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Applied Sciences
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Recent Trends in Biomass Materials
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Recent Trends in Biomass Materials

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2023) | Viewed by 9388

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Gang Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
2. Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
Interests: protein/peptide molecular self-assembly; synthesis and application of biomimetic nanomaterials; biological nanomaterials and biomedical engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomass materials have received more and more attention due to their excellent biocompatibility, high biodegradability, easy modification, low cost, and high sustainability in recent years. These naturally abundant and easily regenerated materials, including cellulose, hemicellulose, polysaccharides, proteins, peptides, and other kinds of biopolymers, have exhibited huge advantages for various applications. Biomass can be used as a high-quality carbon source to produce carbon nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and carbon dots, and biomass gasification can also convert solid fuels into gases, thereby reducing the consumption of global fossil fuels. In addition, previous studies have indicated that it is easy to carry out structural design and functional regulation of biomass materials for advanced applications in various fields. For instance, the hybridization of biomass materials with carbon nanomaterials can endow them with ultra-high electrical and thermal conductivity, facilitating their applications in energy storage, environmental science, tissue engineering, biomedical engineering, and sensors/biosensors. The incorporation of MXene and transition metal oxides into biomass materials can enhance the photothermal and photocatalytic properties of biomass materials for use as photocatalytic devices and interfacial evaporators.

Therefore, in this Special Issue of Applied Sciences, we would like to collect contributions that focus on (but are not limited to) the topic of biomass in materials science and nanotechnology. Corresponding studies on the synthesis, functionalization, material hybridization, and various applications of biomass materials are welcome.

We look forward to your contributions to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Gang Wei
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomass materials
  • synthesis methods
  • nanoparticles
  • 2D materials
  • cellulose materials
  • chitin materials
  • DNA/protein/peptide materials
  • biopolymers
  • hybrid materials
  • biomedicine
  • functional tailoring
  • tissue engineering
  • energy storage
  • photocatalytic catalysis
  • environmental science
  • nanodevices

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 187 KiB  
Editorial
Recent Trends in Biomass Materials
by Gang Wei
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 1766; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14051766 - 21 Feb 2024
Viewed by 512
Abstract
In recent years, biomass materials have garnered increasing amounts of attention due to their excellent biocompatibility, high biodegradability, easy modification, low cost, and high sustainability [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Biomass Materials)

Research

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12 pages, 1534 KiB  
Article
Energetic Effects in Methyl- and Methoxy-Substituted Indanones: A Synergistic Experimental and Computational Study
by Ana L. R. Silva, Gastón P. León and Maria D. M. C. Ribeiro da Silva
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(18), 10262; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131810262 - 13 Sep 2023
Viewed by 592
Abstract
This experimental and computational study on the energetic properties of 2-methyl-, 3-methyl-, 4-methoxy- and 5-methoxy-indanones has been carried out using mostly calorimetric techniques and a suitable computational approach. The combustion and sublimation/vaporization enthalpies were determined via combustion calorimetry and Calvet microcalorimetry, respectively, allowing [...] Read more.
This experimental and computational study on the energetic properties of 2-methyl-, 3-methyl-, 4-methoxy- and 5-methoxy-indanones has been carried out using mostly calorimetric techniques and a suitable computational approach. The combustion and sublimation/vaporization enthalpies were determined via combustion calorimetry and Calvet microcalorimetry, respectively, allowing for the calculation of the standard molar enthalpies of formation in the gaseous phase. The enthalpy of sublimation of 5-methoxy-indanone was also derived via Knudsen effusion. Additionally, the gas-phase standard molar enthalpies of formation of these compounds were determined from high-level ab initio calculations at the G3(MP2)//B3LYP level of theory. The results obtained experimentally and through the computational approach are in good agreement. Thus, the gas-phase enthalpy of formation of 2-methylcyclopentanone was estimated with this approach. Moreover, the energetic effects associated with the presence of a methyl and methoxy group on the indanone core were analyzed, using the experimental values reported in this work. The presence of a methoxy group contributes to a decrease in the gas-phase enthalpy of formation, of about 153 kJ·mol−1, whereas in the case of a methyl group, the corresponding value is c.a. 35 kJ·mol−1. Finally, a quantitative analysis of the effects of delocalization of the electron density on the methyl-indanones was performed, using NBO calculations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2p) wave function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Biomass Materials)
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14 pages, 4924 KiB  
Article
Studying the Tribological Properties of Coffee Oil-Loaded Water-Based Green Lubricant
by Raimondas Kreivaitis, Milda Gumbytė, Artūras Kupčinskas, Jolanta Treinytė, Kiril Kazancev and Eglė Sendžikienė
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 6336; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13106336 - 22 May 2023
Viewed by 930
Abstract
Lubrication is the primary solution to reduce friction and wear. However, conventional lubricants cause pollution when not properly disposed of or due to accidental leaks. Therefore, environmentally friendly lubricating fluids are welcome in any application where they can meet the performance requirements. This [...] Read more.
Lubrication is the primary solution to reduce friction and wear. However, conventional lubricants cause pollution when not properly disposed of or due to accidental leaks. Therefore, environmentally friendly lubricating fluids are welcome in any application where they can meet the performance requirements. This study suggests using coffee oil produced from spent coffee grounds to improve the lubricity of water-based lubricating fluid. Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium oleate protic ionic liquid facilitates the dispersion of coffee oil in water. Kinematic viscosity, wettability, corrosion prevention, and lubricity tests were performed to evaluate the tribological properties provided by these additives. It was observed that a higher amount of coffee oil could be dispersed with the introduction of a higher amount of protic ionic liquid. In this study, ten wt.% of coffee oil was successfully dispersed using one wt.% of protic ionic liquid. Introducing additives increased dispersions’ viscosity, improved wettability, provided protection against corrosion, and reduced wear and friction. It was proposed that polar molecules of protic ionic liquid were responsible for most of the improvement, while coffee oil contributed by increasing viscosity. Further studies could be directed toward determining rational concentration to meet each particular application’s requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Biomass Materials)
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16 pages, 7441 KiB  
Article
Bacterial Cellulose Production by Komagateibacter xylinus with the Use of Enzyme-Degraded Oligo- and Polysaccharides as the Substrates
by Katarzyna Przygrodzka, Magdalena Charęza, Agnieszka Banaszek, Beata Zielińska, Ewa Ekiert and Radosław Drozd
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(24), 12673; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122412673 - 10 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2064
Abstract
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a unique biopolymer synthesised by many bacteria as a critical element of their biofilm matrix. The most known and efficient producers of BC are bacteria from the genus of Komagataeibacter. Bacterial cellulose, with its unique properties, high crystallinity, [...] Read more.
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a unique biopolymer synthesised by many bacteria as a critical element of their biofilm matrix. The most known and efficient producers of BC are bacteria from the genus of Komagataeibacter. Bacterial cellulose, with its unique properties, high crystallinity, mechanical strength, and unprecedented ability to hold water, is an object of interest in many industries. Despite the enormous efforts that have been made to develop an effective process, the economic aspect of BC production is still a limiting factor for broadening applications, and new “breaking point” solutions are highly anticipated. In this study, the possibility of using sucrose, lactose, and starch as alternative carbon sources converted to simple sugars directly in the culture medium by microbial glycohydrolases, β-D-fructofuranosidase, β-galactosidase, and glucoamylase in the process of BC synthesis was analysed. The results showed the high potential of the enzyme-assisted fermentation process that, for most used raw carbons sources, was highly efficient, with a yield higher (i.e., lactose 40% more) or comparable to the cultures maintained on standard Hestrin-Schramm media with glucose as a sole carbon source. The X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope analyses did not reveal any negative influence of enzyme-assisted cultivation on the BC material properties, such as crystallinity, swelling ratio, and moisture content. Applying specific enzymes for converting inaccessible, raw-form carbon sources to the culture medium of Komagateibacter xylinus opens a simple way to use various oligo- and polysaccharides acquired from many kinds of biomass sources in the BC production process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Biomass Materials)
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18 pages, 3715 KiB  
Article
Improving Lignocellulosic and Non-Lignocellulosic Biomass Characteristics through Torrefaction Process
by Maja Ivanovski, Danijela Urbancl, Aleksandra Petrovič, Janja Stergar, Darko Goričanec and Marjana Simonič
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(23), 12210; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122312210 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1542
Abstract
In this study, three locally available biomasses, namely miscanthus, hops, sewage sludge, and additionally, their mixtures, were subjected to the torrefaction process to improve their fuel properties. The torrefaction process was conducted at 250–350 °C and 10–60 min in a nitrogen (N2 [...] Read more.
In this study, three locally available biomasses, namely miscanthus, hops, sewage sludge, and additionally, their mixtures, were subjected to the torrefaction process to improve their fuel properties. The torrefaction process was conducted at 250–350 °C and 10–60 min in a nitrogen (N2) environment. The torrefaction temperature and time were studied to evaluate the selected biomass materials; furthermore, heating values, mass and energy yields, enhancement factors, torrefaction severity indexes (TSI), and energy-mass co-benefit indexes (EMCI) were calculated. In addition, thermogravimetric (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared analyses (FTIR) were performed to characterize raw and torrefied biomass under the most stringent conditions (350 °C and 60 min). The results showed that with increasing torrefaction temperature and duration, mass and energy yields decreased, and heating values (HHVs) increased for all studied biomasses. The results of the TSI and EMCI indexes showed that the optimum torrefaction conditions were as follows: 260 °C and 10 min for pure miscanthus and hops, whilst this could not be confirmed for the sewage sludge. Furthermore, the combination of sewage sludge and the above-mentioned types of lignocellulosic biomass exhibited better fuel properties than sewage sludge alone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Biomass Materials)
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13 pages, 1991 KiB  
Article
Removal of 4-Ethylphenol and 4-Ethylguaiacol, from Wine-like Model Solutions, by Commercial Modified Activated Carbons Produced from Coconut Shell
by Isabel Pestana da Paixão Cansado, Paulo Alexandre Mira Mourão, Inês Dias Morais, Victor Peniche and João Janeirinho
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(22), 11754; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122211754 - 18 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1236
Abstract
When present in high concentrations in red wine, 4-ethylphenol (4-EP) and 4-ethylguaiacol (4-EG) are responsible for the introduction of unpleasant aromas, which causes wine depreciation. The work presented concerns the performance of textural and chemical-modified activated carbons (ACs), produced from coconuts shells, in [...] Read more.
When present in high concentrations in red wine, 4-ethylphenol (4-EP) and 4-ethylguaiacol (4-EG) are responsible for the introduction of unpleasant aromas, which causes wine depreciation. The work presented concerns the performance of textural and chemical-modified activated carbons (ACs), produced from coconuts shells, in the treatment of spoiled wines. ACs were submitted to basic and acid treatment, by impregnation into solutions containing NaOH and HNO3, respectively. Modified ACs showed only a small, but noticeable, increase in apparent surface area and micropore volume when compared to the original AC. However, the surface chemistry underwent significant changes. The ability of modified ACs to remove 4-EP and 4-EG, which cause the off-flavor known as “Brett character”, from wine-like solutions has been successfully achieved. On the systems studied, 4-EG was retained in greater extension, but 4-EP was retained more strongly on the surface of the ACs. Ethanol was found to compete with 4-EP and 4-EG for the adsorptive centres. However, when 4-EP and 4-EG were present in the same solution, the addition of ethanol promoted a cooperative effect and favoured the adsorption of both compounds. It should be noted that the modified ACs were able to eliminate 4-EP and 4-EG to levels below their sensory perception thresholds referred for red wine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Biomass Materials)
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Review

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26 pages, 4116 KiB  
Review
Processes and Challenges for the Manufacturing of Lyocell Fibres with Alternative Agricultural Feedstocks
by Lelia Lawson, Madison Ford, Md. Saiful Hoque, Wade Chute, David C. Bressler and Patricia I. Dolez
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(23), 12759; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312759 - 28 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1803
Abstract
Lyocell man-made cellulosic fibres (L-MMCF) have been commercially available since the mid-1990’s, with the typical feedstock prepared from tree pulp or cotton linters. In recent years, there have been advancements in the utilisation of high alpha-cellulose agricultural biomass for L-MMCF feedstock. Industrial hemp [...] Read more.
Lyocell man-made cellulosic fibres (L-MMCF) have been commercially available since the mid-1990’s, with the typical feedstock prepared from tree pulp or cotton linters. In recent years, there have been advancements in the utilisation of high alpha-cellulose agricultural biomass for L-MMCF feedstock. Industrial hemp stalks offer a unique opportunity for L-MMCF since hemp is considered an environmentally conscious crop that can also help to bridge the gap in worldwide cellulose shortages; additionally, industrial hemp stalks are high in alpha-cellulose, making this an ideal feedstock for L-MMCF manufacturing. This review paper outlines the lyocell process in detail, including processes for preparation of feedstocks, pulp processing, removal of contaminants and nonessential plant components, pulp dissolution, dope preparation, and fibre spinning. Opportunities and challenges associated with the utilisation of industrial hemp stalks as an alternative feedstock are addressed through all steps of the manufacturing process. Incorporating alternative feedstock opens new perspectives for manufacturing sustainable L-MMCF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Biomass Materials)
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