Search Results (257)

Bio-based, biodegradable, and renewable polymers offer a promising alternative to traditional synthetic polymers derived from petroleum or other non-renewable resources. However, their use is limited by suboptimal properties and high costs. Incorporating sustainable reinforcements into the polymer matrix significantly improves biopolymer performance while preserving key properties, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Bio-based polymeric composites have emerged as a crucial category of biopolymers, playing a key role in advancing a sustainable, circular economy. This review provides an updated overview of bio-based polymer composites and nanocomposites, focusing on reinforcement strategies using natural nanofillers and engineered nanoparticles. We summarize key synthesis and processing methods, discuss structure–property relationships, and highlight recent advances in applications such as food packaging, biomedical devices, energy systems, environmental remediation, 3D printing, and supercapacitors. Polymer nanocomposites are versatile, with their performance depending on the type, size, and interactions between the fillers and the polymer matrix. Progress in metallic, ceramic, carbon-based, natural, and hybrid fillers has improved their properties. Using bio-based polymers and renewable fillers supports sustainability. Natural nanofillers derived from renewable sources and industrial byproducts offer a sustainable approach to developing high-performance, biodegradable nanocomposites. Smart nanocomposites can react to external stimuli by integrating specialized fillers that enhance their mechanical and mobility properties. Shape memory nanocomposites can be remotely activated—using heat, electricity, magnets, or light—enabling advanced applications. Finally, we address major challenges and outline future directions for scalable, circular-material solutions, drawing on perspectives from the circular economy and life cycle assessment (LCA). Full article

Water is fundamental to structural integrity, stability, and functional properties of food systems, biomaterials, and biobased industries. The dynamics of hydration, including hydrogen bonding, hydration shell formation, plasticization, and phase transitions, dictate molecular behavior and exert broad influence on energy consumption, shelf life, biodegradability, and resource efficiency. However, the nonlinear and multiscale characteristics of hydration have constrained the predictive capabilities of conventional empirical methods. This study introduces a comprehensive framework that integrates foundational hydration science with advanced computational intelligence to model, predict, and optimize hydration-driven phenomena across diverse biopolymer classes. Leveraging classical insights into carbohydrate stereochemistry, protein hydrophobic hydration, and phospholipid-bound water, we demonstrate how computational approaches can reduce resource use in bioprocessing by 30–50% and optimize drying curves to lower energy consumption by 25%. By establishing hydration as a strategic design parameter, this work charts a pathway toward a resilient and sustainable economy where predictive error rates for hydration dynamics are significantly minimized through data-driven calibration. Full article

In recent years, sustainable biopolymers have attracted increasing attention in environmental engineering as alternatives to conventional synthetic materials due to their renewable origins, biodegradability, and functional versatility. However, their performance and technological viability are strongly influenced by structural design, modification strategies, and behavior under realistic environmental conditions. This review critically analyzes recent advances in biopolymers for environmental remediation, covering their main application formats such as hydrogels, membranes, beads, aerogels, and composites, their interaction mechanisms with contaminants, and their performance relative to conventional adsorbents. Particular emphasis is placed on emerging approaches, including advanced functionalization, integration with inorganic phases, and green synthesis technologies, which have significantly improved efficiency, selectivity, and operational stability. Despite these advances, key limitations persist, particularly regarding mechanical robustness, regenerability, reproducibility, and scalability, underscoring the need for standardized evaluation protocols in complex matrices. The role of biopolymers within circular economy frameworks is also examined, emphasizing their capacity to integrate material sustainability, resource recovery, and multifunctional environmental applications. Overall, sustainable biopolymers are positioned not only as substitutes for traditional materials but also as strategic platforms for the development of next-generation regenerative environmental technologies. Full article

Biopolymers from renewable sources are increasingly explored to reduce the carbon footprint of materials and mitigate plastic pollution. This review synthesizes the last five years of progress across the biopolymer value chain, comparing plant, microbial/fermentation, fungal, and marine/algal resources and critically assessing greener extraction and fractionation routes (ultrasound and microwave intensification, subcritical water, supercritical CO₂ with co-solvents, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents including natural deep eutectic solvents, and enzymatic or bio-mediated processes). We emphasize yield-selectivity trade-offs, scalability, energy demand, and solvent recovery. Downstream, we summarize purification and performance tuning via crosslinking, derivatization, blending/plasticization, and nanocomposites, and we map advanced characterization to targeted functional properties to bridge processing choices with end-use performance. Applications are organized across food and agriculture, biomedical and pharmaceutical technologies, packaging, and cosmetics, with cross-cutting attention to safety and regulatory compliance, quality-by-design, techno-economics, and life-cycle assessment. Key bottlenecks are feedstock variability, viscosity and recyclability limitations of designer solvents, and persistent gaps in barrier and thermal properties versus petrochemical benchmarks, compounded by uneven composting and recycling infrastructure. Promising directions include low-viscosity or switchable solvents, data- and artificial intelligence (AI)-guided process optimization, engineered biopolymers, and circular end-of-life strategies that align material design with realistic recovery routes. Full article

Biopolymers and bioactive peptides of plant origin represent sustainable resources with high potential for the development of functional ingredients with health benefits. An underutilized plant source of antihypertensive peptides is lima bean protein (Phaseolus lunatus); however, these peptides can be inactivated or degraded during their passage through the gastrointestinal tract. This study evaluated chia (Salvia hispanica) mucilage (CM) combined with sodium alginate (Al) as a hybrid encapsulation matrix for ACE-inhibitory peptides (<10 kDa) from P. lunatus. The ionic gelation technique was used, and encapsulation conditions were optimized using a 2³ factorial design that evaluated CM:Al ratios, calcium concentration, and hardening time. The optimal formulation (30:70 CM:Al; 0.05 M CaCl₂; 20 min of hardening time) achieved approximately 48% encapsulation efficiency and maintained the peptides’ ACE-inhibitory (IC₅₀ mg/mL) activity during simulated gastric digestion with controlled intestinal release. The formed capsules demonstrated good flow properties, thermal stability up to 178 °C, and preserved ACE-I activity (0.1 mg/mL IC₅₀) significantly better than alginate alone after in vitro digestion. These findings suggest that CM:Al blends could produce capsules with the ability to protect bioactive peptides with low molecular weight, warranting further investigation through in vivo bioavailability studies and structural characterization to confirm the proposed matrix-enhancing mechanisms. Full article

Biopolymers can be derived from biological sources, including protein blends with plasticizers, starch, enzymatic synthesis, microorganisms, and algae. They are classified into polynucleotides, polysaccharides, and polypeptides, including polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactic acid, and thermoplastic starch. Blending polymers with plasticizers and nanoparticles enhances their mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. Biopolymers have various applications, such as in packaging, textiles, medical devices, cosmetics, agriculture, food products, emulsifiers, construction additives, bioplastics, and biofuels. Some of the advantages of biopolymers include their biodegradability, use of renewable resources, and reduced environmental impact. Nevertheless, certain disadvantages persist, such as high production costs, inadequate waste management systems, material quality loss during recycling, and the limited availability of raw materials. In this context, castor oil has emerged as a promising raw material for biopolymer production, with notable applications in coatings and sealants, and, consequently, bioplastics have become a sustainable and feasible alternative to conventional plastics that aligns with the principles of the circular economy. Moreover, new biopolymers are constantly being developed, and innovative applications are increasingly being explored across industries. The aim of the present review is to analyze the potential of biopolymers as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics by evaluating their sources, production methods, advantages, limitations, and applications. Full article

This study investigates the influence of layer height, infill density, and the number of perimeters on the FDM 3D printing performance of PLA, a biodegradable and renewable biopolymer. The primary objective is to identify parameter settings that simultaneously maximize impact strength and production efficiency, quantified through filament usage and printing time. In addition, 3D surface profilometry was employed as a non-destructive characterization method to evaluate surface roughness, assess its dependence on process parameters, and establish correlations with destructive impact strength testing. Experimental work was conducted using a Taguchi L9 orthogonal array, and regression-based mathematical models were developed to quantify the effects of individual parameters on the analysed responses. Finally, Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) was applied to perform multi-objective optimization and determine parameter combinations that jointly enhance mechanical durability, surface quality, and production efficiency. The results provide a clear set of manufacturing parameter settings that satisfy both destructive and non-destructive performance criteria while ensuring resource-efficient production. Full article

The recovery of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from activated sludge (AS) represents a promising strategy to transform wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) into resource recovery facilities within a circular economy framework. In this study, EPS was extracted from an AS process in a full-scale WWTP, highlighting its catalytic and bioflocculant properties, which represent an innovation in the valorization of this biopolymer. The EPS was subsequently characterized in terms of polysaccharides, proteins, and enzymatic activities (amylase and lipase). The bioflocculation performance of the EPS was evaluated using activated sludge mixed liquor. Results showed that EPS recovery yields using 50 °C and 80 °C were 196.3 ± 38.2 mg EPS/g sludge and 283.5 ± 85.4 mg EPS/g sludge, respectively. Enzymatic assays confirmed amylase activity ranging from 100 to 350 U/g sludge according to the extraction temperature. Lipolytic activity (20 U/g sludge) was comparable to values reported in the literature for EPS from biological sludge. The addition of EPS significantly improved the sludge settling velocity (from 0.86 to 4.48 m/h) and the sludge volume index (from 118.6 to 35.5). However, EPS application also increased the resistance to filtration by 50% and reduced cellular respiration by approximately 40%. Overall, the findings demonstrate that EPS from activated sludge acts as an effective bioflocculant with relevant catalytic properties, highlighting its potential as a high-value biotechnological product while also pointing to operational challenges that require further optimization. Full article

Residual lignocellulosic biomass represents a major resource to be incorporated into the circular economy, with up to 1400 Mt/y in EU27. Due to its complex composition of three biopolymers (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) combined with its seasonal and regional variability and high water content, its valorization involves manifold challenging aspects. Herein a three-step procedure is presented to transform this type of biomass into solid composite panels: hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), dry thermal treatment and curing a phenolic resin. HTC triggers chemical dehydration of the polysaccharide part of the lignocellulose and breaks up the cell structure of the plants. This facilitates the diffusion of the water and its separation by filtration, which is more energy efficient than evaporation. HTC and thermal treatment induce chemical changes that concentrate the carbon content and make the material suitable for crosslinking with a phenolic resin, achieving a 90% renewable content. The composite panels are competitive with products of the particle and fiberboard sector with respect to tensile strength and screw withdrawal resistance. Hence, the products can be employed for construction or in the furniture industry. Full article

Agricultural leftovers from oilseed crops represent an underutilized lignocellulosic resource for integrated biorefinery. In this work, rapeseed straw (RS) and sunflower stalk (SS) were evaluated as raw materials for the simultaneous recovery of hemicelluloses, lignin, and cellulose-rich fibers. Direct soda pulping (20% NaOH, 160 °C, 45 min) or a combination of soda pulping with water pretreatment or alkaline extraction (water or 2% NaOH, 110 °C, 40 min) were the methods used in the process. Acid precipitation was used to remove lignin from the process fluids, whereas ethanol was used to separate hemicelluloses. FTIR spectroscopy, HPLC of acidic hydrolysates, and chemical composition analysis were used to analyze solid fractions and recovered biopolymers. The combination alkaline extraction–soda pulping produced the greatest material removal: 55% for RS and 70% for SS. Xylan was the main component of the isolated hemicellulose fraction: 44.86% for RS and 40.09% for SS. Paper sheets produced from the resulting pulps exhibited tensile strength indices of 35–55 N·m/g and burst indices of 1.1–2.4 kPa·m²/g, meeting requirements for hygiene and fluting packaging papers. These results prove that RS and SS are suitable feedstocks for integrated, multi-stream biorefinery, enabling the concurrent production of paper-making fibers and value-added biopolymers. Full article

Lignin, the most abundant renewable source of aromatic compounds, plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable biorefineries and reducing dependence on fossil resources. Recent progress in integrated lignin valorization pathways has unlocked opportunities to convert this complex biopolymer into high-value chemicals, materials, and energy carriers, despite its structural heterogeneity and recalcitrance posing major challenges. This review highlights the significant advancements in depolymerization strategies, including catalytic, oxidative, and biological approaches, which are reinforced by innovations in catalyst design and reaction engineering that enhance selectivity and efficiency. It also discusses emerging technologies, such as hybrid chemo-enzymatic systems, solvent fractionation, and continuous-flow reactors, for their potential to improve scalability and sustainability. Furthermore, this review examines the integration of lignin valorization with upstream pretreatment and downstream recovery, emphasizing process intensification, co-product synergy, and techno-economic optimization to achieve commercial viability. Despite these developments, critical gaps remain in understanding the molecular complexity of lignin, developing universally applicable catalytic systems, and optimizing economic and environmental performance. To guide future research, it poses two key questions: how to design catalysts for selective depolymerization across diverse lignin sources, and how to configure biorefineries for maximum lignin utilization while ensuring sustainability? Addressing these challenges will be essential for lignin’s role in next-generation biorefineries and a circular bioeconomy. Full article

Every year, crustacean shell waste amounts to nearly 8 million tons worldwide, representing both an environmental challenge and a valuable resource. Crustacean shells can be repurposed as raw material for products in various industries, including agriculture, construction, and biomedicine. They are a valuable resource for creating functional materials due to their high content of chitin, protein, and calcium carbonate. These compounds can be extracted and processed to create various products, such as the biopolymer chitosan, antioxidants like astaxanthin, and adsorbents for water treatment, aligning with a circular economy approach by converting waste into valuable by-products. Chitosan films from crustacean waste are promising active packaging materials developed over the last decade, featuring enhanced antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Extensive research confirms that crustacean shell waste is an excellent, low-cost adsorbent for removing heavy metals from water. This review analyzes current trends and opportunities for crustacean shell waste utilization in packaging materials and wastewater treatment. Key applications include replacing conventional plastic in biodegradable packaging and improving water treatment, which enhances resource efficiency and minimizes environmental pollution. Full article

Conventional petroleum-based protective coatings release high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and contribute to resource depletion, urging the development of environmentally responsible alternatives. Among the bio-based candidates, microalgae and Cyanobacteriophyta have recently gained attention for their ability to produce diverse biopolymers and pigments with intrinsic protective functionalities. However, existing literature has focused mainly on algal biofuels and general biopolymers, leaving a major gap in understanding their application as sustainable coating materials. This review addresses that gap by providing the first integrated assessment of algae-based protective coatings. It begins by defining abiotic and biotic surface degradation mechanisms, including microbiologically influenced corrosion, to establish performance benchmarks. The review then synthesizes recent findings on key algal components, including alginate, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and phycocyanin, linking biochemical composition to functional performance, techno-economic feasibility, and industrial scalability. It evaluates their roles in adhesion strength, UV stability, corrosion resistance, and antifouling activity. Reported performance metrics include adhesion strengths of 2.5–3.8 MPa, UV retention above 85% after 2000 h, and corrosion rate reductions of up to 40% compared with polyurethane systems. Furthermore, this study introduces the concept of carbon-negative, multifunctional coatings that simultaneously protect infrastructure and mitigate environmental impacts through CO₂ sequestration and pollutant degradation. Challenges involving biomass variability, processing costs (>USD 500/ton), and regulatory barriers are critically discussed, with proposed solutions through hybrid cultivation and biorefinery integration. By bridging materials science, environmental engineering, and sustainability frameworks, this review establishes a foundation for transforming algae-based coatings from laboratory research to scalable, industrially viable technologies. Full article

This study focuses on improving the fatigue strength and overall performance of sustainable biopolymer polylactic acid (PLA) components manufactured via Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) additive manufacturing process. PLA, as a biodegradable and renewable polymer derived from natural resources, represents a promising alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics in engineering and research applications. The influence of key FDM process parameters—layer height, infill density, and number of perimeters—on critical performance indicators such as filament consumption, printing time, and fatigue strength (number of cycles to failure) was systematically analyzed using the Taguchi L9 orthogonal array. Subsequently, Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) was applied as a multi-objective optimization technique to identify the parameter settings that achieve an optimal balance between mechanical durability and resource efficiency. The obtained results demonstrate that a proper combination of process parameters can significantly enhance the mechanical reliability and sustainability profile of FDM-printed PLA parts, contributing to the broader adoption of eco-friendly materials in additive manufacturing. Full article

In recent years, concerns about sustainability in livestock farming have been raised. The livestock sector is accused of substantial greenhouse gas emissions, environmental pollution (i.e., wastewater with high COD and rich in N and P that can pollute freshwater and cause eutrophication), and resource consumption. The use of fossil resources to produce synthetic fertilizers is the major source of pollution indirectly attributable to livestock farming. However, the polluting load of the livestock sector can be used to produce energy and materials, increasing its sustainability. The scope of this work was to critically review the methods of management and valorization of waste from the livestock sector (slurry, manure, abattoir wastewater, slaughterhouse waste, and aquaculture waste). The various technologies for energy valorization (i.e., bio-H₂ and bio-CH₄) will be represented. The perspectives and challenges for the exploitation of these wastes to produce high-added-value molecules, extraction of bioactive molecules, alternative proteins, biofertilizers, and biopolymers will also be discussed in view of enhancing sustainability. Examples of possible large animal waste-based integrated biorefineries have also been proposed. Full article