Efficient Utilization of Rice Straw Recycling for Sustainable Environment and Industrial Purpose

By: Muhammad Qasim. Abdul Waseem 

Abstract

After the harvesting of rice grain, the left-over stalks fixed as rice straw. Rice straw primarily contains cellulose, hemicellulose ,and lignin that can be take out easily and used as the renewable sources of energy. They also contain elements as nitrogen, phosphorous and silicon. Rice straw burning techniques such as waste incineration are fixed, which in addition to destroying agricultural land structures, also releases  harmful gases as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds such as formaldehydes that are destroying the atmosphere and cause global warming. They also have negative impacts on human health. We can use rice straw to produce various environment friendly products.

Uses of Rice straw extraction

Fiber production

Inspired by nature, cellulose extracted from rice straw has been fixed, due to its great potential as an alternative for synthetic fibers. Cellulose can also be used to create biocomposites. This item is important from industrial and ecological point of view. It has been shown that the fibers attained from these another sources have properties as to, or better than, the properties of cotton and linen. The natural fibers from native sources are sustainable materials, which are easily available in nature and have advantages, such as being light weight and renewable. The biodegradability of the natural cellulose is vigilant the most vital and significant aspects due to its plenty, low cost, low energy consumption and non-toxicity.

Cosmetic industry

Rice straw can’t be used in the cosmetic industries directly due to its fibrous nature. But recent research suggests that byproducts of rice milling contain antioxidants and vitamins that have valuable ingredients in skin care products as a formulation for moisturizers, cleansers and hair care products. They can fix in exfoliating scrubs and masks. Antioxidants provide protection against environmental damage and signs of aging. Silica is also present in rice straw, contain oil controlling properties and used in powders and foundations.

Fertilizer

Due to overpopulation, higher crop yield is required by farmers. To fulfil this demand, inorganic fertilizers are cast-off that has negative impacts on environment such as greenhouse effect, water eutrophication and increase of insect pets etc. Rice straw contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous that can be used as fertilizers. They can be utilized as an ingredient in organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers play a significant role in soil fertility and plant growth. When rice straw is used as fertilizers upon decomposition, they release nutrients as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous that are important for plant growth.

Energy generation

Rice straw can be used as anaerobic digestion due to the production of gas that is used for cooking, generating heat for drying and electric power. Anaerobic digestion by using rice straw can produce from 60 180l of methane per kg of dry straw. Rice straw is widely available and renewable. It can be converted into heat, steam, coal, methanol, ethanol, biodiesel and raw materials. The technologies that are used to convert of rice straw for  bioenergy are thermochemical conversion (combustion, gasification and pyrolysis) and biological conversion (fermentation and anaerobic digestion).

The total world rice production is 776,461,457 metric tonnes.  About 600 to 800 million tons per year produced in Asia. But a great deal of rice straw is lost annually due to burning.

Packaging materials

Rice straw can be used as raw material for pulp, which is lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by separating cellulose fiber from rice straw. Separation can be done by chemically, mechanically, or chemimechanically. From cellulose fiber of rice straw, virgin pulps have been identified and used to make a biodegradable food container, biodegradable packaging medical products and biodegradable industrial packaging products. These packaging materials can be biodegradable and environment friendly.

Animal feed and bedding

Rice straw can be effectively utilized as animal feed and bedding, providing a sustainable and commercial solution for livestock farmers. Rice straw can be used as a nutritious feed enhancement for ruminant animals, such as cattle and sheep, due to its high fiber content. Furthermore, rice straw can be used as bedding material, providing a dry and  easy surface for animals to put your feet up on. This idea not only improves animal benefit but also reduces the risk of disease and injury. Furthermore, using rice straw as animal feed and bedding reduces the need for synthetic feed supplements and bedding, promoting a more sustainable in addition to ecologically aware livestock productionsystem.

Fiberboard production

Rice straw and soy protein fixed to make fiberboard that can be used as replacement of wood fiberboard. If we use rice straw, wood particles and commercial urea-formaldehyde resign and prepare a composite board. It will be noise adsorber and thermal insulator and can be a good alternative to wood particle board. Urea released from urea-formaldehyde contaminates the environment and is harmful to human health. To solve this problem, we can use soy protein adhesives. Soy protein is natural polymeric material, has many advantages such as abundance, renewability, versatility, biodegradability and no toxicity.

Impacts on the environment

Water pollution from rice straw

Rice straw, a large agricultural waste, can supply to water pollution if not managed The improper removal of rice straw can guide to the release of pollutants into water bodies, posing a danger to aquatic life and human health.Burning of rice straw, a common carry out in many agricultural regions, can release pollutants into the air, which can finally on water bodies. These pollutants can include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compoundsfurthermore, the run off from rice fields can carry fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants into close water bodies, causative to water pollution.The pollutants released from rice straw can have harsh effects on water quality. The increased levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can lead to eutrophication, causing unnecessary growth of algae and deplete the oxygen levels in the water. This can direct to the death of aquatic life and make the water not fitting for human use.

Soil degradation from rice straw

Rice straw, if not manage properly, can contribute to soil degradation, affecting soil richness and yield The inappropriate disposal of rice straw can guide to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and changes in the soil structure.The burning of rice straw can release pollutants into the air, which can finally settle on the soil, upsetting its fertility to productivity. Furthermore, the exclusion of rice straw from the soil can direct to soil erosion, as the straw helps to grip the soil in place. This can result in the loss of top soil, reducing soil fertility and productivity.The inappropriate organization of rice straw can have severe especial effects on soil health. Soil erosion can lead to the loss of nutrient-rich earth, dropping soil fertility and productivity. Additionally, the changes in soil structure can influence soil’s water-holding capacity, leading to reduced crop yields and increased top soil salinization.

Limitations

Rice straw can be used as fertilizers, but they decompose slowly in soil due to high silica and lignin content. It will create impact on soil health and nitrogen cycle. Rice straw collection demands labour that can increase its cost. Rice straw has low density, moisture, and heat sensitive. It will be a challenge to handle it properly. It is also bulky. To transport it from field to industry is logistically challenging due to its bulkiness. Long distance will make it costly.

Conclusion and Future Prospective

Rice straw residue can be used as a renewable source of energy, produce eco-friendly useful products. A new environmentally friendly technology is being developed to convert rice straw into quality value-added composite products. Straw particleboard has a broad applications because of its rigidness, strength and low cost. Rice straw can be used as non-wood raw material. The future of rice straw recycling looks capable with advancements in technology, partnerships for sustainability, supportive policies, and expanding markets. Innovations like biorefining and genetic engineering offer opportunities to extract valuable compounds from rice straw efficiently. Relationship between agricultural sectors, waste management industries, and renewable energy producers can optimize resource use. Governments are implementing policies like subsidies and tax incentives to encourage eco-friendly practices. As consumer demand for sustainable products grows, industries are exploring new marketing strategies. By working together globally, sharing knowledge, and engaging local communities, we can increase the environmental and economic benefits of rice straw recycling for a more sustainable future.