significantly affected by the bulk density, thickness and arrangement of Kapok fibers but less dependent on the fiber length. Compared with assemblies of commercial glass wool and degreasing cotton fibers, the Kapok fiber assemblies with the same thickness but much smaller bulk density may have the similar sound absorption coefficients. Theoretical modelling of the acoustical damping performance of Kapok fibers shows a good agreement with the experimental data. All the results demonstrate that Kapok fiber is a promising light and environment-friendly sound absorption material.
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Superhydrophobicity determines the buoyancy performance of Kapok fiber aggregates
Applied Surface Science, 2013Co-Authors: Xiaoyan Zhang, Chunting Duan, Hong Xiao, Meiwu Shi, Ning ZhaoAbstract:Abstract Superhydrophobicity is commonly regarded as a surface property that has important consequences for self-cleaning applications. Here we show interestingly that the superhydrophobicity is closely connected to the bulk buoyancy performance of Kapok fiber aggregates, a natural material endowed with superhydrophobicity and extraordinary high porosity. First of all, we have determined the superhydrophobicity of a single Kapok fiber, which can be ascribed to its micro-nano-binary structure (MNBS) and the thin hydrophobic paraffinic wax layer covered on the surface. Second, based on classic capillary and wicking theory, the buoyancy performance of the Kapok fiber aggregates can be modeled and we demonstrate that their buoyancy performance is actually determined by the superhydrophobicity of individual Kapok fibers. Our results also suggest an optimized density ∼0.015 g cm −3 for using Kapok fiber aggregates as the lightest natural buoyancy.
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preparation of Kapok polyacrylonitrile core shell composite microtube and its application as gold nanoparticles carrier
Applied Surface Science, 2012Co-Authors: Haosen Fan, Yuhua Long, Xiaoyan Zhang, Haifan Xiang, Chunting Duan, Ning Zhao, Xiaoli ZhangAbstract:Abstract In this article, a new catalyst carrier Kapok–polyacrylonitrile (PAN) composite microtube was fabricated based on the natural Kapok fiber. Kapok-PAN core–shell composite microtubes were prepared by a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) assisted self-assembly method. The formation mechanism was proposed and the influence of the concentration of acrylonitrile (AN) monomer and CTAB on the morphology of Kapok–PAN was investigated. The hydrophilicity and specific surface area of Kapok microtubes were improved because of the outside PAN coating constructed by the PAN nanoparticles aggregation. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were immobilized on the surface of Kapok–PAN microtubes via in situ reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl 4 ) by sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ). The obtained Au NPs with mean diameter of 3.1 nm were well dispersed without any aggregation. In addition, Kapok–PAN–Au composites exhibited excellent catalytic activity and could be recovered easily without apparent decrease of activity, as demonstrated via the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by NaBH 4 . The Kapok–PAN composite microtubes may be one of the promising supporting materials in developing low-cost, high-efficiency catalyst carriers for metal NPs.
Xiaofeng Huang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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evaluation of hydrophobicity oleophilicity of Kapok and its performance in oily water filtration comparison of raw and solvent treated fibers
Industrial Crops and Products, 2007Co-Authors: Teikthye Lim, Xiaofeng HuangAbstract:Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) fiber, an agricultural product, contains waxy material that contributes to its hydrophobic–oleophilic characteristics. Its performances, as untreated and solvent-treated fibers, in deep-bed filtration of oily water containing 2.5% diesel were assessed in this study. The solvents used were ethanol and chloroform. The filtration performance was assessed through measurements of column breakthrough time, filtration rate, filtrate quality, and the amount of oil retained by the filter column at breakthrough under a constant vacuum pressure. The Kapok fibers, both at its natural state and after solvent treatments, demonstrated excellent oil/water separation and filtration, for which oil was retained while water was filtered through the Kapok filter column. The filtrate quality, in terms of turbidity and percent oil removal, appeared to be unaffected by the solvent treatment of the Kapok fiber. The oil removal efficiencies consistently exceeded 99%. However, the filter column packed with solvent-treated Kapok fibers showed premature breakthrough of the oily influent and produced less filtrate than that by the untreated Kapok. The filter column packed with the solvent-treated Kapok also retained less oil compared to the untreated Kapok, and as a result, a quarter of the filter pore volume was not wetted even after breakthrough. This could be the main cause for the premature breakthrough of the oily influent. Apparently, the solvent treatment for impurities removal could impair the oleophilicity/hydrophobicity of the Kapok fibers which was crucial for the oily water separation and filtration.
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evaluation of Kapok ceiba pentandra l gaertn as a natural hollow hydrophobic oleophilic fibrous sorbent for oil spill cleanup
Chemosphere, 2007Co-Authors: Teikthye Lim, Xiaofeng HuangAbstract:Abstract Oil sorption capacity and hydrophobic–oleophilic characteristics of an agricultural product, Kapok ( Ceiba pentandra ), was thoroughly examined. The Kapok fiber has a hollow structure with large lumen. Its performance was compared with that of a polypropylene (PP), a widely used commercial oil sorbent for oil spill cleanup. The oils investigated were diesel, hydraulic oil (AWS46), and engine oil (HD40). Reusability of the Kapok after application to various oils was also evaluated. Both loose (at its natural state) and densely packed Kapok assemblies were examined. Sorption capacities of the packed Kapok assemblies were very much dependent on their packing densities. At 0.02 g cm −3 , its oil sorption capacities were 36, 43 and 45 g g −1 for diesel, ASW46 and HD40, respectively. The values decreased to 7.9, 8.1 and 8.6 g g −1 at 0.09 g cm −3 . Its sorption capacities for the three oils were significantly higher than those of PP. When the oil-saturated Kapok assemblies were allowed to drain, they exhibited high oil retention ability, with less than 8% of the absorbed diesel and HD40, and 12% of the absorbed AWS46 lost even after 1 h of dripping. When applied on oil-over-water baths, the Kapok exhibited high selectivity for the oils over the water; almost all oils spilled could be removed with the Kapok, leaving an invisible oil slick on water. After the 4th cycle of reuse, the reused Kapok assembly only lost 30% of its virgin sorption capacity if packed at 0.02 g cm −3 , and the loss in sorption capacity was much less at higher packing densities. The hydrophobic–oleophilic characteristics of the Kapok fiber could be attributed to its waxy surface, while its large lumen contributed to its excellent oil absorbency and retention capacity.
Fu-mei Wang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Unique microstructure of Kapok fibers in longitudinal microscopic images
Textile Research Journal, 2016Co-Authors: Fu-mei WangAbstract:This paper is focused on investigating the microstructure of Kapok fiber through the observation of residual deformation and fracture morphology of Kapok fibers in longitudinal microscopic images. ...
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Sorption kinetics and mechanism of various oils into Kapok assembly.
Marine pollution bulletin, 2014Co-Authors: Ting Dong, Fu-mei WangAbstract:Abstract Sorption rates of Kapok fibers on different oils, such as diesel, cooking oil, used motor oil, and motor oil, were quantitatively evaluated by using a wicking method. Kapok fibers absorbing different oils exhibited large differences in terms sorption coefficients. Microscopic observations of oil wetting on a single Kapok showed that the four oils had varying wettability and adhesiveness to Kapok, but that all of them penetrated into Kapok lumens quickly because of the fiber’s low surface energy, which was 40.64 mN/m, and extreme hydrophobicity, with a water contact angle up to 151°. After treatment with chloroform, there were slight changes in oil absorbencies to Kapok, but the sorption coefficients for the four oils increased markedly. SEM demonstrated that chloroform treatments caused the smooth surface of the Kapok fibers to become highly roughened, with densely vertical grooves that provided more available surface and a larger driving force for oil sorption through the fiber assembly.
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Theoretical and experimental study on the oil sorption behavior of Kapok assemblies
Industrial Crops and Products, 2014Co-Authors: Ting Dong, Fu-mei WangAbstract:Abstract Kapok fiber is a natural hollow fiber whose assemblies show high oil sorption capacity for various oils. In this article, a dual-scale model based on Washburn Capillary Theory was developed to study the oil sorption behavior of Kapok assemblies with relation of their pore structure. The validity of this model was evaluated by oil sorption coefficient obtained from the curve of oil mass increase versus sorption time, which was measured by a wicking method. Diesel and motor oil were chosen as experimental oils. It turned out that theoretical values of sorption coefficients of the two oils were highly consistent with their experimental results. On the basis of theoretical analysis, we found that the big lumen of Kapok fiber contributed considerably to the oil sorption capacity of Kapok assembly, which was further enhanced with increasing Kapok packing density. At the tightly packed condition of 0.10 g/cm 3 , oil absorbed by Kapok lumens accounted for up to one fifth of the total oil absorption of Kapok assembly for both test oils.
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A study on the quality of Kapok blended yarns through different processing methods
Journal of the Textile Institute, 2013Co-Authors: Jinjiang Yan, Fu-mei WangAbstract:In this paper, 14 types of Kapok blended yarns and four types of cotton yarns manufactured through different spinning technologies and processing methods were selected in order to explore the most efficient spinning technology for Kapok fiber. Four yarn characteristics were measured: yarn fineness/unevenness, yarn defects, yarn hairiness, and breaking tenacity. According to Uster Statistics 2007, GB-T/398-2008, and FZ12001-1992 standards, the analytical results of the four characteristics showed that the quality of Kapok blended yarns achieved a higher level with the improvement of spinning technology. The compact spinning and processing technology IV was a preferred way to spin high-quality Kapok blended yarn, which lent support to widening the application of Kapok fibers in various end-use products.
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Compressibility of the Kapok fibrous assembly
Textile Research Journal, 2012Co-Authors: Jinjiang Yan, Chao Fang, Fu-mei WangAbstract:In this paper we study the compressibility of Kapok fibrous assemblies via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image observations on Kapok microstructures and measurements obtained from Kawabata Evaluation System (KES) compression testing. The assemblies, made of slightly carded Kapok fibers, were treated in different levels of relative humidity (dry or wet) and pressure (0 or 100 kPa) conditions. The SEM images of the treated samples revealed that Kapok fibers were initially hollow and circular, but could be crushed partially or totally to become thin ribbons after being pressed with a 100 kPa pressure. Over 80% of the fibers in the wet-pressure-treated assembly appeared to be crushed. In the KES testing, the compressional resilience, bulkiness and other parameters of the Kapok assemblies were calculated from the compression curves. The results showed that the compressional resilience of the dry-treated Kapok assemblies was better than that of the wet-treated assemblies; the bulkiness of both the dry- and...
Yian Zheng - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Preparation and oil absorbency of Kapok-g-butyl methacrylate
Environmental technology, 2017Co-Authors: Jintao Wang, Yian Zheng, Aiqin WangAbstract:Butyl methacrylate (BMA) was grafted onto Kapok fiber using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator. The structure of the grafted Kapok was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results illustrated that BMA was successfully grafted onto the Kapok fiber surface. The effects of monomer concentration, temperature and time on the oil absorbency of grafted Kapok fiber were investigated. The oil absorbencies of raw Kapok, NaClO2-treated Kapok fiber and Kapok-g-butyl methacrylate were evaluated and compared. Compared with raw Kapok fiber, grafted Kapok fiber showed the highest oil absorbency, with the increase percentage of 63.4%, 42.5% and 56.4% for chloroform, toluene and n-hexane, respectively. Furthermore, the as-developed grafted Kapok fiber exhibited excellent reusability, and can be utilized as an eco-friendly material for recovering oil released into the surroundings.
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Research and application of Kapok fiber as an absorbing material: A mini review
Journal of environmental sciences (China), 2014Co-Authors: Yian Zheng, Jintao Wang, Yongfeng Zhu, Aiqin WangAbstract:Abstract Kapok fiber corresponds to the seed hairs of the Kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra), and is a typical cellulosic fiber with the features of thin cell wall, large lumen, low density and hydrophobic–oleophilic properties. As a type of renewable natural plant fiber, Kapok fiber is abundant, biocompatible and biodegradable, and its full exploration and potential application have received increasing attention in both academic and industrial fields. Based on the structure and properties of Kapok fiber, this review provides a summary of recent research on Kapok fiber including chemical and physical treatments, Kapok fiber-based composite materials, and the application of Kapok fiber as an absorbent material for oils, metal ions, dyes, and sound, with special attention to its use as an oil-absorbing material, one predominant application of Kapok fiber in the coming future.
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Kapok Fiber: Applications
Biomass and Bioenergy, 2014Co-Authors: Yian Zheng, Aiqin WangAbstract:Kapok fiber is obtained from the seed hairs of Kapok trees (Ceiba pentandra) and belongs to a natural cellulosic fiber. Kapok fiber is consisted of abundant hollow microtubes with the unique structure of void content as high as 80–90 %. Conventionally, Kapok fiber is used as the stuffing for pillows, bedding, and some soft toys. Owing to excellent buoyancy and air-filled lumen, Kapok fiber is also utilized as the buoyant material (such as life preservers) and insulation materials against sound and heat. Due to better warm retention property, Kapok fiber can blend with other fibers to achieve the required apparel textiles. Kapok fiber contains wax layer on its surface, which affords this fiber to show excellent hydrophobic–oleophilic characteristics, and accordingly, this fiber has received much attention in recent years as the oil-absorbing material. Featured with natural microtubes structure, Kapok fiber can also be used as a desirable template material or supported candidate such as for catalyst carriers. This chapter provides a summary of recent applications of Kapok fiber, with special attention to some fields being developed.
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Kapok Fiber: Structure and Properties
Biomass and Bioenergy, 2014Co-Authors: Yian Zheng, Aiqin WangAbstract:Due to the development of sustainable technology, green renewable resources have attracted increasing interests in recent years. Kapok fiber belongs to a typical cellulosic fiber, which is obtained from the seed hairs of Kapok trees (Ceiba pentandra). Kapok fiber possesses the features of thin cell wall, large lumen, low density, and hydrophobic–oleophilic properties. This chapter focuses on the structure and properties of Kapok fiber.
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Effect of Kapok fiber treated with various solvents on oil absorbency
Industrial Crops and Products, 2012Co-Authors: Jintao Wang, Yian Zheng, Aiqin WangAbstract:Abstract Kapok fiber is a naturally renewable material with large lumen and hydrophobic characteristics, which enables it to show good oil sorption capacity. To further improve the efficiency for oil absorbency, in this study, Kapok fiber was treated with various solvents, including water, HCl, NaOH, NaClO2 and chloroform. The structure of untreated and treated Kapok fibers was investigated and compared using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effects of treatment concentration, temperature and time on oil absorbency of Kapok fiber were assessed with toluene, chloroform, n-hexane and xylene as the model oils. The results indicate that except for chloroform, Kapok fibers treated with other solvents show enhanced oil absorbency. Compared with raw Kapok fiber, NaClO2-treated Kapok fiber shows the highest oil absorbency, with the increase percentage is found to be 19.8%, 30.0%, 21.5% and 24.1% for toluene, chloroform, n-hexane and xylene, respectively. In addition, the solvent-treated Kapok fiber exhibits better reusability, suggesting its great potential for oil recovery.