Conference Agenda

Disposable paper (DP) cups, a staple in on-the-go beverage culture, contribute to environmental challenges due to non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE) liners. This research presents an eco-friendly alternative, harnessing fungal mycelium with North American wetland biomass. The study involves the evaluation of three fungal species—Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Polyporus squamosus to produce mycelium composite materials. These fungi are cultivated on canola straw (Brassica napus L.) and cattail substrates (Typha sp.) Among them, Ganoderma lucidum demonstrates superior mycelial growth and structural integrity when paired with cattail substrate over a 14-day period. The cultivation process involves utilizing Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) for initial growth assessment, with subsequent optimization achieved through Yeast Extract Peptone Dextrose (YEPD) liquid media. The mycelium composite demonstrates several promising attributes, including notable thermal stability exceeding 260 °C, inherent hydrophobic properties surpassing a 100° water contact angle, and biodegradability within 45 to 60 days. Despite advancements in mycelium cup production, challenges related to cup morphology, labor-intensive processes, warranting ongoing research. To address this, alternative methodologies, including mycelium composite sheets, are explored for potential industrial-scale production pathways. However, challenges persist in mycelium composite sheet brittleness and low mechanical properties compared to traditional paper. Results highlight a need for further research and optimization, proposing strategies such as utilizing alkali-treated fibers, incorporating biopolymer as a binder. This research affirms mycelium materials as a sustainable alternative in beverage cup production, showcasing positive results in thermal stability, hydrophobicity, and biodegradability. Addressing mechanical shortcomings is crucial, urging ongoing research for successful integration into mainstream use.

Cattail biomass is an abundant, low-cost source of fiber in the Prairie region. While eco-friendly disposable tableware has been developed using non-wood biomass, no studies have investigated the use of waste fibrous Cattail biomass to produce paper combined with a biodegradable PLA polymer coating to make fully compostable beverage cups. In the current research, fibers were extracted from the leaves of Cattail plants (32% yield) using optimized alkali retting of 2.5% NaOH at 90 °C for 4 hours and used to manufacture paper sheets. The optimal pulping process involved a 1.5% consistency, and a blending time of 3.5 minutes, with beating agitation at 2,300 rpm. The average weight and thickness of the paper sheets produced were 282 g/m2 and 0.70 mm, respectively, and the tensile index, modulus, and bursting index were found to be 14.11 Nm/g, 1.06 GPa, and 0.04 kPa.m2/g. The cattail paper-coated sheets were manufactured by spraying 4 layers of Polylactic acid (PLA) polymer solution (3%, 4%, and 5% w/v in dichloromethane solvent) onto the paper sheets, using compressed air (15 psi), at room temperature. The polymer-coated paper sheets were tested for mechanical (tensile & bursting strength), thermal (thermal conductivity), and hydrodynamic (wettability) properties. Investigation of optimum polymer coating application considering coated paper sheet characterization as well as comparing to available commercial coffee cup-grade paper sheets are currently ongoing. Finally, this study will enable the development of affordable, environmentally friendly paper cups for the food and beverage industry and provide an opportunity to maximize the utilization of local biomass resources.

Canola fiber is a renewable resource for producing structural and non-structural biocomposite materials due to its abundance, low cost, and low density. Canola stalks, typically discarded after harvesting the seeds for oil, were used in this study to produce biobased fiber. Canola fibers were extracted using a mechanized water retting system. The retting parameters were optimized by manipulating the water flow rate (between 50 and 150 ml/min), retting time (25 and 47 h), and temperature (30 and 60°C). The fibers acquired through water retting persist as fiber bundles. Hence, the fibers were further treated with KOH solution at 90°C. The concentration of KOH and the treatment time were varied between 0.5 – 5% and 10 – 180 min, respectively, to investigate the optimal treatment conditions for refining the fibers, which were subsequently used to manufacture the mats. Alkalized canola fibers exhibited ∼51 and 92% reductions in fiber weight and diameter, respectively, compared to control fibers obtained through water retting alone. The removal of lignin and wax from canola fiber during alkalization is believed to have enhanced its refinement, resulting in a decrease in both fiber weight and diameter. The fibers obtained after alkalization were preformed into mat by laying the fibers manually. Canola fiber composites were manufactured using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) and cured at room temperature for 24 h. Cured canola composites were tested for density and mechanical properties and compared with those of composites with cattail, flax, and hemp to evaluate the suitability of canola fibers in composite applications

Brassica fibre, also known as canola fibre, has gained attention in recent years due to its natural abundance using waste stream of canola seed. It is being considered for application in textiles and composites, driven by environmental concerns with other fibres, such as cotton and polyester. This fibre requires water retting for separation from the plant stalks. The retting performance of fibres under different water heights and altered water flow rates was studied using a retting chamber fabricated by the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba. The statistical data on fibre surface geometry and fibre yield (%) show that there is no significant difference for water height variation (N=12), as well as water flow rate in the retting chamber. When waterfalls, it experiences a frictional drag that counteracts the downward force of gravity. When gravity and frictional drag are balanced, water drops reach an equilibrium fall speed known as the terminal velocity of the object, which remains relatively consistent along the fall path. The outcome of the research revealed the utilized design of the retting chamber is efficient for variable water height and positioning of fibre stalks in crates on different heights along its body.

Canola fiber is produced from the stalks using water and alkaline retting. However, it is currently impractical to produce canola fiber for commercial usage because it relies on hand-extraction techniques. A separating equipment is fabricated in this study to mechanically decorticate the fibers from canola stalks, which consists of a pair of feed rollers and brushing rollers, control unit, and a storage container. The machine uses retted canola stalks as an input and utilizes a combination of pressure and friction based separation. The stalks are fed into the lower brushing rollers via the upper feed rollers, where the feed rollers apply gripping and compression forces to propel the stalks toward the brushing rollers. The brushing rollers provide an abrasive texture that facilitates the wiping action on the retted stalks, leading to disruption of adhesion between the fibrous component and the woody core. The stalks are then carried through a storage container, where the separated fibers and woody cores are collected. The retting condition (time), roller speed, distance between the rollers determine the separation efficiency and quality. Hence, the experiments for fiber production using this equipment are repeated for moderately and over retted stalks by varying the roller speeds between 16 and 64 rpm, adjusting the relative speeds within the brushing rollers between 1:1 and 1:3, and varying the distances between brushing rollers from -1 to +1 mm to determine optimal process parameters. The decorticated fibers were tested for physical and morphological properties and compared with those obtained from hand-extraction method

This study aims to optimize compression molding parameters for recycled tire rubber to enhance mechanical properties while reducing dependency on binders. In the tire recycling process, tires undergo shredding and granulation to separate the rubber, steel wires, and fibers. While all three components are recyclable, fibers are commonly disposed of in landfills. As recycled tire rubber is typically vulcanized, recycling of Ground Tire Rubber (GTR) commonly involves the use of binders and additives. This research seeks to reduce or eliminate the need for binders and investigate the incorporation of fibers to mitigate the environmental and economic impact. We explore the influence of temperature and pressure on the compaction and sintering of GTR particles with and without binders, fibers, and additives. By varying the molding parameters, we aim to enhance bonding among GTR powder, potentially eliminating or reducing the requirement for binders and additives. This research holds significant implications for waste management in the tire recycling industry, offering potential pathways towards more sustainable and cost-effective practices. The findings provide innovative techniques for utilizing recycled tire rubber in various applications, thereby reducing landfill waste and promoting environmental sustainability.