Bored office discussion: What is a nutshell made of? One of us says technically, it's WOOD, while another says a nutshell is its own unique material. And not only peanut shells, but really hard shells like walnuts and pecans. Wood, or not wood? Discuss.
2007-11-25 04:27:45 · 4 answers · asked by DM J 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Wood fibers consist mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.
The nutshells derive their density and strength from the two components--lignin and cellulose, but also contain hemicellulose.
Fazit: From qualitative composition nutshells are wood, those with a high lignin-content from the quantitative formula at least very similar.
2007-11-25 09:29:23 · answer #1 · answered by mejxu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wood is defined by more than its lignin and cellulose content. Its structure is also part and includes the outer sapwood and the heart layers from under the bark to the pith. However the lignification is similar.
Nut shells or pericarps are composed of lignin and cellulose so in that sense are wooden as they are lignified tissues.
The lignin to cellulose ratio being a critical measurement as is the second of hemicellulose in %.
Peanut 0.79 -12% (Legume)
Hazel 0.61- 7% (True nut)
Brazil 2.09 - 0.6% (This is not a nutshell but a seed coat)
Both the peanut and hazel are similar to the xylem from any tree weather hard or soft wood, and hemicellulose at 9% on average for hardwoods.
Fraxinus americana 0.54
Quercus alba 0.62
Pinus ponderosa 0.64
Sequoia sempevirens 0.70
The lignification of the secondary xylem of trees is similar to the woody development of the pericarp of some nuts. They are alike in their lignin to cellulose ratio and in their lignin and cellulose contents. The hemicellulose of hazel is the same type isolated from the secondary xylem of hardwood trees. The Brazil nut differs so widely that it would appear to proceed by a different set of reactions.
The lignin and cellulose appear to be of the same general form despite their different tissues of origin in the tree; secondary xylem or seed pericarp.
Peanut shells are used to make paper or particle boards just as other nut hulls are. Nut hulls are ground into flour for filler in particle board or crushed to use as fine abrasives.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/110495023/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
http://swst.metapress.com/content/1745108661148536/
2007-11-25 10:56:05 · answer #2 · answered by gardengallivant 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it doesn t really matter does it? The strength is important! 20,000 acres of deforestation in the US annually just to make usb board. USB rots fast. It s made with formaldehyde and when it does burn; it s smoke kills! Peanut shells... Do not Rot or burn Bugs hate them and there are piles of peanut shells that we cannot get rid of because of these properties! Sustainable? The PEANUT Hull will someday be the byproduct! Do your math Do your research and get out your checkbooks! My Friend holds the US patent on Peanut Strand Board! It s now in the marketing testing certification stage and will be on the market soon! Wanna know more? sicoon2@yahoo.com
2016-05-07 18:32:43 · answer #3 · answered by Silas 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wood only comes from the trunk or branches of trees.
a nutshell cant be wood.
2007-11-25 04:35:32 · answer #4 · answered by connie_lovee 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋