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Development and molecular engineering of new highly-efficient energetic biocidal materials is a significant challenge and of a great importance. Until now this type of materials included mostly halogen-rich nano-thermites and iodine-rich organic materials. So far, no energetic coordination polymers were reported as precursors for combustion-generated biocidal agents. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the synthesis of uniquely-structured three-dimensional energetic coordination polymer ( ECP3 ) containing Zn metal centers and iodine- and nitrogen-rich bridging ligand ( 2 ). Upon its combustion, ECP3 is capable of generating gaseous reactive iodine species and elemental iodine-coated ZnO particles. ECP3 presents a novel approach for the design of efficient biocidal agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subcritical water hydrolysis and carbonization of the biomass are an emerging green technology for seaweed biomass processing. In this work, a novel approach for co-generation of two energy streams from seaweed biomass (fermentable sugars and solid hydrochar) with subcritical water from a green macroalgae Ulva sp. was developed. It was found that for the released of glucose, xylose, rhamnose, fructose, and galactose, the process temperature is the most significant parameter, followed by salinity, solid load, and treatment time. For the formation of fermentation inhibitor 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), temperature also was the most important parameter, followed by residence time, salinity, and solid load. The optimum parameters for maximal release of total sugars under minimum formation of 5-HMF were 170 °C (800 kPa abs.), 5% solid loading, 40 min residence time, and 100% salinity. The hydrochar yield was 19.4% and hydrochar high heating value was 20.2 ± 1.31 MJ kg−1. These results provide new detailed information on the subcritical hydrolysis and carbonization of Ulva sp. biomass and show co-production of fermentable monosaccharides and hydrochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The avocado processing industry produces up to 1.3M tons of agro-waste annually. Chemical analysis of avocado seed waste (ASW) revealed that it is rich in carbohydrates (464.7 ± 21.4 g kg−1) and proteins (37.2 ± 1.5 g kg−1). Optimized microbial cultivation of Cobetia amphilecti using an acid hydrolysate of ASW, generated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) in a 2.1 ± 0.1 g L−1 concentration. The PHB productivity of C. amphilecti cultivated on ASW extract was 17.5 mg L−1 h−1. The process in which a novel ASW substrate was utilized has been further augmented by using ethyl levulinate as a sustainable extractant. This process achieved 97.4 ± 1.9 % recovery yield and 100 ± 1 % purity (measured by TGA, NMR, and FTIR) of the target PHB biopolymer, along with a high and relatively uniform PHB molecular weight (M w = 1831 kDa, M n = 1481 kDa, M w /M n = 1.24) (measured by gel permeation chromatography), compared to PHB polymer extracted by chloroform (M w = 389 kDa, M n = 297 kDa, M w /M n = 1.31). This is the first example of ASW utilization as a sustainable and inexpensive substrate for PHB biosynthesis and ethyl levulinate as an efficient and green extractant of PHB from a single bacterial biomass. [Display omitted] • Avocado seed waste (ASW) was found to be a novel carbohydrate-rich source. • ASW was found as an efficient substrate for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production. • Ethyl levulinate is a novel, cost-effective, and sustainable PHB extraction solvent. • High PHB recovery yield (~97 %) and purity (~100 %) were obtained. • High and uniform M w (1830 kDa, M w /M n = 1.23) PHB polymer was recovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]