Eglė Malachovskienė^1,*, Danguolė Bridžiuvienė¹, Jolita Ostrauskaitė², Justina Vaičekauskaitė², Gailė Žalūdienė³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 1255-1269, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.023574 - 31 October 2022

Abstract The biodegradation of polymeric biocomposites formed from epoxidized linseed oil and various types of fillers (pine needles, pine bark, grain mill waste, rapeseed cake) and a control sample without filler was studied during 180 days of exposure to two types of forest soil: deciduous and coniferous. The weight loss, morphological, and structural changes of polymer composites were noticed after 180 days of the soil burial test. The greatest weight loss of all tested samples was observed in coniferous forest soil (41.8%–63.2%), while in deciduous forest soil, it ranged between 37.7% and 42.3%. The most significant… More >

Meifeng Wang^1,2, Wubliker Dessie², Hui Li^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.12, pp. 2119-2128, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016811 - 22 June 2021

Abstract Lignin is the most abundant heteropolymer based on aromatic subunits in nature. Large quantities of lignin are annually produced from pulping processes and biorefinery industries. Its unclearly defined structure and difficult biodegradation mainly limit its utilization. This work focused on the effect of hydroxylation of lignin on its microbial degradation. Butyloxy carbonyl-modified lignin, and hydroxylated-lignin were synthesized with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, using lignin as raw material. The degradation of the modifiedlignins both by P. chrysosporium and B. subtilis were analyzed using UV-vis spectroscopy. Results revealed that the lignin degradation velocity raises with the increase More > Graphic Abstract

Sudhakar Muniyasamy^1,2,*, Asis Patnaik^3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.10, pp. 1661-1671, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014904 - 12 May 2021

Abstract Present study deals with the biodegradable behavior of individual components and their preforms of nonwoven biocomposites developed from waste wool fibers including coring wool (CW), dorper wool (DW) and recycled polyester fibers (RPET). A respirometric technique was employed to estimate the production of CO₂ during the biodegradation experiments under soil and aqueous media conditions. Functional groups of test samples before and after biodegradation were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Leaching chemicals such as formaldehyde (hydrolyzed) and Chromium VI (Cr VI) was also measured. The CO₂ emission in wool fibers CW and DW indicated 90%… More >

Xingran Kou^1,2, Qixuan Zhao², Wenwen Xu², Zuobing Xiao², Yunwei Niu², Kai Wang^3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1189-1211, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015268 - 18 March 2021

Abstract Several important drugs and nutritional supplements are limited by their lack of bioavailability. Nanomaterials display unique beneficial properties that might help improve the bioavailability of drugs and nutritional supplements. Unfortunately, nanomaterials produced from synthetic polymers and metals may have similar difficulties with bioavailability and toxicity. Naturally occurring biopolymers are biodegradable and non-toxic and are adaptable to the synthesis of nanoparticles. Drugs and other substances can be encapsulated or embedded in such particles with an increase in bioavailability. The search for biodegradable nanomaterials is an active research field. This review summarizes the research on nanocrystalline cellulose, More >

Zinta Zimele^1,*, Ilze Irbe², Juris Grinins², Oskars Bikovens², Anrijs Verovkins², Diana Bajare¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.9, pp. 1067-1076, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09646 - 03 August 2020

Abstract Novel mycelium-based biocomposites (MBB) were obtained from local agricultural (hemp shives) and forestry (wood chips) by-products which were bounded together with natural growth of fungal mycelium. As a result, hemp mycocomposites (HMC) and wood mycocomposites (WMC) were manufactured. Mechanical, water absorption and biodegradation properties of MBB were investigated. MBB were characterized also by ash content and elemental composition. The results of MBB were compared with the reference materials such as the commercial MBB material manufactured by Ecovative^® Design (EV), hemp magnesium oxychloride concrete (HC) and cemented wood wool panel (CW), manufactured by CEWOOD^®. The mechanical properties… More >

Larissa Stieven Montagna, Isabela CÉSAR Oyama, Rita de CÁSSIA Barbosa Camargo Lamparelli, Ana Paula Silva, THAÍS Larissa do Amaral Montanheiro, Ana Paula Lemes^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.2, pp. 117-128, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00036

Abstract Biodegradable polymers have been increasingly used for scientific and commercial applications because they are similar to some conventional thermoplastics and exhibit the ability of self-degradation. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) nanocomposites films with 1 and 2 wt% of carbon nanotubes (CNT) were prepared by solution mixing, followed by solvent evaporation. In this work, PHBV/CNT nanocomposites were submitted to biodegradation in an aqueous medium for 34 days through a respirometric system. Then, the PHBV films were analyzed by the CO2 production and mineralization as a response of a microbial attack, which was monitored by back titration during all the… More >

Zakia Khelifi^1,2, Mohammed Amine Allal², Nabil Abou-bekr², Saïd Taïbi¹, Benoît Duchemin^1*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.3, pp. 336-346, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2018.634102

Abstract The in-soil biodegradation of Stipa tenacissima (alfa) leaves was examined. Non-linear mechanical testing was performed at various biodegradation stages. Tensile strength, loading and unloading Young's moduli and dissipation energy decreased with the burial time, whereas plasticity increased. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed that the fracture cracks propagated in the longitudinal direction in the raw material, resulting in a fracture mode consisting of a mixture of middle lamella delamination and fiber pull-out. In contrast, the cracks were perpendicular to the stem axis in the biodegraded material, demonstrating an important strength loss of the load-bearing fibers. More >

Kabir Fardad¹, Bahman Najafi¹, Sina Faizollahzadeh Ardabili¹, Amir Mosavi^2,3, Shahaboddin Shamshirband,^4,5,*, Timon Rabczuk²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.55, No.3, pp. 381-392, 2018, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2018.01803

Abstract Glycyrrhiza glabra, Mint, Cuminum cyminum, Lavender and Arctium medicinal are considered as edible plants with therapeutic properties and as medicinal plants in Iran. After extraction process of medicinal plants, residual wastes are not suitable for animal feed and are considered as waste and as an environmental threat. At present there is no proper management of waste of these plants and they are burned or buried. The present study discusses the possibility of biogas production from Glycyrrhiza Glabra Waste (GGW), Mentha Waste (MW), Cuminum Cyminum Waste (CCW), Lavender Waste (LW) and Arctium Waste (AW). 250 g… More >

Sudhakar Muniyasamy^1,2, Osei Ofosu^1,2, Maya Jacob John^1,2, Rajesh D. Anandjiwala^1,2*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.2, pp. 133-145, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634104

Abstract The present study investigates the mineralization of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-covalerate) (PHBV), and PLA/PHBV blend in compost and soil burial environments. The mineralization was assayed on the basis of carbon dioxide (CO2) release from the test materials incubated in compost and soil for a period of 200 days. The degradation was followed by means of fragmentation, thermogravimetric (TGA), FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The results showed that PLA, PHBV and blend of PLA/PHBV achieved almost 90% biodegradation under composting conditions, while PHBV, PLA/PHBV blend and PLA respectively achieved only 35%, 32% More >

Estefanía Lidón Sánchez-Safont¹, Jennifer González-Ausejo¹, José Gámez-Pérez¹, José María Lagarón², Luis Cabedo^1*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.2, pp. 123-132, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634127

Abstract Novel biodegradable composites based on poly(3-hydroxybutirate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and different contents of purifi ed alpha-cellulose fi bers (3, 10, 25 and 45%) were prepared by melt blending and characterized. The composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) experiments, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanic analysis (DMA) and Shore D hardness measurements. Disintegrability under composting conditions was studied according to the ISO 20200 standard. Morphological results showed that high dispersion of the fi bers was achieved during mixing. Good adhesion on the fi ber-matrix interface was also detected by More >