Next Article in Journal
Effect of Using Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and Deformed Steel Bars on the Bonding Behavior of Lightweight Foamed Concrete
Previous Article in Journal
Non-Destructive Damage Detection of Structural Joint by Coaxial Correlation Method in 6D Space
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Valorization of Wheat Crop Waste in Araucanía, Chile: Development of Prototype of Thermal Insulation Material for Blowing Technique and Geographical Analysis

by
Rojas Herrera Carlos Javier
1,2,3,
Rodríguez Neira Karin
4,5 and
Cárdenas-Ramírez Juan Pablo
3,*
1
Departamento de Ingeniería de Obras Civiles, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
2
Programa Doctorado en Ingeniería, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
3
Facultad de Arquitectura, Construcción y Medio Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4810101, Chile
4
Departamento de Arquitectura—Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa 04001, Peru
5
School of Architecture, University of Navarra, 31009 Pamplona, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Buildings 2023, 13(5), 1152; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051152
Submission received: 22 March 2023 / Revised: 11 April 2023 / Accepted: 14 April 2023 / Published: 26 April 2023
(This article belongs to the Section Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation)

Abstract

:
Houses in the operational stage consume around 40% of the world’s energy, and most of it is consumed by air conditioning. This generates several problems, especially in cities, where biomass combustion is the most widely used form of heating. For this reason, environmental regulation works in parallel with energy efficiency, where efficient and low-impact thermal insulating materials are key to reduce the energy demand and fuel consumption to generate comfort in dwellings. This work considers the valorization of wheat straw from the Araucanía region of Chile, to develop a prototype for a thermal insulating material applied through the blowing technique. The results show the insulation potential of the fiber, which, in post-chopping conditions and at an average density of 80 [kg/m3], has thermal conductivity of 0.034 [W/mK]. This value is much better than that of glass wool and other inorganic materials sold in the Chilean market. In addition, the developed material can be incorporated into partitions using the blowing technique, improving the execution time for the thermal insulation section. Finally, it is indicated that a good option to install a processing plant is in the central valley of the region, specifically in the communes of Victoria and Perquenco.

1. Introduction

Globally, the building sector consumes 40% of the total energy, generates resource depletion, and is responsible for more than 50% of greenhouse gas emissions [1,2]. Therefore, the design of energy-efficient buildings focuses on reducing energy consumption in all phases of their life cycle, from construction to demolition [3,4]. On the other hand, the residential sector is primarily responsible for particulate matter air pollution. The effects of these particles on the human body are widely recognized, reaching 3.3 million deaths in 2019 [5,6]. This reality originates mainly due to the process of burning wood to heat homes, releasing fine PM2.5 and PM10 particles. The accumulation of these compounds in the air threatens the health of the population because they penetrate the respiratory tract, increasing the indicators of premature mortality, lung cancer, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases [7,8]. For this reason, European countries have been working on the development of thermal insulation materials for more than 30 years, as they allow reduced energy losses by transmission [9]. However, the thermal insulation market is dominated by inorganic materials, manufactured from petrochemical or natural sources, but, in the latter case, they have a large amount of contained energy [10,11].
Because of this, the main challenge in recent years has been to develop insulating materials with a low environmental impact that reduce energy losses through conduction, reduce the environmental impacts associated with the use of high-energy materials, and maintain a cost that allows them to enter and compete in today’s market [12]. In this scenario, waste and residues from the food industry have favorable qualities for the development of thermal insulating materials, since their internal structure is porous, the environmental impacts are lower throughout their life cycle compared to traditional mass-marketed materials, and they are generated in large volumes [13,14]. In Chile, it is estimated that 60% of the food consumed in the country comes from the agricultural sector, where, only considering wheat, there is a sown area of more than 470,000 hectares and therefore the volume of waste generated is high and available for study [15,16]. However, in Chile, none of the waste is identified, neither in volume nor in geographical location. In Spain, progress was made in this context, valorizing organic waste for the development of thermal insulation materials, and, in parallel, they analyzed the availability of raw material and the coverage they could achieve. For example, corn by-products could be used to insulate up to 450 thousand homes per year [17].
These developments are limited from the production point of view since it has not been possible to scale them up to the production stage. The thermal conductivity of thermal insulation materials is variable and depends directly on the density [18,19]. For traditional materials, the values range from 0.03 to 0.05 [W/mK], while, for materials of organic origin, the values range from 0.03 to 0.1 [W/mK] [20,21]. Bakatovich et al. generated a biomaterial from cane fibers, straw, and a sodium silicate binder. The authors obtained a rigid panel with thermal conductivity values in the range of 0.057–0.066 [W/mK], placing it within an adequate material, but lower than other works, such as the one presented in this paper, which averages 0.034 [W/mK] [22]. It is important to highlight the effect (negative in most cases) that the binders in the mixtures, as well as the fiber composition, density, and humidity, have on the thermal conductivity for all insulation materials [23]. Inorganic and organic insulating materials are applied in dwellings by manual assembly. The blowing technique allows the filling of all empty spaces in building elements mechanically and homogeneously, e.g., paper cellulose has been used in housing projects, improving thermal performance. However, although the method is standard and benefits from great developments in equipment, it has not been widely studied with other types of insulating materials and has not been considered in scientific research. Recycled paper cellulose is an excellent material for study and its behavior in the building is very good; its average thermal conductivity is 0.040 [W/mK] and it has been applied via the blowing technique. However, being a material obtained from recycled newspaper, it is threatened by the low consumption of this product in recent years, replaced by digital news media [24,25]. Another topic of interest is the evaluation of the fire performance of thermal insulation materials. There is a challenge in improving the thermal properties of materials, but also in preventing their combustion. Organic materials, being the most widely used in building insulation, have been responsible for many deaths, since they release toxic gases harmful to human health. Some analyses of the fire behavior of these materials indicate that by incorporating fire-retardant additives, the ignition time and temperature of the material can be improved, but the generation of toxic gases cannot be avoided. For this reason, actions have been generated to develop organic materials, where adequate ignition times have been obtained; for example, strategies have aimed to carbonize wheat straw or to add a phase change material (PCM). However, in some cases, the latter could be counterproductive and increase the flammability of the material [26,27,28].
It is estimated that between 80% and 90% of the area with wheat stubble in the Biobío and Araucanía regions is managed by burning, generating respiratory problems for human health, a reduction in soil organic matter (which contributes to the degradation and loss of soil physical properties), and atmospheric pollution, among others [29,30,31]. In this sense, the development of materials from organic matter has presented advances; however, no research work has addressed the development of an agricultural waste material applied by the blowing technique. There are no antecedents regarding the physical properties or energy performance of a totally organic prototype, free of additives and applied in a prototype that simulates a real wall. In addition, in Chile, there are general data on the cultivated area of wheat and other cereals classified by region, but there are no specific data on the availability, volume, and location of residues. This makes recovery strategies for any waste difficult. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the availability and quantity of wheat crops in the Araucanía region of Chile, identifying strategic points for the location of a processing plant for the valorization of wheat residues. A prototype of a thermal insulating material was generated with the residues, applied using the blowing technique, and the thermal conductivity, density, moisture, and fire behavior of this new material were measured. This development valorized a waste that is currently treated by burning, minimizing energy losses in homes, and contributing to point 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2. Materials and Methods

This section presents the methods associated with the availability and geographical analysis of the crops. In addition, the methods associated with the measurement of the following physical properties of the waste are presented: thermal conductivity, density, moisture, and the optimal variables for fiber blowing were determined, such as aperture, speed, and power.

2.1. Feedstock, Analysis, and Processing

The wheat straw was obtained through the company “Comasa”, located in the commune of Lautaro, Chile, in the form of bales, which were transported to the energy efficiency laboratory of the Universidad de La Frontera. Figure 1a shows the straw bale at the university site to be subjected to processing.
Wheat straw production was determined in the following way: grain production [t/ha] × (1 − IC)/IC and its units are tons per hectare. The Chilean Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) estimated in 2018 that the average straw production is 7.5 [t/ha], a value very similar to that determined in 2015, through bulletin No. 308, which indicates that wheat straw production varies between 6.4 and 8.0 [t/ha] [32,33]. To determine the demand for thermal insulation materials and estimate what percentage could be covered with a material based on wheat straw, we use the data provided by the company “Servicios Integrales de Calidad Ambiental de Chile” (hereinafter SICAM), in relation to the diagnosis for the implementation of atmospheric decontamination plans in the central–south zone of Chile [34]. For the generation of the map and detection of points of interest for the location of the plant, the ArcGIS software version 10.2 was used and data from the land cover map of Chile were considered under the following criteria (limitations): (1) wheat crops within the region of La Araucanía, (2) crops within land titles in order to promote collaborative work with farmers, and (3) access to communities must be less than 1 km [35,36].

2.2. Sample Preparation and Material Application

The samples were prepared by processing the wheat straw using a biomass grinder, shown in Figure 1b. This equipment is composed of a system of rotating blades installed on a metal chassis, which rotates by means of a 1500 [W] electric motor, and then the material was sieved through a N° 12 sieve according to the “U.S. Standard Sieve” standard, which has an opening of 1.7 [mm].
For the blowing process, the X-FLOC equipment, model M99-DS, was used, which can be seen in Figure 1c. This equipment has a nominal power of 3.6 [kW], nominal blowing power of 440 [m3/h] (adjustable 2 × 1.8 [kW]), and a variable opening range from 1 to 10”. For the application of the material by means of the blowing technique, 2 × 4” pine wood specimens were used, whose dimensions were 60 × 40 × 9 [cm], length, width, and thickness, respectively. The specimens were built in these dimensions to simulate the actual span of a wood wall, as shown in Figure 1d.

2.3. Physical Characterization

2.3.1. Thermal Conductivity

The measurement was performed on three blowing specimens with processed material, measuring 4 points inside the sample, with the “KD2 Pro” instrument, which is a portable device that uses an interchangeable sensor that is inserted into the material to be measured and delivers a thermal conductivity value in a time that can vary between 2 and 10 min. The device measures in 1 s intervals during a 90 s heating and cooling cycle. The KD2 Pro meets the specifications of the IEEE 442–1981 standard and ASTM D5334-08 [37,38]. Figure 2a shows the equipment in the process of measuring the properties for one of the samples. To mitigate potential inaccuracies in readings resulting from the influence of convection on heat transfer, the procedures outlined in ASTM C518 were implemented. Specifically, samples with a minimum diameter and thickness of 75 [mm] and 25 [mm], respectively, were employed and met the dimensional criteria. Moreover, the manufacturer’s instructions were strictly followed; readings were taken at 10 min intervals, and the laboratory was maintained at a controlled temperature and relative humidity of 20–22 °C and 55–60%, respectively.

2.3.2. Sample Density

This measurement considered the volume of the test specimens mentioned in Section 2.2 and the mass of material that was blown into the same volume. The mass was considered in kilograms with a universal precision balance of ±0.01 [kg]. The volume was calculated considering the interior measurements of the specimens, measured to the millimeter. Then, by means of the ratio between the mass that was blown into the test specimen and the volume of the specimen, the density was determined and reported in kilograms per cubic meter [kg/m3].

2.3.3. Moisture

This measurement was performed using the Boeco moisture analyzer model BMA H50—“Moisture Analyzer”. This equipment operates with a halogen light in a working temperature range of 10–40 °C and delivers results with accuracy of 0.001%. The analyzer used in the process of measurement is shown in Figure 2b.

2.3.4. Fire Behavior

An analysis of fire behavior, specifically flame reaction, was carried out for wheat straw at the optimum density presented in Section 3.3.2. This experimental test follows the procedures of European standard UNE 23-725-90 and operates as follows. Heat is applied at an average temperature of 1200 °C by means of a flame coming from a butane gas torch. The flame is maintained for 3 s at a fixed distance each time for a total of 3 min, and the flame duration time (from ignition to extinction) is recorded [39,40]. This experimental test allows an approximation of the fire behavior of the material, which will later be tested in an official laboratory in Chile. Figure 2c shows the above process applied to wheat straw samples.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Feedstock, Analysis, and Processing

According to data published by the Chilean National Institute of Statistics (INE), 470,882 [ha] of cereals were sown in Chile in the 2020–2021 agricultural year, of which 226,275 [ha] correspond to wheat. In the region of La Araucanía, 93,979 [ha] were sown, which is equivalent to 41.5% with respect to the national total of wheat cultivation [16]. Table 1 shows the area of all cereals cultivated in the Araucanía region for the period mentioned, where it can be seen that the region has larger areas for various types of crops, such as wheat, barley, oats, and triticale, compared to the national total. These data only indicate the crop area, and they do not specify the actual generation of residues, nor do they identify the areas in which they are being produced.
According to the harvest index and the wheat crop area in the Araucanía region, it is estimated that for the period 2020–2021, 703,477 [ton] of wheat waste will be generated, which will be available for use. However, Hetz E., et al., in 2006, determined that between 20 and 50% of wheat stubble may remain in the soil, so that the volume of residue (for the most unfavorable scenario) would reach 351,738 [ton], which would be available for the development of materials for the production of new crops [41]. On the other hand, and to a lesser extent, wheat straw and other crops are used for animal fodder. However, the potential production of agricultural residues, especially wheat, is high, and, as will be presented in Section 3.2, a minimum percentage is required to insulate thousands of houses. The valorization and utilization of these residues is of great importance to reduce the environmental impacts associated with the treatment of these residues at present. Avoiding the burning of wheat straw stubble could have a very positive impact on air quality [29,30].
The modification of the thermal regulation requirements in Temuco and Padre las Casas through the atmospheric decontamination plan generated an increase in the demand for thermal insulation materials of approximately 300%. By 2020, the demand for thermal insulation materials was 25,470 [m3/year], and by 2025, the figure is projected to reach 28,938 [m3/year] [34]. It is important to note that the volume of wheat straw waste generated in the region could cover the thermal insulation needs of all the houses in Temuco, according to these housing projections. According to these data, and considering that the average density of wheat straw application in panels is 85 [kg/m3], it is estimated that approximately 2460 [ton] of wheat straw would be required to cover the need of materials for the year 2025 in the Araucanía region, which, according to the data indicated in Section 3.1 of this document, is 0.7% with respect to the straw available at the regional level for the most unfavorable case of harvest.
The ranking of possible locations for the wheat straw processing plant to be located within the Araucanía region, in agreement with farmers, with accessibility less than 1 [km] (with respect to the layers of primary and secondary roads), is shown in Figure 3. The orange and red colors indicate a better location with respect to the entry criteria, where a clear trend is observed in the communes of Perquenco, Victoria, and Lautaro, all located in the central valley area of the region and at a distance of 30–50 [km] from the regional capital, Temuco, where the greatest demand for processed material is found. The map is of great help in generating strategic alliances with farmers in terms of the processing, storage, and possible distribution of the material. In this scenario, a real contribution was generated for the valorization of wheat straw residues, since the Chilean databases are not accurate in this information.

3.2. Samples and Material Application

The bales of wheat straw subjected to the biomass grinder resulted in a homogeneous material whose dimensions varied between 1 and 2 [cm] in length, which can be seen in Figure 4a. This size of the fiber is ideal to be applied by the blowing technique since the exit duct of the equipment has a diameter of 2.5 [cm], thus avoiding agglomerations of material at that point and favoring the generation of internal air cavities. Since the experience with the blowing technique for this type of waste is low, precise combinations were generated to be able to blow the material into the empty spaces of a wall. The material is blown into the specimens at 60% of its nominal blowing power, where this process is completed in an average time of 60 s, for a sample volume of 0.022 [m3], with an approximate material mass of 1.73 [kg], which is observed in Figure 4b, where the homogeneous distribution of the material at a density of 81.02 [kg/m3] is highlighted.

3.3. Physical Characterization

3.3.1. Thermal Conductivity

Table 2 shows the summary results of the thermal conductivity measurements [M] of the material processed and blown into the specimens, where it is observed that the average result is 0.034 ± 0.001 [W/mK]. This result is comparable and in a favorable position with respect to other traditional thermal insulation materials, such as glass wool, expanded polystyrene, and other organic materials, which are around 0.040 [W/mK] [42,43]. The result is comparable with other developments of low-environmental-impact materials. Several researchers have reported that the thermal conductivity value of this type of organic fiber material is around 0.045 [W/mK] [44,45,46]. In this context, it is important to note that the application of this material in housing construction is entirely viable from a thermal point of view. It is also important to emphasize that through the valorization of waste, it is possible to develop new materials. Additionally, it should be noted that the results obtained are directly associated with the application method. In previous works, the pulping method was used to develop a solid insulating material from wheat straw and corn husk; however, the thermal performance was lower, bordering 0.046 and 0.047 [W/mK], respectively [47].
According to one of the objectives of the work, which was to valorize waste to develop a thermal insulating material, an interesting result regarding thermal conductivity was obtained. This is due to the fact that in the constructive solutions of a wall, floor, or roof, the thermal insulating material is responsible for the reduction of energy losses by transmission, eliminating a significant amount of energy consumption for the heating of the residential park [48]. In turn, this reduction in consumption reduces environmental impacts, since, worldwide, heating in homes is generated by primary energy extraction, biomass burning, or the use of fossil fuels [49,50].

3.3.2. Density of the Blowing Material

The average density of the samples was 81.02 ± 5.16 [kg/m3]. This result is lower in respect to the values obtained for the same waste but worked with a wet method, whose average density was 110 [kg/m3] [47]. Our results are comparable with other types of materials developed from lignocellulosic fibers. Eucalyptus bark materials are around 100 [kg/m3] [51], Hydrangea Macrophylla natural polymer 60 [kg/m3] [52], and bagasse fiber exceeds 1000 [kg/m3] [53]. Regarding the variation in the densities obtained in the application stage of the material, it is possible to point out that a greater effect was not generated in the variation in thermal conductivity, which can be seen in Figure 5. This can be attributed to the fact that the blowing technique generates a homogeneous distribution in each application. However, when comparing the density of the material developed with other consolidated organic materials on the market, it is observed that our results are higher. For example, expanded polystyrene and glass wool vary in density in a range of 10–47 [kg/m3]. Meanwhile, our results are similar to other organic materials currently on the market, such as extruded polystyrene foams and rock wool, with results of 35 [54] and 30–180 [55], respectively. In the same way, organic materials, in general, increase their thermal conductivity as their density increases (as demonstrated in this and other works). For this reason, it is essential to be able to calculate and report the optimal density at which to apply a material, especially if the blowing technique is being used [56,57,58].
It is important to note that traditional or natural thermal insulating materials are not structural elements, nor are they elements that must support loads within the construction elements of buildings, so their application is wide [59].

3.3.3. Moisture

The moisture test indicates that the samples have an average moisture value of 9.26% ± 0.12, which indicates that the moisture content is low. This figure is desirable for thermal conductivity measurements, since high moisture content in the samples could affect the results. It is important to understand that thermal conductivity varies with moisture content, as a high value for this property increases the thermal conductivity and reduces the thermal insulating performance [60]. This value is comparable with the moisture content results reported by other authors for lignocellulosic and conventional fiber materials and is also beneficial since high moisture content could affect the thermal performance of the construction solution and increase the probability of condensation and the appearance of pathologies in the interior coatings [61]. In this context, it is important to know the origin of the waste, since it can come from areas where the absolute moisture content is higher; therefore, air drying prior to transportation would be of great help to reduce the possible consumption of energy for the use of ovens.

3.3.4. Fire Behavior

Table 3 shows the results of the experimental test of the fire behavior of the material for 3 min, as described in Section 2.3.4. The data show a total flame duration time of 86 s in 18 flame applications, or an average of 4.8 s of flame presence per application. Other vegetable thermal insulating materials, such as rice husk, corn pith, or barley straw, under the same test method, have an average ignition duration of 9, 7, and 6 s, respectively [26]. In this case, barley straw stands out, whose composition for the development of the material included a binder, unlike this study, where wheat straw was not used with additives or binders, so the ignition result (flaming combustion) is acceptable.
Alternatives have been evaluated to improve the fire behavior of wheat straw; one of them is the carbonization of the material, which improves the fire performance by increasing the ignition temperature, but, at the same time, the internal porous structure of the fiber is altered, so the effect on thermal conductivity should be analyzed in detail [40,62].

4. Conclusions

The results of this work, associated with the valorization of wheat residues, show that the demand for materials in the Araucanía region versus the eventual production of thermal insulating material from wheat residues in the same region is highly viable. It is shown that the waste is found in abundance, with a greater presence in the central zone of the region, in the communes of Perquenco and Victoria, so, logistically, reaching only 1% of the waste in the region would allow us to cover the thermal insulation needs projected for 2025 in the regional capital. In addition, links could be generated for the operational work of the collection, storage, and transport of waste, avoiding the traditional disposal of this waste. Thermal insulation materials are key to reducing residential energy consumption worldwide, since the energy consumed in homes is mainly used for heating [63]. In this way, particle emissions associated with the use of fossil fuels for heating (combustion of biomass) and greenhouse gases are reduced. In this context, the characterization carried out in this work shows the competitive qualities of wheat straw for use in construction, where the average conductivity of the samples is 0.034 [W/mK], comparable to various materials used in the market. It is important to note that this value was obtained by generating an application process using the blowing technique. Other application methods, even from the same residue, vary this number, reaching 0.046 [W/mK]. The homogeneous application of the wheat straw inside the test tube is evident, confirming that the material can be used with this technique, which is currently widely used with cellulose paper. It is important to mention that in order to achieve this, the fiber must be subjected to a chopping process, in order to obtain a material with a maximum length of 2 [cm]; otherwise, the fiber would accumulate at the outlet of the duct and could not be applied with the technique of blowing to the interior of the partitions. Low moisture percentages were identified in the samples analyzed, and the challenges that are being addressed to complement this work are moisture adsorption tests and the variation in the thermal properties when cycles of rain, humidity, and heat occur. For its part, the reaction with the flame is encouraging, since, compared to other plant materials, wheat straw self-extinguishes in less time. It is important to mention that the material under study did not include any fire-retardant additive, binder, or phase change material, so any measure considered to improve the fire behavior would improve the material even further compared to other organic materials.

Author Contributions

R.H.C.J.: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing—original draft. R.N.K.: writing—original draft preparation. C.-R.J.P.: writing—review and editing, validation, resources, supervision. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

All data are available in this document. Please contact the authors for more information.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Sustainable Buildings 4.0 group of the Civil Engineering Department for allowing the use of its facilities and equipment for the measurements carried out in this research.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

References

  1. Llantoy, N.; Chàfer, M.; Cabeza, L.F. A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Different Insulation Materials for Buildings in the Continental Mediterranean Climate. Energy Build. 2020, 225, 110323. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Lausselet, C.; Lund, K.M.; Brattebø, H. LCA and Scenario Analysis of a Norwegian Net-Zero GHG Emission Neighbourhood: The Importance of Mobility and Surplus Energy from PV Technologies. Build. Environ. 2021, 189, 107528. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Christensen, T.B.; Johansen, M.R.; Buchard, M.V.; Glarborg, C.N. Closing the Material Loops for Construction and Demolition Waste: The Circular Economy on the Island Bornholm, Denmark. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. Adv. 2022, 15, 200104. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Zhang, W.; Jia, J.; Zhang, J.; Ding, Y.; Zhang, J.; Lu, K.; Mao, S. Pyrolysis and Combustion Characteristics of Typical Waste Thermal Insulation Materials. Sci. Total Environ. 2022, 834, 155484. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Brauer, M.; Casadei, B.; Harrington, R.A.; Kovacs, R.; Sliwa, K. Taking a Stand Against Air Pollution—The Impact on Cardiovascular Disease: A Joint Opinion from the World Heart Federation, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and the European Society of Cardiology. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2021, 77, 1684–1688. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Mardones, C. Ex-Post Evaluation of Residential Insulation Program in the City of Temuco, Chile. Energy Sustain. Dev. 2021, 62, 126–135. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Karanasiou, A.; Alastuey, A.; Amato, F.; Renzi, M.; Stafoggia, M.; Tobias, A.; Reche, C.; Forastiere, F.; Gumy, S.; Mudu, P.; et al. Short-Term Health Effects from Outdoor Exposure to Biomass Burning Emissions: A Review. Sci. Total Environ. 2021, 781, 146739. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Hvidtfeldt, U.A.; Sørensen, M.; Geels, C.; Ketzel, M.; Khan, J.; Tjønneland, A.; Overvad, K.; Brandt, J.; Raaschou-Nielsen, O. Long-Term Residential Exposure to PM2.5, PM10, Black Carbon, NO2, and Ozone and Mortality in a Danish Cohort. Environ. Int. 2019, 123, 265–272. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  9. Abu-jdayil, B.; Mourad, A.; Hittini, W.; Hassan, M.; Hameedi, S. Traditional, State-of-the-Art and Renewable Thermal Building Insulation Materials: An Overview. Constr. Build. Mater. 2019, 214, 709–735. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Abbara, A.A.; Abdelhalim, A.; Al-Ajamee, M.; Ahmed, O.; Adhikary, S.K.; Ahmed, M. Uniaxial Compressive Stress-Strain Relationship for Rubberized Concrete with Coarse Aggregate Replacement up to 100%. Case Stud. Constr. Mater. 2022, 17, e01336. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Raimundo, A.M.; Sousa, A.M.; Oliveira, A.V.M. Assessment of Energy, Environmental and Economic Costs of Buildings’ Thermal Insulation–Influence of Type of Use and Climate. Buildings 2023, 13, 279. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Reif, M.; Zach, J.Ĝ.; Hroudová, J. Studying the Properties of Particulate Insulating Materials on Natural Basis. Procedia Eng. 2016, 151, 368–374. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Liuzzi, S.; Sanarica, S.; Liuzzi, S.; Stefanizzi, P. Use of Agro-Wastes in Building Materials in the Mediterranean Area: A Review a Review Assessing the Feasibility of Using the Heat Sanarica District Temperatu. Energy Procedia 2017, 126, 242–249. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Azócar, L.; Hermosilla, N.; Gay, A.; Rocha, S.; Díaz, J.; Jara, P. Brown Pellet Production Using Wheat Straw from Southern Cities in Chile. Fuel 2019, 237, 823–832. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) Informe de Cultivos Anuales Esenciales. Superficie Sembrada de Cultivos Anuales, Año Agrícola 2020–2021. Available online: https://www.ine.cl/estadisticas/economia/agricultura-agroindustria-y-pesca/cosecha (accessed on 10 January 2022).
  16. Zúñiga, F.; Jaime, M.; Salazar, C. Crop Farming Adaptation to Droughts in Small-Scale Dryland Agriculture in Chile. Water Resour. Econ. 2021, 34, 100176. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Palumbo, M.; Avellaneda, J.; Lacasta, A.M. Availability of Crop By-Products in Spain: New Raw Materials for Natural Thermal Insulation. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2015, 99, 1–6. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Azzouzi, D.; Rabahi, W.; Seddiri, F.; Hemis, M. Experimental Study of the Fibres Content Effect on the Heat Insulation Capacity of New Vegetable Composite Plaster-Pea Pod Fibres. Sustain. Mater. Technol. 2020, 23, e00144. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Ntimugura, F.; Vinai, R.; Harper, A.; Walker, P. Mechanical, Thermal, Hygroscopic and Acoustic Properties of Bio-Aggregates–Lime and Alkali-Activated Insulating Composite Materials: A Review of Current Status and Prospects for Miscanthus as an Innovative Resource in the South West of England. Sustain. Mater. Technol. 2020, 26, e00211. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Zhou, Y.; Trabelsi, A.; El Mankibi, M. A Review on the Properties of Straw Insulation for Buildings. Constr. Build. Mater. 2022, 330, 127215. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Janowska-renkas, E.; Król, A.; Pochwała, S.; Pałubski, D.; Adamska, M.; Klementowski, I. The Fire Resistance and Heat Conductivity of Natural Construction Material Based on Straw and Numerical Simulation of Building Energy Demand. Energies 2022, 15, 1155. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Bakatovich, A.; Gaspar, F.; Boltrushevich, N. Thermal Insulation Material Based on Reed and Straw Fibres Bonded with Sodium Silicate and Rosin. Constr. Build. Mater. 2022, 352, 129055. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Khoukhi, M.; Dar Saleh, A.; Mohammad, A.F.; Hassan, A.; Abdelbaqi, S. Thermal Performance and Statistical Analysis of a New Bio-Based Insulation Material Produced Using Grain Puffing Technique. Constr. Build. Mater. 2022, 345, 128311. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Lopez Hurtado, P.; Rouilly, A.; Vandenbossche, V.; Raynaud, C. A Review on the Properties of Cellulose Fibre Insulation. Build. Environ. 2016, 96, 170–177. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Böck, A.; Treml, S.; Engelhardt, M. Long-Term Settlement Behavior of Loose-Fill Cellulose Insulation under Different Types of Exposure. Eur. J. Wood Wood Prod. 2015, 73, 705–707. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Palumbo, M.; Formosa, J.; Lacasta, A.M. Thermal Degradation and Fire Behaviour of Thermal Insulation Materials Based on Food Crop By-Products. Constr. Build. Mater. 2015, 79, 34–39. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Gnanachelvam, S.; Ariyanayagam, A.; Mahendran, M. Effects of Insulation Materials and Their Location on the Fire Resistance of LSF Walls. J. Build. Eng. 2021, 44, 103323. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Kumar, D.; Morshed, A.; Doshi, A. Investigating the Influence of Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Storage of Lightweight Concrete Panels on the Energy and Thermal Comfort in Residential Buildings. Buildings 2023, 13, 720. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Agustín Taladriz & Andrés Schwember Cereales En Las Zonas Centro-Sur y Sur de Chile, ¿Qué Hacer Con Los Rastrojos? Agronomía y Forestal N°46. 2012, pp. 25–27. Available online: https://agronomia.uc.cl/component/com_sobipro/Itemid,232/pid,920/sid,926 (accessed on 14 July 2022).
  30. Román-Figueroa, C.; Montenegro, N.; Paneque, M. Bioenergy Potential from Crop Residue Biomass in Araucania Region of Chile. Renew. Energy 2017, 102, 170–177. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Mishra, A.K.; Shinjo, H.; Jat, H.S.; Jat, M.L.; Jat, R.K.; Funakawa, S.; Sutaliya, J.M. Farmers’ Perspectives as Determinants for Adoption of Conservation Agriculture Practices in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. Adv. 2022, 15, 200105. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Carlos, R.; Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA)–Centro Regional de Investigación Quilamapu. Rastrojo de Cultivos y Residuos Forestales. Programa de Transferencia de Prácticas Alternativas Al Uso Del Fuego En La Región Del Biobío. Boletín INIA N°308. 2015. Consulted on 11 October 2022. Available online: https://biblioteca.inia.cl/handle/20.500.14001/7856 (accessed on 14 July 2022).
  33. Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA). Carlos Ruiz Costos Del Manejo de Rastrojos de Trigo En La Precordillera de Ñub. leInformativo N°137. 2018. Consulted on 11 October 2022. Available online: https://biblioteca.inia.cl/bitstream/handle/20.500.14001/4833/NR40904.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (accessed on 11 October 2022).
  34. SICAM Diagnóstico Para La Impementación de Planes de Descontaminación Atmosférica de La Zona Centro-Sur de Chile; 2017. Servicios Inte-grales de Calidad Ambiental de Chile. Report Code: 108-IMP16v.2. Available online: www.sicam.cl (accessed on 3 March 2022).
  35. Zhao, Y.; Feng, D.; Yu, L.; Wang, X.; Chen, Y.; Bai, Y.; Hernández, H.J.; Galleguillos, M.; Estades, C.; Biging, G.S.; et al. Detailed Dynamic Land Cover Mapping of Chile: Accuracy Improvement by Integrating Multi-Temporal Data. Remote Sens. Environ. 2016, 183, 170–185. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Hernández, H.J.; Galleguillos, M.; Estades, C. Mapa de Cobertura de Suelos de Chile 2014: Descripción Del Producto; Laboratorio de Geomática y Ecología del Paisaje (GEP), Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Conservación de la Naturaleza, Universidad de Chile: Santiago, Chile, 2016; pp. 1–4. [Google Scholar]
  37. IEEE Std 442-1981; IEEE Guide for Soil Thermal Resistivity Measurements. IEEE: Piscataway, NJ, USA, 1980; pp. 1–16. [CrossRef]
  38. ASTM D5334-00; Standard Test Method for Determination of Thermal Conductivity of Soil and Soft Rock by Thermal Needle Probe Procedure. ASTM: West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2017. [CrossRef]
  39. UNE 23-725-90; Ensayos de Reacción Al Fuego de Los Materiales de Construcción. Ensayo de Goteo Aplicable a Los Materiales Fusibles. Ensayo Complementario. Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación: Madrid, Spain, 1990; p. 725.
  40. Soto, M.; Rojas, C.; Cárdenas-Ramírez, J.P. Characterization of a Thermal Insulating Material Based on a Wheat Straw and Recycled Paper Cellulose to Be Applied in Buildings by Blowing Method. Sustainability 2023, 15, 58. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Hetz, H.E.; De La Cerda, A.J.; López, R.M. Straw Availability in the Wheat Stubbles of Three Provinces of Chile. Agric. Técnica 2006, 66, 393–401. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Jelle, B.P. Traditional, State-of-the-Art and Future Thermal Building Insulation Materials and Solutions-Properties, Requirements and Possibilities. Energy Build. 2011, 43, 2549–2563. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Yoo, J.; Chang, S.J.; Yang, S.; Wi, S.; Kim, Y.U.; Kim, S. Performance of the Hygrothermal Behavior of the CLT Wall Using Different Types of Insulation; XPS, PF Board and Glass Wool. Case Stud. Therm. Eng. 2021, 24, 100846. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  44. Ahmed, A.; Qayoum, A.; Mir, F.Q. Investigation of the Thermal Behavior of the Natural Insulation Materials for Low Temperature Regions. J. Build. Eng. 2019, 26, 100849. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Florea, I.; Manea, D.L. Analysis of Thermal Insulation Building Materials Based on Natural Fibers. Procedia Manuf. 2019, 32, 230–235. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Soto, M.; Vera, M.; Parra, K.; Rojas, C.; Cárdenas, J.P. Potential of the Residual Fibers of Pisum Sativum (PS), for Use in a Development of a Thermal Insulator Material. IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci. 2020, 503, 012084. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  47. Rojas, C.; Cea, M.; Iriarte, A.; Valdés, G.; Navia, R.; Cárdenas-r, J.P. Thermal Insulation Materials Based on Agricultural Residual Wheat Straw and Corn Husk Biomass, for Application in Sustainable Buildings. Sustain. Mater. Technol. 2019, 17, e00102. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Alghamdi, A.A.; Alqarni, A.M.; AlZahrani, A.A. Numerical Investigation of Effects of Camlock System on Thermal Conductivity of Structural Insulated Panels. Buildings 2023, 13, 413. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  49. Tajuddeen, I.; Sajjadian, S.M.; Jafari, M. Regression Models for Predicting the Global Warming Potential of Thermal Insulation Materials. Buildings 2023, 13, 171. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  50. Zach, J.; Novák, V.; Peterková, J.; Bubeník, J.; Košir, M.; Božiček, D.; Krejza, Z. The Use of Advanced Environmentally Friendly Systems in the Insulation and Reconstruction of Buildings. Buildings 2023, 13, 404. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  51. Rojas, C.; Cea, M.; Rosas-Díaz, F.; Cárdenas-R, J. Physical, Chemical and Mechanical Characterization of a Prototype Insulating Material Based on Eucalyptus Bark Fiber. IEEE Lat. Am. Trans. 2018, 16, 2441–2446. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  52. Cárdenas-R, J.P.; Cea, M.; Santín, K.; Valdés, G.; Hunter, R.; Navia, R. Characterization and Application of a Natural Polymer Obtained from Hydrangea Macrophylla as a Thermal Insulation Biomaterial. Compos. Part B Eng. 2018, 132, 10–16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  53. Mehrzad, S.; Taban, E.; Soltani, P.; Samaei, S.E.; Khavanin, A. Sugarcane Bagasse Waste Fibers as Novel Thermal Insulation and Sound-Absorbing Materials for Application in Sustainable Buildings. Build. Environ. 2022, 211, 108753. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  54. Wang, X.; Qin, D.H.; Ren, J.W.; Wang, F.T. Numerical Estimation of Thermal Insulation Performance of Different Coverage Schemes at Three Places for Snow Storage. Adv. Clim. Chang. Res. 2021, 12, 903–912. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  55. Hung Anh, L.D.; Pásztory, Z. An Overview of Factors Influencing Thermal Conductivity of Building Insulation Materials. J. Build. Eng. 2021, 44, 102604. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  56. Lu, J.; Wang, D.; Jiang, P.; Zhang, S.; Chen, Z.; Bourbigot, S.; Fontaine, G.; Wei, M. Design of Fire Resistant, Sound-Absorbing and Thermal-Insulated Expandable Polystyrene Based Lightweight Particleboard Composites. Constr. Build. Mater. 2021, 305, 124773. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  57. Bovo, M.; Giani, N.; Barbaresi, A.; Mazzocchetti, L.; Barbaresi, L.; Giorgini, L.; Torreggiani, D.; Tassinari, P. Contribution to Thermal and Acoustic Characterization of Corn Cob for Bio-Based Building Insulation Applications. Energy Build. 2022, 262, 111994. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  58. Pontinha, A.D.R.; Mäntyneva, J.; Santos, P.; Durães, L. Thermomechanical Performance Assessment of Sustainable Buildings’ Insulating Materials under Accelerated Ageing Conditions. Gels 2023, 9, 241. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  59. Mawardi, I.; Aprilia, S.; Faisal, M.; Rizal, S. Investigation of Thermal Conductivity and Physical Properties of Oil Palm Trunks/Ramie Fiber Reinforced Biopolymer Hybrid Composites as Building Bio-Insulation. Mater. Today Proc. 2022, 60, 373–377. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  60. Liu, Y.; Dong, M.; Wang, T.; Xiong, L.; Hang, T.; Ling, H.; Hu, A.; Gao, L.; Li, M. Design of Thermally Stable Insulation Film by Radical Grafting Poly(Methylacrylic Acid) on Silicon Surface. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2019, 464, 627–635. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  61. Zhao, W.; Yan, W.; Zhang, Z.; Gao, H.; Zeng, Q.; Du, G.; Fan, M. Development and Performance Evaluation of Wood-Pulp/Glass Fibre Hybrid Composites as Core Materials for Vacuum Insulation Panels. J. Clean. Prod. 2022, 357, 131957. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  62. Zou, S.; Li, H.; Liu, L.; Wang, S.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, G. Experimental Study on Fire Resistance Improvement of Wheat Straw Composite Insulation Materials for Buildings. J. Build. Eng. 2021, 43, 103172. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  63. Zhou, J.; Peng, Y.; Xu, J.; Wu, Y.; Huang, Z.; Xiao, X.; Cui, Y. Vacuum Insulation Arrays as Damage-Resilient Thermal Superinsulation Materials for Energy Saving. Joule 2022, 6, 2358–2371. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Figure 1. Wheat straw in bales (a), biomass grinder equipment (b), blowing machine (c), test specimens for blowing the material (d).
Figure 1. Wheat straw in bales (a), biomass grinder equipment (b), blowing machine (c), test specimens for blowing the material (d).
Buildings 13 01152 g001
Figure 2. Thermal conductivity instrument (a), Boeco moisture analyzer (b), fire behavior tests (c).
Figure 2. Thermal conductivity instrument (a), Boeco moisture analyzer (b), fire behavior tests (c).
Buildings 13 01152 g002
Figure 3. Ranking of optimal processing plant location.
Figure 3. Ranking of optimal processing plant location.
Buildings 13 01152 g003
Figure 4. Wheat straw processed in the grinder (a), wheat straw applied by blowing technique on the specimens (b).
Figure 4. Wheat straw processed in the grinder (a), wheat straw applied by blowing technique on the specimens (b).
Buildings 13 01152 g004
Figure 5. Relationship between density and thermal conductivity of samples.
Figure 5. Relationship between density and thermal conductivity of samples.
Buildings 13 01152 g005
Table 1. Araucanía region crops.
Table 1. Araucanía region crops.
CerealsSurface [ha][%] With Respect to Chile
Wheat93,79741.45
Flour wheat92,78145.26
Wheat candeal10164.77
Corn530.08
Corn consumption530.09
Seed corn--
Barley11,11341.54
Malting barley764644.22
Feed barley346736.63
Rice--
Oat60,85154.02
Triticale912783.63
Other cereals149436.23
TOTAL176,435--
Table 2. Summary of thermal conductivity results.
Table 2. Summary of thermal conductivity results.
Thermal Conductivity [W/mK]AVGSD
M1M2M3M4
Sample 10.0340.0330.0330.0340.0340.0006
Sample 20.0340.0320.0340.0350.0340.0013
Sample 30.0350.0330.0330.0320.0330.0013
0.0340.001
Table 3. Results of the fire test.
Table 3. Results of the fire test.
RepetitionIgnitionExtinctionTotal
MinuteSecondMinuteSecondDuration [s]
102.9405.902.96
209.73014.184.45
3017.59021.604.01
4025.57029.053.48
5032.74034.321.58
6038.44042.193.75
7045.28057.8512.57
814.7816.401.62
9110.61114.233.62
10118.35122.584.23
11126.63129.713.08
12133.54138.404.86
13142.42148.335.91
14149.27152.002.73
15156.74210.5113.77
16219.05223.254.20
17232.00236.184.18
18249.04254.265.22
Total86.22
Average4.79
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Carlos Javier, R.H.; Karin, R.N.; Juan Pablo, C.-R. Valorization of Wheat Crop Waste in Araucanía, Chile: Development of Prototype of Thermal Insulation Material for Blowing Technique and Geographical Analysis. Buildings 2023, 13, 1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051152

AMA Style

Carlos Javier RH, Karin RN, Juan Pablo C-R. Valorization of Wheat Crop Waste in Araucanía, Chile: Development of Prototype of Thermal Insulation Material for Blowing Technique and Geographical Analysis. Buildings. 2023; 13(5):1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051152

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carlos Javier, Rojas Herrera, Rodríguez Neira Karin, and Cárdenas-Ramírez Juan Pablo. 2023. "Valorization of Wheat Crop Waste in Araucanía, Chile: Development of Prototype of Thermal Insulation Material for Blowing Technique and Geographical Analysis" Buildings 13, no. 5: 1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051152

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop