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Advances in Biomass-Based Materials and Their Applications
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Advances in Biomass-Based Materials and Their Applications

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2024 | Viewed by 6826

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Catarina Dias de Almeida

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Caparica, Almada, Portugal
Interests: bioprocess engineering; fermentation technology; biomaterials; PHA; residual feedstocks; environmentally sustainable processes; microbial biotechnology; downstream processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the world faces a turning point where oil-based products need to find effective replacements, new strategies, in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, must be pursued. Biomass-based materials, which are, at their essence, products originating from renewable organic material, can provide an important contribution towards this goal. Many biomolecules present a wide variety of surface functional groups and have  high potential for environmentally friendly modification and chemical activation. Moreover, even low-processed biomass-based materials can find a wide range of day-to-day use in bulk applications in agriculture, construction, environment, and industry.

The Special Issue on “Advances in Biomass-Based Materials and Their Applications” in Materials intends to assemble manuscripts regarding safe-and-sustainable-by-design biomaterials, presenting innovative new methods, production routes, or breakthroughs regarding the characterization and applications of biomass-based materials such as—but not restricted to—additives, building blocks, biochemicals, biopolymers, catalysts, food packaging materials, sorbents, building materials, and high end-value bioproducts for medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics markets. We thus invite you to submit your research in this field in the form of original research papers, reviews, or short communications.

Dr. Catarina Dias de Almeida
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. Materials 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 2600 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

  • biodegradable biomass-based materials
  • biocompatible biomass-based materials
  • biomass-based building blocks
  • biomass-based catalysts
  • biomass-based materials
  • biorefinery
  • environmentally friendly processes
  • fermentation technology
  • safe and sustainable by design

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 5753 KiB  
Article
Tailoring Macro/Meso/Microporous Structures of Cellophane Noodle-Derived Activated Carbon for Electric Double-Layer Capacitors
by Hyeong-Rae Kim, Myeong-Hun Jo and Hyo-Jin Ahn
Materials 2024, 17(14), 3474; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17143474 - 13 Jul 2024
Viewed by 495
Abstract
To address the bottleneck associated with the slow ion transport kinetics observed in the porosity of activated carbons (ACs), hierarchically structured pore sizes were introduced on ACs used for electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) to promote ion transport kinetics under fast-rate charge–discharge conditions. In [...] Read more.
To address the bottleneck associated with the slow ion transport kinetics observed in the porosity of activated carbons (ACs), hierarchically structured pore sizes were introduced on ACs used for electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) to promote ion transport kinetics under fast-rate charge–discharge conditions. In this study, we synthesized cellophane noodle-derived activated carbon (CNAC) with tailored porous structures, including the pore volume fraction of macro/meso/micropores and the specific surface area. The porous structures were effectively modulated by adjusting the KOH concentration during chemical activation. In addition, optimized KOH activation in CNAC modulated the chemical bonding ratios of C=O, pyrrolic-N, and graphitic-N. Given the hierarchically designed porous structure and chemical bonding states, the CNAC fabricated with optimized KOH activation exhibited a superior ultrafast rate capability in EDLCs (132.0 F/g at 10 A/g). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomass-Based Materials and Their Applications)
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26 pages, 8699 KiB  
Article
Environmentally Friendly o–Cresol–Furfural–Formaldehyde Resin as an Alternative to Traditional Phenol–Formaldehyde Resins for Paint Industry
by Marta Depta, Sławomir Napiórkowski, Katarzyna Zielińska, Katarzyna Gębura, Daria Niewolik and Katarzyna Jaszcz
Materials 2024, 17(13), 3072; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133072 - 22 Jun 2024
Viewed by 572
Abstract
This paper describes studies on the preparation of an o–cresol–furfural–formaldehyde resin in the presence of an alkaline catalyst and its modification with n-butanol or 2-ethylhexanol. The novelty of this research is to obtain a furfural-based resin of the resole type and its etherification. [...] Read more.
This paper describes studies on the preparation of an o–cresol–furfural–formaldehyde resin in the presence of an alkaline catalyst and its modification with n-butanol or 2-ethylhexanol. The novelty of this research is to obtain a furfural-based resin of the resole type and its etherification. Such resins are not described in the literature and also are not available on the market. The obtained resin based on furfural, which can be obtained from agricultural waste, had a low minimum content of free o–cresol < 1 wt.%, furfural < 0.1 wt.%, and formaldehyde < 0.1 wt.%. The resin structure was characterized by mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopy, which showed the presence of hydroxymethylene groups in the resin before modification and alkyl groups derived from n-butanol and 2-ethylhexanol after modification. The etherified resins had a lower viscosity and were more flexible (DSC) than the resin before modification and they can be used as an environmentally friendly, safe, and sustainable alternative to traditional phenol–formaldehyde resins in the paint industry. They demonstrate the ability to create a protective coating with good adherence to metal substrates and an excellent balance of flexibility and hardness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomass-Based Materials and Their Applications)
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15 pages, 3451 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Liquefaction Efficiency: Exploring the Impact of Pre-Hydrolysis on Hazelnut Shell (Corylus avellana L.)
by Luísa Cruz-Lopes, Joana Duarte, Yuliya Dulyanska, Raquel P. F. Guiné and Bruno Esteves
Materials 2024, 17(11), 2667; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112667 - 1 Jun 2024
Viewed by 477
Abstract
Hazelnut shells (HS), scientifically known as Corylus avellana L. shells, are waste produced by companies that process nuts. The main objective of this study was to find an efficient way to maximize the chemical potential of HS by solubilizing the hemicelluloses, which could [...] Read more.
Hazelnut shells (HS), scientifically known as Corylus avellana L. shells, are waste produced by companies that process nuts. The main objective of this study was to find an efficient way to maximize the chemical potential of HS by solubilizing the hemicelluloses, which could then be used to recover sugars and, at the same time, increase the lignin content of this material to produce adhesives or high-strength foams. In order to optimize the pre-hydrolysis process, two different temperatures (160 and 170 °C) and times varying from 15 to 180 min were tested. All the remaining solid materials were then liquefied using polyalcohols with acid catalysis. The chemical composition of hazelnut shells was determined before and after the pre-hydrolysis. All of the process was monitored using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) by determining the spectra of solids and liquids after the pre-hydrolysis and liquefaction steps. The highest solubilization of hazelnut shells was found for 170 °C and 180 min, resulting in a 25.8% solubilization. Chemical analysis after the hydrolysis process showed a gradual increase in the solubilization of hemicelluloses as both the temperature and time of the reactor were increased. Simultaneously, the percentages of α-cellulose and lignin in the material also increased with rises in temperature and duration. FTIR-ATR allowed for the detection of significant spectral changes in the hazelnut shells from their initial state to the solid residue and further into the liquefied phase. This confirmed that pre-hydrolysis was effective in enhancing the chemical composition of the material, making it more suitable for the production of adhesives, polyurethane foams, or in the production of bioplastics and composite materials, combined with other biopolymers or synthetic polymers to enhance the mechanical properties and biodegradability of the resulting materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomass-Based Materials and Their Applications)
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13 pages, 1817 KiB  
Article
Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production from Eucalyptus Bark’s Enzymatic Hydrolysate
by Thomas Rodrigues, Cristiana A. V. Torres, Susana Marques, Francisco Gírio, Filomena Freitas and Maria A. M. Reis
Materials 2024, 17(8), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17081773 - 12 Apr 2024
Viewed by 990
Abstract
In recent years, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have gained notoriety because of their desirable properties that include proven biodegradability, biocompatibility, and thermal stability, which make them suitable alternatives to fossil-based polymers. However, the widespread use of PHAs is still challenging because of their production costs, [...] Read more.
In recent years, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have gained notoriety because of their desirable properties that include proven biodegradability, biocompatibility, and thermal stability, which make them suitable alternatives to fossil-based polymers. However, the widespread use of PHAs is still challenging because of their production costs, which are greatly associated with the cultivation medium used for bacterial cultivation. In Portugal, one-quarter of the forest area is covered by Eucalyptus globulus wood, making its residues a cheap, abundant, and sustainable potential carbon source for biotechnological uses. In this work, eucalyptus bark was used as the sole feedstock for PHA production in a circular bioeconomic approach. Eucalyptus bark hydrolysate was obtained after enzymatic saccharification using Cellic® CTec3, resulting in a sugar-rich solution containing glucose and xylose. Although with differing performances, several bacteria were able to grow and produce PHA with distinct compositions, using the enzymatic hydrolysate as the sole carbon source. Pseudomonas citronellolis NRRL B-2504 achieved a high cellular growth rate in bioreactor assays (24.4 ± 0.15 g/L) but presented a low accumulation of a medium-chain-length PHA (mcl-PHA) comprising the monomers hydroxydecanoate (HD, 65%), hydroxydodecanoate (HDd, 25%), and hydroxytetradecanoate (HTd, 14%). Burkholderia thailandensis E264, on the other hand, reached a lower cellular growth rate (8.87 ± 0.34 g/L) but showed a higher biopolymer accumulation, with a polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) content in the cells of 12.3 wt.%. The new isolate, Pseudomonas sp., revealed that under nitrogen availability, it was able to reach a higher accumulation of the homopolymer PHB (31 wt.%). These results, although preliminary, demonstrate the suitability of eucalyptus bark’s enzymatic hydrolysate as a feedstock for PHA production, thus offering an exciting avenue for achieving sustainable and environmentally responsible plastic products from an undervalued forestry waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomass-Based Materials and Their Applications)
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17 pages, 2503 KiB  
Article
Rice Husk, Brewer’s Spent Grain, and Vine Shoot Trimmings as Raw Materials for Sustainable Enzyme Production
by Ana Guimarães, Ana C. Mota, Ana S. Pereira, Ana M. Fernandes, Marlene Lopes and Isabel Belo
Materials 2024, 17(4), 935; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17040935 - 17 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1025
Abstract
Solid by-products with lignocellulosic structures are considered appropriate substrates for solid-state fermentation (SSF) to produce enzymes with diverse industrial applications. In this work, brewer’s spent grain (BSG), rice husk (RH), and vine shoot trimmings (VSTs) were employed as substrates in SSF with Aspergillus [...] Read more.
Solid by-products with lignocellulosic structures are considered appropriate substrates for solid-state fermentation (SSF) to produce enzymes with diverse industrial applications. In this work, brewer’s spent grain (BSG), rice husk (RH), and vine shoot trimmings (VSTs) were employed as substrates in SSF with Aspergillus niger CECT 2088 to produce cellulases, xylanases, and amylases. The addition of 2% (NH4)2SO4 and 1% K2HPO4 to by-products had a positive effect on enzyme production. Substrate particle size influenced enzyme activity and the overall highest activities were achieved at the largest particle size (10 mm) of BSG and RH and a size of 4 mm for VSTs. Optimal substrate composition was predicted using a simplex centroid mixture design. The highest activities were obtained using 100% BSG for β-glucosidase (363 U/g) and endo-1,4-β-glucanase (189 U/g), 87% BSG and 13% RH for xylanase (627 U/g), and 72% BSG and 28% RH for amylase (263 U/g). Besides the optimal values found, mixtures of BSG with RH or VSTs proved to be alternative substrates to BSG alone. These findings demonstrate that SSF bioprocessing of BSG individually or in mixtures with RH and VSTs is an efficient and sustainable strategy to produce enzymes of significant industrial interest within the circular economy guidelines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomass-Based Materials and Their Applications)
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17 pages, 13531 KiB  
Article
Effects of Polybutylene Succinate Content on the Rheological Properties of Polylactic Acid/Polybutylene Succinate Blends and the Characteristics of Their Fibers
by Ik Sung Choi, Young Kwang Kim, Seong Hui Hong, Hye-Jin Seo, Sung-Ho Hwang, Jongwon Kim and Sang Kyoo Lim
Materials 2024, 17(3), 662; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17030662 - 29 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1183
Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) are gaining prominence as environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-based polymers due to their inherent biodegradability. For their textile applications, this research is focused on exploring the effects of PBS content on the rheological properties of PLA/PBS [...] Read more.
Polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) are gaining prominence as environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-based polymers due to their inherent biodegradability. For their textile applications, this research is focused on exploring the effects of PBS content on the rheological properties of PLA/PBS blends and the characteristics of PLA/PBS blend fibers. PLA/PBS blends and fibers with varying PBS contents (0 to 10 wt.%) were prepared using melt-blending and spinning methods. Uniform morphologies of the PLA/PBS blends indicated that PBS was compatible with PLA, except at 10% PBS content, where phase separation occurred. The introduction of PBS reduced the complex viscosity of the blends, influencing fiber properties. Notably, PLA/PBS fibers with 7% PBS exhibited improved crystallinity, orientation factor, and elasticity (~16.58%), with a similar tensile strength to PLA fiber (~3.58 MPa). The results suggest that an optimal amount of PBS enhances alignment along the drawing direction and improves the molecular motion in PLA/PBS blend fiber. This study highlights the potential of strategically blending PBS to improve PLA fiber characteristics, promising advancement in textile applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomass-Based Materials and Their Applications)
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16 pages, 3205 KiB  
Article
Ecofriendly Preparation of Rosmarinic Acid-poly(vinyl alcohol) Biofilms Using NADES/DES, Ultrasounds and Optimization via a Mixture-Process Design Strategy
by Beatrice Campanella, Mattia Simoncini, Elisa Passaglia, Francesca Cicogna, Gianluca Ciancaleoni, José González-Rivera, Luca Bernazzani and Emilia Bramanti
Materials 2024, 17(2), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17020377 - 12 Jan 2024
Viewed by 962
Abstract
Green chemistry emphasizes the isolation of biologically active compounds from plants and biomass to produce renewable, bio-based products and materials through sustainability and circularity-driven innovation processes. In this work, we have investigated the extraction of rosmarinic acid (RA), a phenolic acid with several [...] Read more.
Green chemistry emphasizes the isolation of biologically active compounds from plants and biomass to produce renewable, bio-based products and materials through sustainability and circularity-driven innovation processes. In this work, we have investigated the extraction of rosmarinic acid (RA), a phenolic acid with several biological properties, from aromatic herbs using ultrasounds and low environmental risk natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). Various solvent mixtures have been investigated, and the parameters influencing the process have been studied by a mixture-process experimental design to identify the optimal RA extraction conditions. The extraction yield has been calculated by HPLC-diode array analysis. The lactic acid:ethylene glycol mixture using an ultrasound-assisted process has been found to be the most versatile solvent system, giving RA yields 127–160% higher than hydroalcoholic extraction (70% ethanol). The deep eutectic solvent nature of lactic acid:ethylene glycol has been demonstrated for the first time by multi-technique characterization (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR, DSC, and W absorption properties). The aqueous raw extract has been directly incorporated into poly(vinyl alcohol) to obtain films with potential antibacterial properties for applications in the field of food and pharmaceutical packaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomass-Based Materials and Their Applications)
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