Samar El-Mekkawi¹, Wafaa Abou-Elseoud², Shaimaa Fadel², Enas Hassan², Mohammad Hassan^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.9, pp. 1573-1591, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.053589 - 25 September 2024

Abstract Recycling of paper sludge waste is crucial for establishing a sustainable green industry. This waste contains valuable sugars that can be converted into important chemicals such as ethanol, poly hydroxybutyrate, and lactic acid. However, the main challenge in obtaining sugars in high yield from paper sludge is the high crystallinity of cellulose, which hinders hydrolysis. To address this, pretreatment using phosphoric acid was optimized using response surface methodology to facilitate cellulose hydrolysis with minimal energy and chemicals. The created prediction model using the response surface method considered factors such as acid concentration (ranging from 60%… More > Graphic Abstract

Mochamad Chalid^1,*, Gifrandy Gustiraharjo¹, Azizah Intan Pangesty¹, Alyssa Adyandra¹, Yudan Whulanza², Sugeng Supriadi²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.7, pp. 3043-3056, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026788 - 05 June 2023

Abstract Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was added at different concentrations to the blend of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(D,L-lactic acid)(PDLLA) to tailor the properties. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement showed that all blends were miscible due to shifting a single glass transition temperature into a lower temperature for increasing PEG content. The DSC, FTIR, and XRD results implied the crystallinity enhancement for PEG content until 8 wt%, then decreased at 12 wt% PEG. The XRD result indicated the homo crystalline phase formation in all blends and no stereocomplex crystal. The in vitro degradation study indicated that… More > Graphic Abstract

Mohammad Jawaid¹, Lau Kia Kian¹, Hassan Fouad², Ramzi Khiari^3,4,5,*, Othman Y. Alothman⁶, Mohamed Hashem⁷

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.6, pp. 1459-1470, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.018415 - 20 January 2022

Abstract Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) is a biomaterial derived from plant lignocellulosic components, widely applied in various industrial fields. Concurrently, with the growth of awareness in developing green nanomaterial, the explored Washingtonia fibre could be alternative biomass for obtaining CNC products. In the present work, different acid concentrations of 5%, 15%, and 25% hydrochloric solutions were employed to produce CNCs from Washingtonia fibre. With the chemical treatments, the yield of the CNC product was successfully retained at 21.6%−25.1%. Individually separated and needle-shaped CNC particles could be observed under the microscopic viewing with the increased acid concentrations. From… More > Graphic Abstract

GOBI NALLATHAMBI, BHARGAVI RAM THIMMIAH^*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.37, No.3-4, pp. 189-200, 2020, DOI:10.32381/JPM.2020.37.3-4.6

Abstract The aim of this study is to optimize the process parameters of alkali treated Saharan aloe vera cactus fibres using of Box-behnken experimental design. The Saharan aloe vera cactus fibres were treated with different concentration of NaOH, soaking time and temperature which affect the properties of fibres and plays main role in removal of lignin, hemicellulose, pectin and wax content. The chemical composition of untreated and treated fibres was analyzed by standard methods. XRD result shows the improvement in the crystallinity index of fibres due to alkali treatment. ATR-FTIR analysis shows that hemicellulose and lignin More >

Michael R. Snowdon^1,2, Amar K. Mohanty^1,2, Manjusri Misra^1,2*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, Suppl.1, pp. 94-105, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634134

Abstract This article assesses the performance of a biobased carbon as a nucleator using common techniques to stimulate poly(lactic acid) crystallization and enhance the thermal stability of PLA during injection molding. The combination of a biodegradable plasticizer, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), along with biobased carbon-rich pyrolyzed biomass char residue and an industrially available microcrystalline talc, were tested for nucleating agent capabilities at additions of 10 wt%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data demonstrated that the inclusion of the plasticizer could increase the PLA crystalline content with further improvements when nucleating agent was present. With a higher mold temperature, More >

David Grewell^1,*, Gowrishankar Srinivasan¹, Eric Cochran²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.2, No.3, pp. 157-165, 2014, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634112

Abstract Presented in this study is a novel recycling strategy for poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in which the depolymerization is rapidly promoted by the base-catalyzed hydrol-/alcohol-ysis of the terminal ester bonds under mild conditions. Post-consumer PLA water bottles were cut into approximately 6 x 2 mm plastic chips and heated to 50–60o C in water, ethanol, or methanol as the depolymerization medium. A variety of carbonate salts and alkaline metal oxides were screened as potential catalysts. High-power ultrasound was also investigated as a means to accelerate the PLA decomposition. Both mass loss and HPLC analysis of the More >