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Plastic pollution and energy consumption are two of the most significant problems facing modern society. While the non-degradability of plastic leaves negative impacts on Earth’s ecosystem, fossil fuel usage as an energy source greatly contributes to air pollution and consequently human health. Scientists are focusing efforts on biodegradable materials and energy-neutral methods to develop a replacement for plastics and fossil fuels. This study was conducted to extract cellulose from bagasse, synthesize microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and apply it to composites formation, and finally examine their mechanical properties. Furthermore, modified starch E1404 was used as a reference reinforcement agent in two distinct ways: solid starch and hydrated starch. Results show that Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) film with 10% microcrystalline cellulose MCC reinforcement has the lowest tensile strength value based on ATSM D882 standard reaching a mean value of 3.92 MPa in stress peak (nearly half the value of pure PVA). Regarding the starch composite, hydrated starch composites show better tensile strength than solid starch composites at higher starch content (PVA/Starch 6:4).

Clean energy and environmental pollution are two key concerns of modern society and are pivotal necessities for the economic, social, and sustainable development of the world. Today around 80% of energy is generated using nonrenewable resources and fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) which ultimately results in hazardous global emissions. As a clean substitute for fossil fuels, hydrogen has emerged as a promising and renewable energy resource. Utilization of this energy resource requires the development of active, stable, low‐cost environmentally friendly techniques. Water splitting electrolysis is a method for producing clean and efficient hydrogen using an environmentally benign technique that is currently at its most mature stage. Electrolysis is attracting ever‐increasing attention, as it is a promising electrochemical device for hydrogen production from water due to the high conversion efficiency and relatively low energy input required when compared to thermochemical and photocatalytic methods. This paper will outline the need, performance, and insight of anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer. Recent developments in the design and preparation of AEM. New strategies for activity, stability, and efficiency improvement of AEM. Membrane types, and factors affecting AEM performance in an electrolyzer. This review also discusses the effects, operating characteristics, and energy consumption of electrocatalysts in the AEM electrolyzer. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) pathways and mechanisms in acidic and alkaline media. This study seeks to provide a detailed overview of recent accomplishments in the field of the hydrogen economy, particularly electrolysis, to inspire further research and development to address the technology's obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants contain a large number of phytochemical components, many of which are known as bioactive compounds and responsible for the expression of various pharmacological activities. The extract of Sonneratia caseolaris fruit collected in Vietnam was investigated for its total phenolic and total flavonoid contents using methanol solvent and different fractions of S. caseolaris fruits (hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous). GC-MS analysis was conducted to identify the bioactive chemical constituents occurring in the active extract. Further, the antibacterial activity was tested in vitro on bacterial isolates, namely Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Bacillus subtilis , using the disc diffusion method on tryptic soya agar (TSA) medium. The methanol extract showed high total flavonoid (82.3 ± 0.41 mg QE/g extract) and phenolic (41.0 ± 0.34 mg GAE/g extract) content. GC-MS of the methanol extract and different fractions of S. caseolaris fruits detected 20 compounds, principally fatty alcohols, fatty acids, phenols, lipids, terpenes derivatives, and carboxylic acids derivatives. A 50 mg/ml concentration of methanol extract had the strongest antibacterial activity on E. coli , S. aureus , and B. subtilis . Furthermore, ethyl acetate, aqueous, and n-butanol fractions inhibited S. aureus and B. subtilis the most. The results of the present study suggested that the fruits of S. caseolaris are rich sources of phenolic compounds that can contribute to safe and cost-effective treatments.