To evaluate the effects of industrial by-products materials on the performance of porous concrete for plant growth, this study investigated the physical, strength, and freeze/thaw resistances of porous concrete for plant growth, prepared by replacing cement with blast furnace slag powder at 60% by weight, and replacing natural stone aggregates with coarse blast furnace slag aggregates at rates ...

Natural fibres are gradually emerging as essential ingredients of various types of textiles in view of increasing global concerns about environmental degradation. Reduction of carbon foot print in constructions is currently attracting global attention warranting innovations in construction technology with stress on eco-congruity. In this context increasing use of eco-concordant materials made o...

This work describes the study to investigate and compare the mechanical and thermal properties of raw jute and glass fiber reinforced polyester hybrid composites. To improve the mechanical properties, jute fiber was hybridized with glass fiber. Polyester resin, jute and glass fibers were laminated in three weight ratios(77/23/0, 68/25/7 and 56/21/23) respectively to form composites. The tensile...

The study assessed changes in nutritional content of some commonly consumed traditional vegetables subjected to postharvest processes. Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.), black nightshade (Solanum scabrum Mill.) and jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.) leaves used as vegetables were subjected to blanching, boiling and drying. The proximate composition and β-carotene content of fresh and processe...

Jute, kenaf, and ramie are important fiber crops in the textile industry, but their core stalks have not been well used. In this study, three fiber crops were examined with enhanced hexoses yields (% cellulose) up to 4.8-, 3.6-, and 1.9-fold from enzymatic hydrolysis of the steam-exploded stalks. Sequential dilute acid/alkali pretreatments achieved the increased hexoses yields up to 7.6-, 4.8-,...

1. Abstract Natural fibers are being increasingly used to substitute artificial glass and carbon fibers in polymer composites. It is important to know how the mechanical properties of these natural fiber composites compare with those of the traditional glass and carbon fiber composites. Glass and carbon fiber composites are currently being used in many applications that may not require such hig...

Aim of this work was to investigate the tensile, flexural and dielectric properties of composites made by reinforcing Sansevieria cylindrica as a new natural fibre into a rubber based polyester matrix. The fibres extracted by retting and manual processes were used to fabricate the composites. These composites were tested for the properties which mentioned above and compared with those of establ...

Jute is a strong, stiff, natural fiber. When blended with cotton it makes a sturdy but prickly fabric due to protruding surface jute fibers. Samples of jute-cotton blended fabric were treated with commercial cellulases, xylanases and pectinases individually and in combination at various concentrations in order to smooth and soften the fabric. Enzyme treatment was carried out at 50°C in the pres...

Cross-species transferability is a quick and economic method to enrich SSR database, particularly for minor crops where little genomic information is available. However, transferability of SSR markers varies greatly between species, genera and families of plant species. We assessed confamiliar transferability of SSR markers from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and jute (Corchorus olitorius) to 22 s...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The cultivated jute species Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis are important fibre crops. The analysis of repetitive DNA sequences, comprising a major part of plant genomes, has not been carried out in jute but is useful to investigate the long-range organization of chromosomes. The aim of this study was the identification of repetitive DNA sequences to facilitate ...