Search Results (125)

In this work, a hybrid polymer electrolyte integrating single- and dual-ion conducting systems was developed for lithium-ion batteries using bio-based materials, namely oleic-acid derivatives and epoxidized soybean oil, through an in situ polymerization process. The fixed FSI anions in LiEFSOA enhance the selectivity of Li⁺ transport, while the cross-linked network formed by ESO provides mechanical stability, and the LiFSI incorporated into the polymer matrix helps maintain sufficient overall ionic conductivity. In addition, the long C18 oleic chains increase the internal free volume of the matrix, thereby improving segmental mobility within the amorphous phase. The in situ polymerization inside the cell causes intimate interfacial contact between the electrode and electrolyte, achieving an ionic conductivity of 1.05 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 30 °C. Electrochemical evaluation using LiFePO₄/FSOA-2/Li cells shows an initial discharge capacity of 149.09 mAh g⁻¹ and a capacity retention of 81.09% after 100 cycles, and the average coulombic efficiency was 99.62%, demonstrating that the designed FSOA electrolyte exhibits stable cycling performance and competitive capacity. Overall, the combination of eco-friendly materials and a hybrid ion transport strategy provides a promising platform for developing sustainable and high-performance polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries. Full article

Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) offer sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived nanofillers, yet their industrial application remains limited by poor dispersion control and trade-offs between loading, optical clarity, and mechanical performance. Here, we present a molecular architecture-driven design framework that systematically decouples polymer network physics from nanoparticle dispersion in poly(vinyl alcohol)/LNP nanocomposites. Through eco-friendly self-precipitation, we synthesize uniform LNPs with size tunability, overcoming persistent reproducibility challenges. Systematic investigation across PVA molecular weights and LNP loadings reveals entanglement-controlled dispersion behavior. Combined rheological and small-angle X-ray scattering analyses demonstrate that macroscopic suspension rheology is governed exclusively by polymer chain overlap, remaining invariant across LNP loadings. Conversely, the nanoscale LNP microstructural organization—ranging from depletion-driven clustering in weakly entangled networks to network-confinement stabilization in densely entangled systems—fundamentally dictates the film’s optical clarity and mechanical toughness. This rheology-microstructure decoupling establishes critical processing windows for industrial formulations, where polymer entanglement ensures suspension processability while the LNP dispersion state enables optical–mechanical tunability. The entangled network’s structure-filtering effect provides robust protocols for fabricating sustainable, transparent bio-composites suitable for packaging, optics, and functional films. Our quantitative composition–structure–performance framework advances fundamental understanding of entanglement-mediated interfacial phenomena while delivering practical design rules for next-generation sustainable bio-composites. Full article

The growing environmental impact of petroleum-based plastics has intensified research into sustainable, biodegradable alternatives for food packaging. Among bio-derived polymers, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has attracted increasing attention due to its abundance, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and excellent film-forming ability. Nevertheless, the intrinsic hydrophilicity and limited mechanical strength of neat CMC restrict its direct application in packaging systems. This review provides a comprehensive and critical overview of recent strategies developed between 2015 and 2025 to enhance the performance of CMC-based films for food packaging applications. Emphasis is placed on physical and chemical modification routes, including polymer blending, polyelectrolyte complex formation, incorporation of functional fillers and nanomaterials, and ionic or covalent crosslinking approaches. The influence of these strategies on key functional properties, such as mechanical behavior, water barrier performance, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, is systematically discussed. Particular attention is given to CMC-rich systems, enabling meaningful comparison across studies. By highlighting structure–property relationships and identifying current limitations, this review aims to provide guidance for the rational design of advanced CMC-based materials as viable, eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastic packaging. Full article

Decellularization removes immunogenic intracellular components of fish tissues while keeping the extracellular matrix (dECM) structure, mechanical integrity, and bioactivity. Fish-derived dECM retains native bioactive components, exhibiting high biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and biodegradability, while supporting cell adhesion, proliferation, and tissue regeneration. Due to its abundance, minimal ethical concerns, and low zoonotic risks, fish wastes are emerging as sustainable sources of dECM, offering an eco-friendly alternative to mammalian biomaterials. This review highlights advances in decellularizing fish wastes such as skin, scales, bones, viscera, and swim bladders from species including tilapia, tuna, milkfish, carp, goldfish, and sturgeon. Physical, chemical, biological, and hybrid decellularization methods are assessed for cell removal, ECM preservation, and mechanical performance. Recent advances in polymer-dECM composites, crosslinking, and 3D bioprinting have significantly improved scaffold performance, making fish-derived dECM applicable for healing of wounds, regeneration of bone and cartilage, and repair of soft tissues. Despite its potential, challenges remain in optimizing perfusion rates, temperature variations, and tissue-specific protocols, as well as developing eco-friendly decellularization techniques using biodegradable reagents. Future perspectives include expanding decellularized fish tissue sources, innovating bio-inks for 3D bioprinting, and refining tissue-specific processing methods to maximize the potential of fish-derived dECM in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Full article

In the context of global trends in sustainability and the circular economy (CE), this article aims to investigate the potential of microparticles derived from citrus peel waste (grapefruit, key lime, lemon, and orange), constituting approximately 50% of the fruit weight, as eco-friendly bio-fillers in polymer composites, thereby reducing the consumption of petrochemical resins. The composites were fabricated by gravity casting using polyester resin (PR) as the matrix at filler concentrations of 2.5%, 5%, and 10% by weight. Functional properties were assessed using static tensile testing (measuring Peak Load, Peak Stress, and Young’s modulus) and Shore D hardness testing. The incorporation of unprocessed fillers generally decreased tensile strength (Peak Stress REF: 31.48 MPa), attributed to poor interfacial adhesion. The lowest Peak Stress value was recorded for the 2.5O composite (16.04 MPa). The exception was the 10K composite (10 wt.%key limee), which achieved a Peak Load (1.28 kN) nearly identical to the neat resin (1.29 kN), although the Peak Stress remained lower due to the reduced effective cross-sectional area. Stiffness (Young’s modulus REF: 3.26 GPa) increased by more than 10 wt.% for 5G (3.63 GPa), indicating effective reinforcement at this concentration. A key positive finding was a universal increase in Shore D hardness across all biocomposites (REF: 78.4 ShD), with a maximum of 83.8 ShD for 10L (lemon), a typical response to rigid fillers that suggests enhanced surface resistance. The results suggest that citrus peel waste could be considered for non-structural applications where surface durability and efficient waste management are priorities. Full article

The pursuit of alternatives to nonrenewable materials has stimulated the development of sustainable materials with improved performance, particularly polymer composites reinforced with plant-based fibers. In this study, eucalyptus fibers were thermally treated and evaluated as eco-friendly reinforcements for polyester composites, aiming to enhance their physical and mechanical properties. The fibers were subjected to heat treatments between 140 and 230 °C in a Macro-ATG oven, followed by analyses of anatomical characteristics and chemical composition. Composites containing 25% fiber reinforcement were produced using an orthophthalic unsaturated polyester matrix catalyzed with methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, with untreated fibers used as references. Thermal treatment induced significant modifications in fiber morphology and composition, including increases in cell wall fraction at 170 and 200 °C and higher cellulose contents at 140 and 170 °C. Mechanical performance was assessed through tensile, flexural (modulus of rupture—MOR), modulus of elasticity (E_B), and impact tests. Composites reinforced with heat-treated fibers exhibited lower apparent density and, notably, those treated at 230 °C showed markedly reduced water absorption and enhanced tensile strength compared with the control. Overall, treatment at 230 °C proved most effective, highlighting the potential of thermally modified eucalyptus fibers as viable reinforcements for high-performance, bio-based polymer composites. Full article

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a perennial herb traditionally valued for its aromatic and therapeutic properties. In recent years, however, growing attention has shifted toward the technical and environmental potential of the plant’s industrial by-products, particularly the fibrous material left after extraction. This review integrates botanical knowledge with engineering and industrial perspectives, highlighting the role of licorice fiber in advancing sustainable innovation. The natural fiber obtained from licorice roots exhibits notable physical and mechanical qualities, including lightness, biodegradability, and compatibility with bio-based polymer matrices. These attributes make it a promising candidate for biocomposites used in green building and other sectors of the circular economy. Developing efficient recovery processes requires collaboration across disciplines, combining expertise in plant science, materials engineering, and industrial technology. The article also examines the economic and regulatory context driving the transition toward more circular and traceable production models. Increasing interest from companies, research institutions, and public bodies in valorizing licorice fiber and its derivatives is opening new market opportunities. Potential applications extend to agroindustry, eco-friendly cosmetics, bioeconomy, and sustainable construction. By linking botanical insights with innovative waste management strategies, licorice emerges as a resource capable of supporting integrated, competitive, and environmentally responsible industrial practices. Full article

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS)-derived bio-based polyurethane coatings typically exhibit poor hydrophobicity and short nutrient release durations, limiting their ability to satisfy long-term crop requirements. This study developed improved controlled-release urea by preparing water-repellent and compact bio-polymer coatings from recyclable SMS using non-toxic siloxane and nano-SiO₂ modifiers through simple processes. The dual modification markedly reduced water absorption (from 6.60% to 4.43%) and porosity (from 6.32% to 3.92%), creating a dense coating with lotus-leaf-like nanoscale surface protrusions and fewer intermembrane pores. As a result, the nitrogen (N) release period of the dual-modified bio-polymer-polyurethane-coated urea (SBPCU) with a 7% coating thickness was extended from 23 days to 42 days. Phytotoxicity assessments confirmed the excellent biosafety of the bio-polymer coating, revealing no adverse effects on maize growth and even promotional effects at low concentrations. This approach offers a sustainable, eco-friendly, and scalable strategy for producing bio-polymer-coated urea from agricultural waste, serving as a viable alternative to petrochemical coatings while improving nutrient use efficiency and biosafety. Full article

The non-degradable polymers used in daily and commercial application are generally inexpensive; however, their excessive use leads to extensive environmental damage. In light of this, the demand for bio-derived, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymers increases since these materials are potential alternatives to petroleum-derived polymers. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a class of highly crystalline thermoplastics derived from natural sources, offer significant environmental advantages over fossil fuel-based polymers due to their inherent biodegradability. This eco-friendly profile has spurred research into their commercial applications, ranging from food packaging to pharmaceuticals. However, processing challenges, particularly for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)—including high costs and the requirement for elevated temperatures—remain major obstacles. Additionally, PHB-based products are often brittle and exhibit inferior mechanical properties compared to conventional petroleum-based polymers such as polypropylene and polyethylene. This review comprehensively examines the state-of-the-art processing techniques for PHB and their composites. Key properties, such as mechanical performance, thermal behavior, and degradation characteristics, are scrutinized. Furthermore, the review explores mitigation strategies, such as blending and plasticization, aimed at overcoming the mechanical brittleness while upholding the principles of sustainability and maintaining a low carbon footprint. Full article

Food packaging serves a pivotal role in daily life, facilitating the efficient transportation of food and extending its shelf life. Petroleum-derived plastic packaging is extensively employed; however, its non-biodegradable nature poses significant environmental pollution and ecological degradation. Natural polymers (e.g., proteins such as gelatin and corn gluten protein; polysaccharides including pectin, chitosan, starch, cellulose, and alginate) and synthetic polymers (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol, polylactic acid, and polyhydroxyalkanoates) can be utilized to fabricate food packaging films, thereby achieving green and eco-friendly objectives. Nevertheless, the inferior mechanical strength and inadequate antibacterial activity of biopolymer-based packaging have restricted their practical applications. In recent years, nanomaterials (e.g., nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanofibers, and nanosheets) have been employed to enhance the performance of food packaging, emerging as a research hotspot. Notably, nanoparticles possess unique properties, including a high specific surface area, excellent dispersibility, and multifunctionality, which enables them to be easily incorporated into film matrices. Owing to their unique chemical structures, nanoparticles form strong interactions with film matrices, leading to a denser spatial structure. This not only markedly enhances the mechanical strength of the films, but also simultaneously improves their antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities. This review classifies and summarizes common nanomaterials based on their chemical compositions, providing a theoretical foundation and technical reference for the future development and application of nanomaterials in the field of bio-based active food packaging. Full article

Historic floors, including mosaics, stone slabs, and decorated pavements, are fragile elements that can be easily damaged during restoration works. Risks arise from falling tools, concentrated loads of scaffolding or equipment, and the repeated passage of workers. Traditional protection methods, such as plywood sheets, mats, multilayer systems, or modular plastic panels, have been applied in different sites but often present limitations in adaptability to irregular surfaces, in moisture control, and in long-term reversibility. This paper introduces an innovative approach developed within the 3D-EcoCore project. The proposed solution consists of a bio-inspired modular sandwich system manufactured by 3D printing with biodegradable polymers. Each module contains a Voronoi-inspired cellular core, shaped to match the geometry of the floor obtained from digital surveys, and an upper flat skin that provides a safe and resistant surface. The design ensures mechanical protection, adaptability to uneven pavements, and the possibility to integrate ventilation gaps, cable pathways, and monitoring systems. Beyond heritage interventions, the system also supports routine architectural maintenance by enabling safe, reversible protection during inspections and minor repairs. The solution is strictly temporary and non-substitutive, fully aligned with conservation principles of reversibility, recognizability, and minimal intervention. The Ninfeo Ponari in Cassino is presented as a guiding example, showing how multilevel knowledge and thematic mapping become essential inputs for the tailored design of the modules. The paper highlights both the technical innovation of the system and the methodological contribution of a knowledge-based design process, opening future perspectives for durability assessment, pilot installations, and the integration of artificial intelligence to optimise core configurations. Full article

The extensive use of petroleum-based plastics has caused serious environmental concerns; thus, the need for biodegradable alternatives is essential. Here, we present eco-friendly bio-based polymers prepared by crosslinking poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and alginate (ALG) with glutaraldehyde, while incorporating cardanol-derived polyols (PCD) to add antibacterial functionality. The synthesized bio-based polymers were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, and TGA. FT-IR confirmed sufficient crosslinking between PVA and ALG, whereas XRD revealed a minor decrease in crystallinity. Thermogravimetric analysis showed enhanced thermal stability with increasing ALG contents, as the residual mass increased from 8 wt% (PVA only) to 19–31% (PVA:ALG = 80:20–60:40). Swelling behavior was strongly governed by ALG, with higher ratios promoting water uptake up to 130%, whereas PCD reduced swelling due to increased hydrophobicity. Antibacterial assays indicated complete inactivation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus within 10–60 min depending on the polymer composition. These results demonstrate that tuning the PVA:ALG ratio and PCD content allows precise control of physicochemical properties. Overall, the developed PVA–ALG/PCD bio-based polymers represent a versatile and sustainable platform for eco-friendly packaging, biomedical, and water treatment applications. Full article

Xylanases play a crucial role in bio-transforming sustainable agricultural polymers into xylose-based oligosaccharides, which have great potential in various biotechnology applications. Nevertheless, the application of bacterial xylanase is hindered by the high cost of developing recombinant bacteria to overcome the low activity and narrow pH stability. Considerable efforts have been made to discover and explore new wild bacterial strains that produce highly effective and environmentally sustainable extracellular xylanase enzymes for various targeted biotechnological and industrial applications. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have recently been proven to be versatile producers of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate and characterise extracellular xylanase-producing LAB (EXLAB) from plant sources. The specific extracellular xylanase activity was determined across a wide pH range, from acidic to alkaline. Subsequently, the expression of xylanase genes of EXLAB grown under acidic and alkaline conditions was determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. A total of 45 putative LAB were isolated from radish, gundelia and rhubarb plants. They were identified by phenotypic and genotypic approaches. However, only 15 LAB isolates were confirmed as EXLAB. Weissella confusa and Pediococcus pentosaceus were the most common species among the identified EXLAB. The XylW (~196 bp) and XylP (189 bp) xylanase genes were then amplified from W. confusa and P. pentosaceus, respectively. P. pentosaceus G4 demonstrated the most versatile extracellular xylanase production that was active from pH 5 to pH 8. However, a significant increase in extracellular xylanase gene expression (13.45-fold) at pH 5 was noted as compared to pH 8. Similarly, P. pentosaceus G4 also exhibited the highest extracellular xylanase activity (0.88 U/mg) at pH 5. This study reveals the potential of P. pentosaceus G4 as an eco-friendly and novel extracellular xylanase producer possessing broad pH stability. The robust gene expression and activity of extracellular xylanase imply P. pentosaceus G4 is a promising candidate for sustainable enzymatic processes essential for the environmentally friendly enzymatic reactions and applications. Full article

This study focuses on the development, characterization, and numerical simulation of novel composite materials based on natural vegetable fibers for applications in civil engineering. Three different bio-based composites were formulated using Alfa plant fibers, wood waste, and an equal mixture of both (50% Alfa, 50% wood), with polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), a non-polluting polymer matrix, as the binder. The performance of these composites is strongly influenced by the fiber morphology, structural characteristics, and the nature of the matrix. Thus, understanding and optimizing these parameters is crucial for tailoring materials to meet specific design requirements. The experimental approach began with the morphological and structural characterization of the raw and treated fibers, followed by the evaluation of the thermal a properties of the resulting composites. Furthermore, thermal conductivity simulations were performed using COMSOL Multiphysics to validate the experimental results and gain deeper insights into heat transfer behavior within the composites. A comparative analysis with conventional synthetic insulation materials revealed that the developed bio-composites offer competitive thermal performance while being more environmentally sustainable. These findings highlight the potential of Alfa and wood waste fibers as effective, eco-friendly alternatives for thermal insulation in building applications. Full article

Biocomposites incorporating bio-based polymers and natural fibers hold great promise due to their environmental and economic benefits, though their commercial use is still limited by production challenges. This study reports the development of polylactic acid (PLA) composite filament reinforced with 5 wt% date palm fibers for fused deposition modeling (FDM)-based 3D Printing. The biocomposite is fabricated through extrusion and 3D Printing, and its mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties are characterized in this work. Fiber dispersion is examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), while tensile testing evaluates yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation at break. Fracture behavior and failure mechanisms are further analyzed through optical microscopy and SEM. The biocomposite shows higher yield strength (36.75 MPa) and tensile strength (53.69 MPa), representing improvements of 10.12% and 6.53%, respectively, compared to in-house extruded pure PLA. However, it exhibits lower ductility, as indicated by reduced elongation at break. Water absorption is also higher in the biocomposite (0.58%) than in pure PLA (0.10%). Both materials display similar thermal behavior and brittle fracture characteristics. These results highlight the reinforcing effect of date palm fibers and the role of processing on the behavior/performance of the biocomposite. Reinforcing PLA with a small fraction of date palm fibers, an abundant natural resource, offers a cost-effective and eco-friendly material, particularly suited for single-use plastic products where biodegradability and sustainability are essential. This study also confirms the suitability of PLA/date palm fiber filament for FDM-based 3D Printing. Full article