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The proliferation of microplastics in the ocean and other water bodies is becoming an alarming issue. The development of plastic‐free water‐ and oil‐resistant paper can contribute toward mitigating this problem. Herein we report a plastic‐free paper coating derived from chitosan and sunflower oil. Chitosan grafted sunflower oil paper coatings were prepared via the ring opening of the partially epoxidized sunflower oil with chitosan. The product of these reactions was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy techniques. The sunflower oil grafted chitosan solution was coated onto a Kraft paper. The Cobb 60 and kit rating values were determined to be 8.00 g/m2 and 7.66, respectively, for the optimal formulations. Meanwhile, the water contact angle was found to be 94.0 ± 1.6° after 30 s. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was employed to gain insight regarding the changes that occurred on the paper surface at the microscopic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds is the most important degradation mechanism affecting cellulose‐based materials. It results in the decrease of DP and in the loss of the original mechanical properties. The neutralization of acidity is therefore one of the most efficient ways to hamper the degradation of cellulosic artworks. However, in the case of acidic and strongly degraded artifacts, in addition to deacidification, a consolidation treatment must be performed. To this aim, a new class of biopolymers, obtained by a synthetic procedure that considers the principles of Sustainable Chemistry, was investigated. Three allyl saccharide/vinyl acetate copolymers, having different molar ratios between starting monomers, were prepared using α,α'‐trehalose, and used to synthesize the corresponding allyl saccharide/vinyl alcohol copolymers. The use of saccharide derivatives as monomers improves the affinity and compatibility of the biopolymer with the artifacts to be treated. After characterization, the efficacy of the copolymers in the strengthening of degraded paper was evaluated with mechanical tests. The most effective system was thus selected for further testing. Its performance was compared to that of Klucel G®, a commercial product belonging to the class of cellulose derivatives, which are largely used in conservation practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pulp and paper mills, effective biosludge dewatering is essential in wastewater treatment to reduce the large volume of biosludge that needs to be treated and disposed. The dewatering process normally requires the use of polymers from petroleum‐based sources. This study explores the potential of using cationic proteins such as protamine for biosludge dewatering through dual conditioning with a small amount of a synthetic anionic polymer such as anionic polyacrylamide (APAM). The results show that dual conditioning provides substantial synergistic enhancements in dewatering. The maximum cake solids content of biosludge achieved by adding protamine (7.5%) alone was 12%. By dual conditioning with a small amount of APAM (0.1%), not only the cake solids content was increased to 16%, but also the amount of protamine addition was substantially lowered to 2%. These results, coupled with the change in zeta potential of the particles in the biosludge samples, suggest that the cationic protamine reduced the negative charge of the particles, allowing smaller particles to agglomerate and providing a positively charged framework for the subsequent addition of the negatively charged APAM. After adding APAM, substantial floc‐bridging occurred, allowing smaller flocs to aggregate into larger flocs. These synergistic effects can lower the wastewater treatment cost by reducing the amount of synthetic polymer and by applying low‐value proteins from natural sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Biopolymers and their composites were added during the formation of unbleached Kraft bagasse pulp paper sheets to improve the mechanical strength properties of the produced hand sheets. The biopolymers (cellulose, chitosan, and chitosan-cellulose composite) were either crosslinked or noncrosslinked and they were added in series of concentrations from 0.1% to 1.5%. The characterization of the samples using the Fourier transform infrared (IR) technique identified differences in the intensities of the characteristic IR absorption bands for chitosan, cellulose, and their composites, these differences are due to the various degrees of hydrogen bonding. The surface morphology of the biopolymers composites and the treated paper sheets were studied using SEM technique. Both the equilibrium moisture sorption and the diffusion coefficient of the paper sheets containing 1% additives were evaluated at regular time intervals. The long-term stability of the treated paper with biopolymers was verified by exposing the treated and the untreated sheets to hygrothermal ageing. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40761. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Replacing synthetic polymers with renewable alternatives is a critical challenge for the packaging industry. This research investigated the use of leaf‐based proteins as a sustainable co‐binder in the coating formulations for paper‐based packaging and other applications. Protein isolates from tobacco leaf and alfalfa concentrates were characterized using the Pierce protein assay, Kjeldahl nitrogen, and gel electrophoresis. The proteins were tested as co‐binders in a typical latex‐based paper coating formulation. The rheology and water retention properties of the wet coating and the surface, optical, structural, and strength properties of coated papers were measured. The coating performance was affected by the purity, solubility, and molecular weight of the tobacco protein and exhibited a shear‐thinning behavior with lower water retention than soy protein. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy and time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy on the dried coating layer containing tobacco protein showed enhanced porosity (advantageous for package glueability) relative to the control latex coating. The tobacco protein offers adequate coverage and coating pigment distribution, indicating that this protein can be a suitable option in coatings for packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignins are the most important aromatic renewable natural resource today, serving as a sustainable, environmentally acceptable alternative feedstock to fossil‐derived chemicals and polymers in a vast scope of value‐added applications. Lignin is a biopolymeric molecule that, together with cellulose, is a fundamental component of higher vascular plants structural cell walls. It can be extracted from by‐products of the pulp and paper industries, agricultural waste and residues, and biorefinery products. Lignin properties may vary depending on source and extraction method with carbon and aromatic as the main compositions in lignin structure. These rich compositions make lignin more valuable, allowing for the creation of high‐value‐added green composites. However, the complex structure of lignin creates low reactivity to interact with crosslinker, and hence chemical modification is substantial to overcome this problem. This review aimed to present and discuss lignin structure, variation of lignin chemical properties regarding its source and extraction process, recent advances in chemical modification of lignin to enhance its reactivity, and potential applications of modified lignin for manufacturing value‐added biocomposites with enhanced properties and lower environmental impact, such as food handling/packaging, seed coating, automotive devices, 3D printing, rubber industry, and wood adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Recycling waste paper can be considered as a means to displace the use of natural cellulose fibers applied in building materials, because it is composed mostly of cellulose. The water absorption and special surface area of cellulose fibers are the key properties for their use in building materials. The objective of this article was to study the production of recycled cellulose fibers from waste paper using ultrasonic wave processing. The physical and chemical properties of recycled cellulose fibers, such as water absorption, specific surface area and pore characteristics, etc., were investigated with various testing methods. The results indicated that the ultrasonic cavitation effect was feasible for the preparation of the secondary fibers. When the ultrasonic treatment time lasted for 10 min, the water absorptions of both newsprint fibers and kraft fibers increased significantly and reached the highest values of 12.5 g/g and 11.2 g/g, respectively, which were nearly two times than that of fibers without ultrasonic treatment. With a pretreatment of 20 min, the average length and fineness of recycled cellulose fibers decreased by 4% and 25%, respectively, and the length-diameter ratio of the recycled cellulose fibers was 1.28 times than that of the untreated fibers, which greatly increased the special surface area of the recycled cellulose fibers. This work also determined that NaOH was useful to improve the physical properties of the recycled cellulose fibers. Because the recycled cellulose fibers after processing, fulfilled several technical indexes, they can be considered as a filling material for used in cement-based materials. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41962. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Epoxidized soybean oil-based paper composites (ESOPCs) were prepared by fabricating poly epoxidized soybean oil (PESO) with paper. With boron trifluride diethyl etherate as catalyst, epoxidized soybean oil was in situ polymerized on the surface of the paper and within the interspaces of the paper cellulose fibers. Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed the polymerization of epoxidized soybean oil. Scanning electron microscopic analysis showed that ESOPCs had nanostructured wrinkle morphology on the surfaces and the PESO combined tightly with the paper cellulose fibers. The tensile strength of ESOPCs was 17.3-24.8 MPa, which was higher than that of most vegetable oil-based neat polymers. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that ESOPCs were thermally stable up to 360°C in a nitrogen atmosphere. Water vapor permeability (WVP) tests revealed that the WVP of ESOPCs was 3.52-4.45 × 10−12 g/m/s/Pa, significantly lower than many of other biobased polymeric materials, which would promote the application of vegetable-based polymers as potential water-resistant materials. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41575. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most abundant biopolymer accessible on earth is lignocellulose. The hydrolysis of lignocelluloses is completed through enzyme groups such as ligninases, hemicelluloses, and cellulases as independently and together called lignocellulolytic enzymes. This review is focused on dealing with enhanced production of cellulose using modern techniques like strain improvement, consolidated bioprocessing, metabolic engineering, and recombinant technology, and defines the technology to boost the enzyme activity and its yield. Furthermore, the restrains linked with the production of cellulolytic enzyme and the direction of upcoming research to offer a complete strategy to improve cellulase yield with novel properties for industrial application at cost‐effective levels are mentioned. Practical applications: Cellulase is a complex enzyme consisting of an endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and β‐D‐glucosidase which acts in combination to release a small unit of glucose. Cellulase has vast potential in the industrial sector especially in the food and beverage as well as paper and pulp industries. The parameters such as strain improvement and heterologous gene expression are involved to enhance the cellulase production. This review discusses the cost‐effective production of cellulolytic enzyme and also emphasizes the limitations and future prospects of this enzyme production on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: In this research work, for the first time, a fiber‐based packaging material was coated by annealed electrospun ultrathin fibers of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate), poly(vinyl alcohol), and polylactide. The resultant mono‐ and multilayer structures self‐adhered to the paper substrate and were characterized in terms of morphology, optical, and barrier properties. Additionally, the use of a static flat plate and rotating mandrel collector as well as the application of different electrospinning deposition times were analyzed. The thermally treated electrospun biopolymers yielded totally transparent films while, due to the opaque nature of the uncoated paper substrate, the developed packaging materials were also opaque but with a glossier surface finish provided by the bioplastic coating. The annealed films obtained from random electrospun fibers, that is, the mats of ultrathin fibers collected on the static plate, presented higher transparency and thickness and also enhanced barrier performance. On the overall, the developed annealed electrospun biopolymer coatings resulted in a significant improvement of the paper barrier properties to water and limonene vapors, being the paper/poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) film the best performing multilayer packaging structure. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45501. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing concerns about global food safety and security demands innovative solutions, particularly in food packaging technologies. This review paper investigates the advanced integration of natural colourimetric sensors with biopolymer‐based packaging materials, with a focus on developments over the past 5 years. These sensors change colour in response to environmental stimuli such as oxygen, temperature, pH and relative humidity, intuitively indicating food freshness and safety. The paper emphasizes the recent advancements in using natural colourants, such as alizarin, anthocyanins, betacyanins, chlorophyll, curcumin and shikonin. When combined with either natural or synthetic biopolymers, these colourants contribute to a sustainable and eco‐friendly approach to food packaging. Such technological advances could notably decrease the incidence of foodborne illnesses by signaling potential spoilage or contamination, while also addressing food wastage by providing clear indications of edibility. Although challenges remain in sensor longevity and widespread adoption, the prospects for biopolymer‐based food packaging with embedded natural colourimetric sensors are promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, old corrugated container recycled fibers were treated with polyelectrolyte multilayers consisting of biopolymer cationic starch with two degrees of substitution (DS) each in combination with one anionic starch. Pulp zeta potential, paper strength and the thin layer ellipsometry technique were applied to examine the influence of cationic starch DS on the formation of polyelectrolyte multilayers. The results indicated a significant interaction between the DS of cationic starch and the number of ionic starch layers formed. When low-DS cationic starch was used, the pulp zeta potential and the paper strength increased significantly in assembling the first cationic layer. However, in depositing high-DS cationic starch a greater zeta potential and a stronger influence on the paper strength were observed with a larger number of starch layers. This was confirmed by thin layer ellipsometry when a greater thickness of multilayers was achieved by employing high-DS cationic starch to form a higher number of layers. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible and foldable electronic devices require flexible energy‐storage components. Electrochemical capacitors (ECs) could store charges without chemical reaction, have fast charging/discharging speed, and high power density. Carbon‐based materials such as activated carbon, single‐wall carbon nanotubes, and graphene have large ion‐reachable surface area and effective electronic transport passages, which enable capacitive behavior with high power density and energy density. An electric double‐layer capacitor made using pencil‐drawn electrodes on commercial copy papers is reported here. Pencil for electrodes is made with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with well‐connected structure. These AgNPs/rGO hybrid structures give high conductivity and reliable charging/discharging properties. The ECs are based on pencil‐drawn electrodes on copy papers and biopolymer electrolytes, so these can realize ultra‐low cost, foldable, and biodegradable energy sources for flexible and foldable electronic devices in the future. Electrochemical capacitors (ECs) are fabricated using a AgNPs/rGO hybrid pencil on a commercial paper with biocompatible electrolyte. Pencil‐drawn ECs with Li‐doped biocompatible electrolyte show good capacitive retention up to 2400 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT An environmental friendly regenerated cellulose membrane (RCM) was successfully prepared via NaOH/urea aqueous solution system by utilizing recycled newspaper (RNP) as the cellulose source. The morphological and chemical structure of resulting membrane were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Results from FTIR and XRD verified that the transparent RCM possesses cellulose II structure. SEM observation revealed that the transparent RCM consist of homogeneous dense symmetric membrane structure and composed of a skin layer with mean roughness parameter Ra, obtained from AFM analysis of 29.53 nm. Pure water flux, water content, water contact angle, porosity, and pore size of the resulting membrane were also measured. This study promotes the potential of the cellulose-based membrane obtained from low cost cellulose source for application in filtration and separation system. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42684. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the realization of a bandpass filter on a flexible biopolymer substrate with a suitable fabrication process. We used copper adhesive tape and laser structuring to fabricate the filter based on a quasi‐lumped microstrip structure. The filter characteristics are a central frequency of 2.45 GHz, a bandwidth of 20%, and insertion loss of 1.2 dB. It is demonstrated that the filter's performance remains almost constant under different bending, folding, and rolling conditions. The results show that the proposed bio‐sourced polymer is a good candidate for flexible green electronics and wearable applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Molecular analysis of starch structure can be used to explain and predict changes in physical properties, such as water vapor and oxygen barrier properties in packaging materials. Solution casting is a widely used technique to create films from starch formulations. This study compared the molecular properties of these standard films with those of experimental coatings applied to paper in laboratory-scale and pilot-scale trials, with all three techniques using the same starch formulation. The results revealed large differences in molecular structure, i.e., cross-linking and hydrolysis, between films and coatings. The main differences were due to the shorter drying time allowed to laboratory-scale coatings and the accelerated drying process in pilot trials owing to the high energy output of infrared dryers. Furthermore, surface morphology was highly affected by the coating technique used, with a rougher surface and many pinholes occurring in pilot-scale coatings, giving lower water vapor permeability than laboratory-scale coatings. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41190. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides are a class of natural biopolymers that have attracted significant attention due to their unique properties, which make them attractive for use in a wide range of applications. These biopolymers have an important role in our daily life, and designing biomaterials for biomedical applications requires careful consideration of factors such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewability, affordability, and availability, all of which can be achieved with polysaccharides. This review paper focuses on the use of polysaccharides in biomedical applications and provides an in‐depth analysis of the potential applications of arabinoxylan, a type of hemicellulose, in various fields, including drug delivery, infection control, tissue engineering, wound healing, and others. Arabinoxylan, which is derived from plants, is the most abundant and important class of hemicellulose and has a diverse role as a catalyst due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and renewable nature. Polysaccharide‐based biopolymers have applications in tissue engineering, wound covers, drug delivery systems, food preservation, and biocomposite films, making them an emerging excipient in pharmaceutical research. This review paper highlights the potential of polysaccharide‐based biopolymers in biomedical science and suggests that continued research and development will lead to broader and more innovative applications in the field. The use of polysaccharide‐based biopolymers has the potential to significantly advance healthcare and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT For the past decade, the interest in controlled grafting of cellulose has increased immensely. Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (SI-ATRP) has attracted the most interest; however, the sensitivity of this system has so far hindered its utilization in industry. In this study, filter paper, dissolving pulp, bleached and unbleached Kraft-pulp, and chemi-thermomechanical pulp papers were grafted with methyl methacrylate, employing activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) ATRP. The reactions were performed in bulk or with small amounts of aqueous solutions, with no deoxygenation performed. To further demonstrate the robustness of this method towards simpler and more industry-friendly processes, the polymerizations were conducted in glass jars with screw lids. The possibility of recycling the reaction solution was also explored. We believe his thorough study to be an important step towards industrializing the 'grafting-from' concept, and the results herein can most likely be extended to other surfaces and monomers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41434. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) based water‐soluble packaging with intentional disposal into wastewater provides great convenience for both households and industry. In this paper, we demonstrate with CO2 evolution testing that only insignificant fractions (~2%) of PVOH biodegrade in wastewater within 33 days. To avoid unintentional environmental build‐up and the accompanying consequences to marine life, alternative materials with a suitable balance of performance and biodegradability are needed. Until now, the barrier properties of biodegradable biopolymers could not compete with state‐of‐the‐art water‐soluble packaging materials like PVOH films. In this paper, we report on waterborne, sandwich‐structured films using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or alginate produced with an industrially scalable slot‐die coater system. The inner layer of the film consists of a collapsed nematic suspension of high aspect ratio synthetic clay nanosheets that act as an impermeable wall. Such a film structure not only allows for barrier filler loadings capable of sufficiently reducing oxygen and water vapor permeability of alginate to 0.063 cm3 mm m−2 day−1 bar−1 and 53.8 g mm m−2 day−1 bar−1, respectively, but also provides mechanical reinforcement to the biopolymer films facilitating scalable processing. Moreover, the films disintegrated in water in less than 6 min while rapid biodegradation of the dissolved polymer was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing nanogenerators (NGs) is achieved by exploiting the piezoelectric, triboelectric, and pyroelectric effects of both organic and inorganic materials. Many exhibit beneficial electrical properties (dielectric, conductive, or insulating) or have surfaces that are polarizable upon friction or physical contact. Recently, biomass‐derived materials and recycled materials, whose electrical activity can be induced, are explored for application in the design of more sustainable, cost‐effective, biodegradable, disposable NGs, and have demonstrated a wide range of output (microenergy) power densities. Among them, cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer, is found to offer excellent opportunities for designing and manufacturing NGs with multifunctional capacities. Cellulose can be derived into varied forms with multifunctionalities and physical morphologies. This account provides an overview of how cellulose is utilized in creating NGs based on piezoelectric, triboelectric, and pyroelectric effects. Because the mechanical properties of cellulose are tunable, current research trends on NGs originate with the triboelectric effect. The discussion here focuses on design, fabrication methods, achievable electrical power output, and combinations with other materials and devices. Challenges in efficient fabrication and consistent power densities, and opportunities for integrating different technologies and developing more sustainable (in terms of economic, environmental, and ecological) nature–human–machine interfacial devices are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emergent direct‐write approach, aerosol‐jet printing (AJP), is gaining attention for the deployment of rapid and affordable microadditively manufactured energy‐efficient sensors and printed electronics. AJP enables a broad range of ink viscosities (0.001–1 Pa s) for printing diverse materials ranging from ceramics and metals to polymers and biological matter. Reproducible, high‐spatial‐resolution features (≈10 µm), and wide standoff distances (1–11 mm) between the nozzle and the substrate facilitate conformal printing of complex geometrical designs on nonplanar—e.g., stepped or curved—surfaces. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of state‐of‐the‐art AJP‐based sensors (e.g., strain and temperature gauges, biosensors, photosensors, humidity and surface acoustic wave sensors, dielectric elastomer actuators, and motion, smoke, and hazardous gas detectors) and to discuss prospective applications. The drive toward cost‐effective devices that are smaller, lighter, and better‐performing remains a frontier challenge in the field of printed electronics. Consequently, as AJP becomes increasingly utilized in the high‐volume manufacturing of miniaturized active and passive sensors, it opens a pathway for facile large‐scale fabrication of devices for a wide range of consumer and industrial applications, including transportation, agriculture, infrastructure, aerospace, national defense, and healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a guar gum‐based hydraulic fracturing fluid suitable for low permeability oil and gas reservoirs was prepared using alkylamine guar gum (J580) as a thickening agent. The viscosification mechanism and comprehensive properties were analyzed to provide theoretical support for improving the fracturing fluid utilization rate and oil and gas field development in Changqing Oilfield. In this experiment, the properties and microstructure of thickener J580 were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The rheometer, dynamic filtration device, and acid erosion fracture conductive ability device were used to study the temperature and shear resistance performance, viscoelastic properties, dynamic filtration performance, and fracture conductive ability damage of the system. the gel breaking performance, formation water compatibility, and anti‐swelling performance of the system were measured according to the standard. The results show that J580 is an amine modified product of guar gum, and its viscosity increasing mechanism is similar to that of guar gum. The breaking time of the system is 375 s, the residue content is 413 mg/L, and the surface tension is 26.49 mN/m. At 90°C, the viscosity of the solution can be maintained at 180 mPa · s, loss modulus G" dominates, the anti‐swelling rate is 82.5%, the damage rate of the conductive ability is 22.40%, and the dynamic filtration coefficient is 1.3 × 10−5 m/s1/2. The fracturing fluid system has good dynamic filtration performance, conductive ability, temperature and shear resistance, good structural strength, can easily break glue and return, and less residue content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase change materials (PCMs) have drawn considerable attention in recent years due to their capability of storing and releasing thermal energy during phase transformation. However, traditional PCMs face challenges like limited thermal conductivity, leakage while phase transformation from solid to liquid, thermal degradation, and durability. Researchers have concentrated on creating shape‐stabilized PCMs (SSPCMs) employing polymers as the supporting matrix to overcome these difficulties and incorporating highly thermally conductive additives to improve thermal conductivity. Compared to conventional PCMs, polymer‐based SSPCMs are often more flexible, lightweight, and durable and may be easily customized according to specific applications. Various factors like PCM loading, thermal cyclability, cost‐effectiveness and environmental concerns must be considered while constructing polymer‐based SSPCMs. This review paper comprehensively explored various polymers, including polyurethane, polyacrylates, polyolefin, and so on, as promising supporting materials for SSPCMs due to their relatively high mechanical strength, compatibility with PCM, excellent thermal stability, and chemical resistance. Natural polymers like chitosan, cellulose, and starch are also considered for eco‐friendly solutions. We have also discussed about specific properties of each polymer, their cost‐effectiveness, and the environmental impact while developing such SSPCMs to guide researchers in material selection. Applications of polymer‐based SSPCMs in solar energy storage, medical devices, building materials, electronics, transportation industry, and waste heat recovery are briefly discussed. Finally, some future development areas have been discussed to attract the attention of new researchers in this field. The information provided in this review will assist readers in understanding polymer‐based SSPCM and selecting their desired polymer for support material with diverse application methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food industry is adapting to evolving consumer demands for "healthy" and premium quality food by reducing the adverse effects of food packaging through innovative advancements in active and intelligent packaging technologies. These smart innovations offer diverse and creative ways to enhance food product quality and safety while extending shelf life. Emerging techniques are also improving the passive aspects of food packaging systems, such as thermal stability, barrier effectiveness, and mechanical strength. Notably, the use of plants, biodegradable materials, and nanomaterials in sustainable food packaging helps mitigate its negative environmental impact. By integrating intelligent, environmentally friendly, and active packaging technologies, a multipurpose food packaging system can be developed that maintains the integrity of all its components, representing the pinnacle of technological advancement in food packaging. This article reviews the fundamentals of food packaging systems, recent advancements in various packaging techniques, commercialized patents, future research trends, and the challenges that need to be addressed in food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrinking resources of fossil oil prompt search for other biosphere‐present substrates to obtain polyols, which in turn are basic components to synthesize polyurethane foams (PUF). Widely available examples are biopolymers like starch, cellulose, and chitosan. It has been shown that oligomeric chitosan as well as water soluble chitosan can be applied to obtain polyols and rigid PUF of good performance properties. In this paper, the higher molecular mass chitosans, insoluble in organic solvents and water, were converted to polyols and ultimately into foamed polyurethane plastics. The polyols were characterized by the infrared spectra (IR), 1H‐NMR, and MALDI‐ToF methods. Their properties, such as density, viscosity, surface tension and hydroxyl numbers, were determined. The PUF were obtained from these polyols of various molecular mass. The biodegradable, rigid PUF of enhanced thermal resistance were obtained. Their physical parameters like apparent density, water volume absorption, dimension stability, heat conductance, compressive strength, and heat resistance at 150 and 175°C were studied and compared with those synthesized previously from oligomeric chitosan and water soluble chitosan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning is an economical, efficient, and versatile process for the preparation of continuous nanofibers with desired patterns, tailored fiber diameters, and orientations. Since its invention, electrospinning has been utilized to prepare nanofibers from several natural polymers and synthetic polymers for use as scaffolds in tissue engineering, regeneration, and biomedical applications. Furthermore, complex scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning complex polymer solutions formulated by blending natural and synthetic organic polymers with bioceramics and other inorganic molecules. Lately, coaxial electrospinning has emerged as a promising technology in the preparation of drug‐loaded biodegradable core‐shell structured micro/nanofibers for sustained drug delivery applications. This paper will discuss the basic mechanism of electrospinning, parameters governing the electrospinning process, various materials investigated for use in the electrospinning process, and its recent advances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global threat from emerging contaminants to human health has pushed researchers to develop pollutant removal technologies including those based on biocatalytic degradation. Laccase, a multicopper enzyme, is reported for its applicability in treating wastewater and industrial effluent by catalyzing reduction of O2 to H2O in the presence of substrates (phenolic or non‐phenolic compounds). Scientific papers have discussed the ability of this enzyme to breakdown hazardous contaminants ranging from azo dyes, antibiotics, and up to hormones. Nonetheless, the cost production of this enzyme is high, hence the importance of the immobilization into solid supports. Polymers are considered suitable for the immobilization because they are easy for modification and have adjustable characteristics. This review discusses the immobilization of laccase into polymers via various techniques (adsorption, cross‐linking, covalent binding, encapsulation, and entrapment) and its implications on the pollutant removal performance. In addition, bibliometric analysis is performed and summarized the advantages and disadvantages of each immobilization technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric materials have been remarkably associated with our daily life. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic biopolymer systems have gained importance in the last few years, because of the environmental pollution of nonbiodegradable synthetic plastics. Recently, biopolymers with functional groups have been directly used for the fabrication of adsorptive membranes in order to avoid the undesirable morphology change of the membranes during the surface modifications. Compared with other modification technologies or a synthesis of totally new materials, biopolymer blending has several advantages like simplicity, reproducibility, and commercial feasibility. The valuable part of blending of biopolymers can be used for the preparation of new materials with improved physicochemical and mechanical properties. The objective of this work is the development of biomembranes based on a mixture of three biopolymers, that is, alginate (AL), chitosan (CS), and polylactic acid (PLA). Physical characterizations of the elaborated biopolymeric membranes are carried out by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and contact angle measurements. The SEM results show that the synthesized membranes exhibited homogeneous dense microstructures. The second objective of this paper is to evaluate the importance of these biopolymers in removing lead which is considered as toxic metal. In fact, all synthesized membranes are applied to the treatment of wastewater to eliminate heavy metals principally Pb2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an environmentally friendly fabrication process was reported to valorize hemp fibers into biocomposites through a pectin‐based crosslinking reaction. In this water‐based chemical approach, the hemp fibers were crosslinked via a transesterification process between pectin and lignin present in hemp fibers to produce hemp fiber composites in a one‐step process. Our green process was advantageous over conventional processes that rely on the use of petroleum‐based organic solvents and high reaction temperatures because water was used as the reaction solvent with a mild reaction temperature (70°C). Additionally, to further optimize this biocomposite fabrication process, one‐factor analysis of variance study was carried out for investigating the main and interaction effects of the mass ratios of pectin to hemp fiber (1:5, 2:5, 3:5, 4:5, and 5:5) on the compressive strength and bulk density of the hemp fiber composite materials. In addition, the fabrication process was explored at different pH values to probe its versatility. The compressive strength of the as‐synthesized hemp fiber composite materials was observed to be dependent on the pH of the reaction conditions, indirectly confirming the formation of ester bonds between pectin and the lignin of hemp fibers via transesterification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, biodegradable hybrid hydrogels were prepared by using chitosan as a natural polymer and polyurethane containing azomethine as a synthetic polymer for the drug delivery application for 5‐fluorouracil. The fabricated hydrogels were characterized via FT‐IR and SEM analysis. Besides, the thermal, mechanical, and wettability properties, water uptake, biodegradation, protein absorption, drug loading, and release behaviors of the hybrid hydrogels were studied. The obtained results indicated that the fabricated hybrid hydrogels have exhibited good mechanical, hydrophilic, water uptake, and biodegradation behaviors. The hybrid hydrogels also showed 50% drug release amounts and they could be a good candidate for the controlled delivery of 5‐FU due to these properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart windows are gaining attention for their exceptional ability to regulate light and heat dynamics effectively. The main objective of developing dual‐responsive smart window materials lies in enhancing building applications and optimizing energy efficiency. Materials that exhibit dual responsiveness have already been reported in the literature. However, these materials have not garnered substantial research interest primarily due to prevailing economic and technological constraints. This study introduces a new methodology that uses a phase‐changing material as an electrolyte to design and customize smart windows based on individual preferences and requirements. In this paper, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt‐grafted copolymerpoly(2‐(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate)‐(N‐isopropylacrylamide)[CMC‐Na‐pDN] as an electrolyte and 1,1'‐Bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐4'4'‐dipyridinium hexafluorophosphate [HOEV] as a chromophore are synthesized and used to fabricate a gel‐based electro/thermochromic device (ETD). ETD exhibits dual‐chromism characteristics, transitioning from a colorless state to a purplehue at 25°C when 2V is applied. Furthermore, the purple color undergoes a transformation to blue coloration when the temperature exceeds 40°C. These phenomena arise due to the synergistic effect between its electrochromicreaction and thermochromic behavior. The ETD device exhibits a high optical constrast ∼82.5%, with a coloration efficiency (CE) of 333.1 cm2 C−1 and cyclic stability of >2000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new kind of environmental friendly double‐network gel material was prepared. The first network structure was formed by the graft copolymerization of sodium lignosulfonate (LS) and acrylic acid (AA), and the second network structure was formed by the chelation reaction of sodium alginate (SA) and carbide slag clarified solution (Ca2+). Through an orthogonal experiment, the effects of raw material addition on the compressive strength and apparent viscosity of the gel were analyzed. According to the analysis results, the optimal experimental ratio was obtained, i.e., 2 wt% of LS, 0.25 wt% of SA, 15 wt% of AA, 0.1 wt% of MBA and 0.3 wt% of APS. Furthermore, the structure of the gel are characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, XPS, and TG‐DTG, and the results prove that the gel successfully polymerized and a stable three‐dimensional network structure is formed. The results of water absorption experiment disclose that the gel is sensitive to ions and pH, and the water absorption rate reaches 121.25 times. In addition, the results of the air leakage experiment and fire extinguishing experiment show that the gel can effectively cover the surface of crushed coal and densely fill the gaps, demonstrating a good plugging capability and fire extinguishing capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are neutral mimics of natural DNA and RNA biopolymers that have caught the attention of researchers working on the identification of specific sequences of nucleobases in DNA/RNA strands. For this purpose, specific analytical protocols need to be developed to optimize the nucleic acid recognition ability of PNAs, exploiting both the high intrinsic affinity of PNA/DNA(RNA) couples as well as suitable markers, either linked to the PNA backbone or properly interacting with it in the working medium. In this context, the paper reports on phthalimide and 4‐nitrophthalimide as two cheap, metal‐free electroactive markers covalently bound to the pseudo‐peptide backbone of a PNA decamer. After a preliminary characterization of the markers, as such and in PNA conjugates, attention has been moved toward the optimization of the detectability of the labeled PNA decamers in aqueous solutions. Exploiting the potentiometric stripping analysis on hanging mercury drop electrode it has been possible to reach satisfactory detection limits of ca. 10 nM avoiding the use of expensive transition metal complexes as labels and/or of co‐reagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased environmental degradation and solid waste production has resulted in a higher demand for biodegradable materials based on biopolymers. Superabsorbent are three‐dimensional cross linked polymeric material that allow huge amounts of liquid to absorb. Synthetic superabsorbents (SABs) are extensively used as an absorbent of aqueous solutions for various applications, mainly as adult incontinence, feminine hygiene products etc. The major components of synthetic superabsorbents are acrylic/methacrylic acid. According to the report of US Environmental Protection Agency, the acrylamide used in the production of synthetic superabsorbent is extremely carcinogenic when exposed to people. On the other hand, A large number of synthetic Superabsorbent polymers are quite resistant to the environmental degradation process, and thus responsible for the accumulation of solid waste material. However, the presence of hazardous and undegraded content in the synthetic superabsorbents leads the designing of biopolymer based superabsorbents. These developed hybrid materials of superabsorbents are a combination of renewable raw materials and synthetic polymers. Biopolymer‐based superabsorbent has a lot of potential due to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non‐lethal qualities. This review paper discusses the general perspective, characterization, and synthesis strategies for the production of hybrid superabsorbents. In addition, the methodologies for illustrating these superabsorbent hydrogels, as well as their prospective uses, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of biopolymer for packaging applications is still a burgeoning demand with the rising environmental concern about pollution due to non‐degradable plastic waste materials. This paper introduces a novel approach, yet a continuous production method, to produce PLA multilayer film/foams structures having 16, 32, and 64 alternating layers which were developed by multilayer coextrusion technique, and the morphology, density, mechanical properties and oxygen transmission of the as‐extruded film/foams were characterized. The lightweight multilayered PLA film/foam has a unique solid/porous alternating horizontal architecture, in which the film layers can effectively control the growth of the cells and suppress the premature rupture of cells during coextrusion process. Tensile properties at elevated temperatures of the PLA film/foam were used to optimize thermoforming conditions. The effects of annealing temperature and time on the crystallinity and oxygen permeability of PLA multilayer film/foams were investigated. Oxygen transmission showed a strong correlation with the crystallinity of PLA multilayer film/foam. The material with 32 layers 50/50 film/foam achieved extremely high barrier after 30 min annealing, which is 35 times better than the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raw lacquer is a kind of natural polymer coating with excellent performance. The lacquer film formed after drying of pure natural raw lacquer has the advantages of hard quality, heat resistance and corrosion resistance. However, natural raw lacquer also has some disadvantages. For example, it must be dried at a specific temperature and humidity to form a film, difficult to spray, dark color, poor alkali resistance, easy to cause human skin allergy and so on. Due to urushiol is the main film‐forming material in raw lacquer, its performance and drying film‐forming process will directly affect the properties of the lacquer film. Taking advantage of the particularity of its structure, urushiol can be modified in its drying film‐forming process, so as to speed up its drying film‐forming process or obtain a modified lacquer film with excellent performance. Thus, the research on raw lacquer and its modification mainly focuses on the modification of urushiol, the main film‐forming substance of the raw lacquer. This paper reviews the modification and combined methods of the natural urushiol by researchers in recent years, mainly including urushiol polymerization catalyzed by proton acid, urushiol polymerization initiated by UV irradiation, copolymerized with other polymer materials, reacted with metal compounds to form urushiol metal polymers, and formed composite coatings with multi‐wall carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, nano‐TiO2 and so on. The modified lacquer has shown excellent performance in some aspects, such as the gloss and hardness of the lacquer film have been significantly improved, the heat resistance, acid and alkali resistance have been enhanced, the ageing resistance and solvent resistance have been improved, the impact strength and toughness have been enhanced, the curing time of the lacquer film has been greatly shortened and so on. Then the application fields and development trends of the modified raw lacquer are discussed, hoping to provide a theoretical basis for the further development and utilization of raw lacquer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a natural polymer, zein, is converted into a disposable and environmentally friendly surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) biosensor platform to detect toxins. First, protein nanofiber mats were fabricated using electrospinning. Next, the surface of the fibers was decorated with metallic nanoparticles to create hotspots for the detection of the target molecule. Four types of metallic nanoparticles were tested for sensitivity optimization: gold, silver, silver‐shelled‐gold, and a mixture of gold and silver nanoparticles. Silver‐shelled‐gold nanoparticles gave the highest SERS intensity, and at the concentration of 1012 particles/ml, the highest enhancement factor (EF) of 2.49 × 106 was reached, which is the highest EF ever reported for a zein‐based biodegradable platform. Acrylamide was used as the model food carcinogenic toxin and its detection with this nanofiber‐based platform gave a limit of detection of 2.06 ng/ml. This LOD is 104 times lower than the limit of detection that was achieved previously with a zein‐based SERS platform. Other sensitive analytical methods (GC–MS and LC–MS/MS) gave LODs of 5–10 and 20–50 ng/ml for acrylamide, much higher than the method used in this study. This sensitivity is much lower than any other previous attempts to detect acrylamide with biodegradable sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theoretical prediction of the mechanical behavior of fibrous materials for medicine in different environments is of great scientific interest. The deformation mechanisms under loading of biopolymer electrospun fibrous materials differ significantly in dependence on the phase state of the medium, namely, liquid state, gaseous state, or at their interface. In this paper, the influence of various mediums on the mechanical behavior of fibrous materials based on poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate under tension is examined. The oxidative stress (ozone treatment) and the incorporation of low concentrations of modifying additives (complexes of tetraphenyl‐porphyrin with Zn) are proposed as the most effective methods of directed control of stress‐related characteristics without a negative effect on the functional properties of medical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is a natural polymer produced in huge amounts by the paper industry. Innovative applications of lignin, especially in agriculture, represent a valuable way to develop a more sustainable economy. Its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, combined with its biodegradability, make it particularly attractive for the development of plant protection products. Copper is an element that has long been used as a pesticide in agriculture. Despite its recognized antimicrobial activity, the concerns derived from its negative environmental impact is forcing research to move toward the development of more effective and sustainable copper‐based pesticides. Here a simple and sustainable way of synthesizing a new hybrid material composed of Cu2O nanocrystals embedded into lignin, named Lignin@Cu2O is presented. The formation of cuprite nanocrystals leaves the biopolymer intact, as evidenced by infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and Pyrolysis‐GC analysis. The combined activity of lignin and cuprite make Lignin@Cu2O effective against Listeria monocytogenes and Rhizoctonia solani at low copper dosage, as evidenced by in vitro and in vivo tests conducted on tomato plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, as the second most abundant natural polymer, has not been fully utilized in the industrial field due to the complex structure and functional groups. In this paper, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coated lignin‐silica composites (PLS) with excellent cycling performance are prepared from rice husk and PVC through the method of alkali extraction and acid precipitation and mechanical mixing process. Due to the existence of functional groups on the surface of lignin, it can be closely combined with PVC to form a stable structure. The first discharge specific capacity and Coulombic efficiency of PLS is 1436 mA h g−1 and 56 %, respectively, and the reversible capacity is 720 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.1 A g−1, showing a stable cycling performance. This work promotes the application of lignin in the SiO2/C anode material of lithium ion battery, and confirms the stable combination between PVC and organic carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of collagen‐based hydrogel is severely restricted due to its poor mechanical strength and functional singleness. In this paper, two‐dimensional MXene nanosheets were introduced into collagen/acrylic acid (AA) system, which was polymerized in situ to produce versatile hydrogel (GCol‐MX‐PAA). The tensile stress and compressive stress values of the resultant hydrogel at the MXene concentration of 5 mg/mL reached 211.5 kPa and 7.8 MPa, respectively, which were approximately 4.0 and 1.4 times higher than those of GCol‐PAA. The bonding strength of the hydrogel reached 30.7 kPa in the porcine skin‐adhesive model owing to the large number of free phenolic hydroxyl groups on GCol. Furthermore, GCol‐MX‐PAA could be applied to monitor large and subtle activities of human body due to the excellent electrical conductivity of MXene. Thanks to the outstanding photothermal conversion performance of MXene, the hydrogel could kill E. coli and S. aureus effectively under NIR irradiation. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity test performed on L929 fibroblasts demonstrated the desirable biocompatibility of GCol‐MX‐PAA. The design strategy in this work gives guidance for the development of multifunctional collagen‐based hydrogel in a wide range of applications. Highlights: Versatile hydrogel constructed from GA‐modified collagen, PAA, and MXene.The composite hydrogel displays improved mechanical properties.This hydrogel possesses superior tissue adhesion and strain sensitivity.This hydrogel shows desired photothermal antibacterial property and biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self‐curable epoxidized polymeric fraction of the natural gum "Chios mastic" (Pistacia lentiscus L.) gum is used as a matrix to produce sustainable particulate composite adhesives and further to manufacture lap joints. Olive pit powder and cotton flocks are used as reinforcements, each for a range of contents. Mixed‐modulus‐joint and Nanotube‐coated‐adherend special manufacturing techniques are also applied to further improve shear properties, reduce shear stress concentrations, or increase the adhesive and the adherend cohesion. 2% (w/w) Aluminum and 2% (w/w) olive pit reinforcements achieve an increase in shear strength of 14.19% and 12.26%, respectively, while cotton flocks‐ initially of lower performance as well as pieces of cotton fabric, are used to make joints according to the Nanotube‐coated‐adherend technique achieving an increase in shear strength of 102.1% and 84.91%, respectively. The obtained experimental results demonstrate the potential of the epoxidized polymer fraction of Chios natural mastic to produce useful sustainable particulate epoxy composite adhesives and double‐sided adhesive tapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A surgical procedure for the repair of damaged periodontal tissue is Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR), which involves the use of a barrier membrane to prevent soft tissue ingrowth and create a space for slow regeneration of periodontium and bone. GTR membrane should have pores able to facilitate the diffusion of fluids, oxygen, nutrients, and bioactive substances for cell growth, but also be impermeable to epithelial cells or gingival fibroblasts, which could overpopulate the defect space and inhibit infiltration and activity of bone‐forming cells. In this paper, a bilayer PLGA membrane was realized by coupling the dip coating and electrospinning techniques. The rough layer of the double‐sided structure was electrospun on the previously prepared smooth dip‐coated membrane. A rotating drum collector at two rotating speeds was used to generate different fibers orientation. The bilayer membrane with different superimposed surfaces was successfully fabricated and characterized from a morphological, physicochemical, and the mechanical point of view. Performed analyses revealed that the membrane possesses suitable properties, especially from mechanical point of view, for its possible use as a scaffold for the GTR of periodontum. A high fiber alignment and improved mechanical properties with respect to available GTR membranes characterized the product resulting from this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverse vulcanization of cheap elemental sulfur (S) to prepare polymers that simultaneously possess high sulfur content and good solubility is still in its infancy. In this paper, the authors report the synthesis of a novel S‐rosin (Ro) copolymer (Sx‐Ro) based on the inverse vulcanization of S with natural Ro. The sulfur content of Sx‐Ro can be regulated in a wide range, while Sx‐Ro still presents excellent solubility in low boiling point solvents at high sulfur content. Even if the sulfur content in Sx‐Ro is as high as 50%, its solubility in tetrahydrofuran (THF) can still reach 26 mg mL−1. Moreover, the Sx‐Ro exhibits excellent ultraviolet (UV) absorption capability in the entire UV region (200–400 nm) and can be utilized as an effective anti‐UV agent to enhance the UV‐blocking performance of other polymers (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate [PMMA] and polystyrene [PS]) without compromise of transparency and thermal stability. Considering the fine solubility and superior UV‐blocking properties of Sx‐Ro, this work not only provides a versatile and effective anti‐UV material but also opens new opportunities for value‐added utilization of abundant S and Ro resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐healing polymer materials have been developed rapidly over the past 20 years, which can replace thermosetting materials to a certain extent, repair damage without manual intervention, prolong service life, and compress usage cost. The self‐healing polymer materials derived from biomass resources can reduce the dependence on traditional non‐renewable resources such as petroleum. The structures and properties of biomass based self‐healing polymer materials are of great significance for their processing, recycling and self‐healing. In this paper, the research progress of bio‐based self‐healing polymer materials based on dynamic non‐covalent bonds and dynamic covalent bonds including hydroxyl ester, Schiff base, disulfide bond, and hydroxyl urethane derived from vegetable oil, lignin, cellulose, vanillin and natural rubber were reviewed, and the dynamic non‐covalent bonds and dynamic covalent bonds were also introduced. The applications of various dynamic covalent bonds and dynamic non‐covalent bonds in the design and construction of polymer materials were reviewed, and the future development of dynamic covalent polymer materials was prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scientific paper emphasizes the synthesis of a bio‐based tannic acid epoxy (TAE100) with high bio‐content obtained by simple surface modification of tannic acid (TA). The resin was further cured with a biobased hardener poly(amido amine). Three contrast epoxy resins were also prepared with 50%, 75%, and 90% TA along with the rest amount of bisphenol A (BPA). Upon investigating mechanical properties, TAE100 exhibited a maximum tensile strength of 18.4 MPa (against 3.1–15.3 MPa for partially bio‐based ones) with 16% of elongation at break (against 39.1%–63.5% for partially bio‐based ones). The high adhesive strength (4545 MPa) obtained for TAE100 (compared to 881–2715 MPa for partially biobased ones) on wood‐wood surfaces reflecting good adhesive character of the bio‐based epoxy and offered potential applicability in the field of eco‐coatings and adhesives. Two‐stage thermal degradation behavior with initial decomposition temperature of 232°C revealed its good thermostability. Most importantly, the thermosets were biodegradable, as indicated by the microbial test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for energy‐efficient water treatment as well as the limitation in adsorption of existing membranes has motivated the pursuit of membranes that can break the selectivity‐permeability trade‐off and provide high selective adsorption for chemicals of interest. The membrane adsorbers have received a lot of attention for removing contaminants from aqueous solution due to combine both advantages of adsorption and membrane separation. Membrane adsorbers constructed by biopolymer with many functional groups are widely used in water purification, because the biopolymers are easily available from biomass materials in nature, degradable, and low‐cost. This paper summarizes the characteristics and important development direction of these types of biomass‐based membrane adsorption materials to adsorb organic/inorganic contaminants of water and analyzes the preparation methods of natural biomacromolecule cellulose, chitosan, sodium alginate, and protein to construct the membrane adsorption materials, as well as the application of pollutant removal from aqueous solutions. According to the current problems and shortcomings in the research of biopolymer‐based membrane adsorbers, it is proposed to improve the understanding of the adsorption mechanism of biopolymer‐based membrane adsorbers and accelerate the development of practical applications as the focus of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic films used to make market bags are based on polymers such as polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene. These materials require a long time to degrade in the environment. Alternative technologies have been developed to reduce the degradation time and the impact on the environment caused by the conventional polymer materials, using pro-degrading additives or by the development of biodegradable polymers. In Brazil, some city's laws require the use of biodegradable material in the production of market bags, but the absence of specific surveillance policies makes their chemical composition unknown. The plastic bags didn't show the expected environmental behavior by the manufactures, so it is important to understand the reasons why they are not biodegradable in Brazilian landfills. In this paper, 7 samples that were obtained from a trading company and commercial market of Belo Horizonte were analyzed. The samples were characterized by biodegradable analysis, XRF, FTIR, SEM and TGA/DTA, which allowed the identification and evaluation of the thermal behavior of the material in an inert and oxidizing atmosphere. The results showed that plastic bags were composed by a mixture of PLA and PBAT, with possible presence of TPS and titanium and calcium fillers. All samples presented low biodegradability in compostable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of lipids is presently in the spotlight of food industry as they are one of novel renewable and sustainable raw materials. Lipids derived materials are considered as a promising alternate to petro‐based polymers as they are sustainable, biorenewable, biodegradable, and environmentally benign. These unique attributes draw the attention of scientific community for the use of lipids in food packaging applications with a potential to compete with fossil fuel derived polymers. This paper reviews recent advances in the use of lipids and their effect on the barrier, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and mechanical properties of films, coating and nanocomposites for food packaging applications. Modification of lipids and its chemical interactions with other biopolymers during processing for the synthesis of different materials are also discussed. Global patents and research trend in use of lipids for the preparation of biocomposites are also described. The role of lipids in the circular economy is highlighted and life cycle assessment of lipids derived products is outlined with examples. The review is concluded with synoptic view of existing and forthcoming potential use of lipids in various food packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]