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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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Biopolymer films particularly starch films are promising alternatives to non‐biodegradable petroleum‐based materials because they are cheap, available in abundance, and biodegradable. Nonetheless, the weak mechanical and barrier properties of the films restrict their usage. Other additives such as essential oils (EOs) incorporate into the films may enhance the restricted properties and add functionality to films. However, knowledge of the effects of EOs addition in starch films across food packaging applications is not fully elucidated. This paper provides an overview of the various types of EOs used in the production of starch films produced via the solvent casting method, the effects of EOs on the properties of starch films, and the application of the films for food packaging, particularly for fruits and meats. The films bring a high potential to extend the shelf life of food due to the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the EOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution shares experience of teaching an interdisciplinary university course in crystal growth with examples ranging from geology to biology. This is an attempt to combine teaching the basics of the classical and non‐classical theories of crystallization with impressive examples of crystals growing around us and in the human body, as well as demonstration of the common phenomena in the growth of minerals in nature, crystalline materials in industry and the laboratory, and biomimetic and stimulus‐responsive crystals. Lectures are supported by laboratory exercises. Students can also perform an individual research project and present an oral contribution at a mini‐conference. Examples of the topics considered in the course are given, and an extensive list of references to papers and web resources is provided, which may be useful to those who want to implement anything from the authors' experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical response of printed dog‐bone specimens of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) in linear and nonlinear regimes is investigated. Fused filament fabrication (FFF), also regarded as fused deposition modeling (FDM), is adopted to manufacture the PHBH elements. A compressible Mooney–Rivlin constitutive law is back fitted onto digital image correlation (DIC) data, as well as uni‐axial tensile test data. Effective mechanical properties are given, which may be used to design and optimize the response of printed structures. Strain values at the verge of failure in tension are also experimentally obtained. Results are especially useful for modeling mechanical response of PHBH, which is an emerging biopolymer with promising application fields in biomedical engineering, through additive manufacturing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The separator is an essential component of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) to determine their electrochemical performances. However, the separator with high mechanical strength, good electrolyte wettability and excellent electrochemical performance remains an open challenge. Herein, a new separator consisting of amphoteric nanofibers with abundant functional groups was fabricated through supramolecular assembly of natural polymers for SIB. The uniform nanoporous structure, remarkable mechanical properties and abundant functional groups (e.g. −COOH, −NH2 and −OH) endow the separator with lower dissolution activation energy and higher ion migration numbers. These metrics enable the separator to lower the barrier for desolvation of Na+, accelerate the migration of Na+, and generate more stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI). The battery assembled with the amphoteric nanofiber separator shows higher specific capacity and better stability than that assembled with glass fiber (GF) separator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the ability of oils to penetrate into the structure of polymers, it is possible to create slippery surfaces with low water droplet sliding angles based on polymer coatings. Polylactic acid, polybutylene succinate and low‐density polyethylene extrusion coatings were used as such surfaces in this study. The process of penetration of vegetable oils into the polymers was studied with the subsequent investigation of slippery behaviour of such system. Cottonseed oil and castor oil showed promising properties as lubricants. For oil infused polymer surfaces the water droplet sliding angles were significantly lower than for the untreated extrusion coating. The penetration of the permeant into the upper layers of the coating was confirmed by alteration of the static water contact angle, sliding angle and also by the cross section images. LDPE extrusion coating infused with castor oil showed the lowest water sliding angle − 8°. Biopolymers, being a main focus in this study, exhibited also promising results, PLA reached sliding angle of 14° with both olive and castor oil. Dependence of polymer permeability on various factors is rather complex and the wide range of oils used in this work helps to interpret the barrier performance of the studied materials. Degree of bond saturation, viscosity and polarity were found to influence mostly on the oil permeation through the studied polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of ongoing efforts to discover novel polyhydroxyalkanoate‐producing bacterial species, we embarked on characterizing the thermotolerant species, Paracoccus kondratievae, for biopolymer synthesis. Using traditional chemical and thermal characterization techniques, we found that P. kondratievae accumulates poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), reaching up to 46.8% of the cell's dry weight after a 24‐h incubation at 42°C. Although P. kondratievae is phylogenetically related to the prototypical polyhydroxyalkanoate producer, Paracoccus denitrificans, we observed significant differences in the PHB production dynamics between these two Paracoccus species. Notably, P. kondratievae can grow and produce PHB at elevated temperatures ranging from 42 to 47°C. Furthermore, P. kondratievae reaches its peak PHB content during the early stationary growth phase, specifically after 24 h of growth in a flask culture. This is then followed by a decline in the later stages of the stationary growth phase. The depolymerization observed in this growth phase is facilitated by the abundant presence of the PhaZ depolymerase enzyme associated with PHB granules. We observed the highest PHB levels when the cells were cultivated in a medium with glycerol as the sole carbon source and a carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio of 10. Finally, we found that PHB production is induced as an osmotic stress response, similar to other polyhydroxyalkanoate‐producing species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nafion has been dominating the proton exchange membrane (PEM) market because of its adequacy for the proton exchange operation. However, because of its high cost, low performance at low relative humidity, and finally environmental unfriendliness, researchers have been developing and working on Nafion alternatives. In this review, we assess how biopolymers present an opportunity as an eco‐friendly material able to replace the conventional Nafion membrane in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Chitosan and cellulose were the most studied in literature owing to their abundance in nature, low cost, and high affinity for water, which are sought‐after properties for PEM. In addition to that, their ease of modification through their hydroxyl or amine groups represents an opportunity to further enhance their characteristics and thus meet the criteria of diverse applications. The use of biopolymers as an adequate PEM is facing many challenges. Having a practical proton conductivity and securing the physicochemical stability of the biopolymers in fuel cell operating conditions are two of the most important challenges to overcome. Promising strategies to simultaneously address these challenges such as crosslinking, making interpenetrated networks, and making blends and composites are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expanding use of electrical power generated from wind turbines and solar photovoltaic plants is enabled by the decreasing cost of electrical energy from sun and wind. With the advent of electrical energy from the intermittent solar and wind energy resources comes the requirement that electricity must be stored for use over time. The huge demand for materials for such storage systems will require a considerable energy input in extraction, processing and materials formulation, and new and sustainable electrochemical systems need to be developed. Storing electrical energy in bio based batteries is one of the options for handling the rapid expansion of renewable and variable electrical energy generated in wind turbines and in solar photovoltaic systems, from small to large. With projected needs for storage at 300 GWh for the coming decade, there are many niches for new technologies and possibilities. A supply line of materials for energy storage materials could be ultimately based on photosynthesis, in the form of materials derived from plants. Redox activity is possible in lignin, humic acid, and polyphenolic macromolecules, sometimes by electrochemical activation of redox groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing an advanced heterogeneous catalyst is essential for realizing high‐performance ammonia borane (AB) hydrolysis, which is a safe and efficient way to generate hydrogen. In this work, a series of ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized on chitosan (CS) natural polymers are synthesized via an adsorption‐in situ reduction method. Various analytical techniques, including XRD, XPS, FT‐IR, SEM and TEM, are adopted to explore the structure‐catalytic performance relationships of the obtained catalysts for hydrolysis of AB. Benefitting from the possible interaction between Ru NPs and the amino and hydroxyl groups in CS, the as‐prepared catalysts exhibit excellent catalytic behavior for hydrogen generation from AB hydrolysis. Catalyzed by the optimal Ru/CS, the turnover frequency reaches up to 331.8 min−1 in NaOH solution at 303 K, and the corresponding apparent activation energy is 41.3 kJ mol−1, which are superior to many results previously reported. This work demonstrates that the obtained Ru/CS is a promising and efficient catalyst for the hydrolysis of solid hydrogen storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a preface to a special issue of the Macromolecular Symposia journal, which features a selection of papers presented at the 5th International Conference on Soft Materials (ICSM 2022) held in Jaipur, India. The conference covered various topics related to soft materials, including biological soft matter, colloids and interfaces, polymeric materials, and materials for energy applications. The preface expresses gratitude to the organizers, contributors, reviewers, and editorial team for their efforts in making the conference and special issue a success. The document also acknowledges the support of Professor N. P. Padhy and the Soft Materials Research Society Jaipur. [Extracted from the article]

Ionic liquids (ILs) are effective solvents for biomass. Refined cellulose is commonly used; however, recent interest has grown to consider woody and herbaceous biomass and industrial crop residues like fruit peels. Here, the authors report results on the dissolution and shaping of cotton and coffee fruit (cascara) in 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐inium acetate ([DBUH][OAc]). Cascara is a high‐volume, low‐value crop residue that poses an environmental and economic burden in producer countries leading to a high‐value proposition if recoverable. Fruit/ionic liquid solutions (0–15% w/w dissolved at 60 °C) were characterized with respect to biomass concentration and shaped into fibers and films coagulated in DI water and methanol. Rheology was assessed using parallel plate rheometry. Cotton/IL mixtures formed better fibers compared to cascara‐based solutions, which required 2.6× more biomass in solution for viable fiber formation. At 10% loading, fibers could be produced from untreated coffee fruit with diameters ranging from 18–100 microns. Coffee fruit residues and their precipitated films show that both cellulose and lignin dissolve in pure [DBUH][OAc]. Chemical characterization of cascara and cascara films demonstrates the conveyance of high concentrations of lignin and extracts that result in weaker mechanical properties. Further purification of cascara is required for effective use in structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green and scalable materials are essential to fulfill the need of electrification for transitioning into a fossil‐fuels free society, and sustainability is a requirement for all new technologies. Rechargeable batteries are one of the most important elements for electrification, enabling the transition to mobile electronics, electrical vehicles and grid storage. We here report synthesis and characterization of polyelectrolyte complexes of alginate and chitosan, both biopolymers deriving from the sea, for transport of zinc ions in hydrogel electrolytes. We have used vibrational spectroscopy, thermal measurements and microscopy, as well as transport measurements with ohmic or blocking contacts. The transference number for zinc ions is close to 1, the conductivity is ≈10 mS/cm, with stability at Zn interfaces seen through 7000 cycles in symmetric zinc//zinc cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This issue of macromolecular symposia has the selected papers from the 4th International Conference on Soft Materials (ICSM 2020), held between 13-18 December 2020. Guest Editors Dr. Kamlendra Awasthi Soft Materials Lab Department of Physics Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, India Dr. Sujin B Babu Department of Physics IIT Delhi New Delhi, India The inaugural lecture was held by Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST, Govt. of India. [Extracted from the article]

This work reports on a bio‐based polymer blend comprised of polyvinyl alcohol/cashew gum (PVA/CG) embedded with boehmite nanoparticles to tailor the structural, thermal, mechanical properties, and electrical response. The chemical bonding between boehmite and the PVA/CG blend was confirmed by FTIR. The XRD data showed that the nanocomposite films had distinct peaks of boehmite. The SEM images revealed uniformly dispersed morphology at 5 wt% boehmite. The elemental composition of blend nanocomposites was revealed by the EDX analysis. The thermal stability of the blend increases with increasing boehmite, whereas the glass transition temperature decreases. The highest AC conductivity was achieved for PVA/CG/7 wt% boehmite, which was 4.6 times greater than the pure blend. The frequency and temperature‐dependent dielectric constant, modulus and impedance of all films were examined in conjunction with different nanoparticle loadings. Tensile strength and hardness have improved with the addition of boehmite into the PVA/CG blend whereas the elongation at break slightly decreases. The PVA/CG blend had a tensile strength of 31.17 MPa, which increased to 44.66 MPa when 7 wt% boehmite was added. Therefore, eco‐friendly PVA/CG/boehmite films with good thermal stability, mechanical strength, dielectric constant, and conductivity could be a practical green substitute for flexible electronic, charge storage, and electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major component of lignocellulosic biomass, lignin has lots of fascinating properties, such as regeneration, biocompatibility, antioxidant, hydrophilicity, unique aromatic structure, and various functional groups, which make them become interesting natural polymer raw material, and attracted more and more attention. In particular, the rich functional groups of lignin can be easily functionalized through various synthesis methods, which can endow lignin‐based polymers with new structure and function. These functional lignin‐based polymers are widely used in environmental remediation, smart hydrogel materials, catalysis, biomedical, etc. However, its various sources and types, the complex structure, relatively weak chemical reactivity, the unstable processing property, and few high value‐added products limited their practical applications. With the development of lignin varieties, modified reagent, synthesis methods, and polymerization process, many works had been published for the synthesis and application of lignin‐based polymers. In this review, the lignin isolation, modification strategies, polymerization method and process, and the promising applications were summarized and analyzed in recent years. Specially, the recent advances in the preparation of high excellent adsorbents from deconstructed lignin products are highlighted from the synthesis methods and adsorption mechanism perspective. Finally, we discussed these challenges in the green and controllable synthesis of lignin‐based polymers, and prospected their functional applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]