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Wang J, Gao W, Jin Y, Tian W, Zhang Y, Hu C, Wang B, Dong S, Yuan L. Water-dispersible macromolecular antioxidants for toughening and strengthening cellulose membranes. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 339:122246. [PMID: 38823914 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Biodegradable packaging materials from cellulose are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics. Balancing its mechanical properties as well as protective values (antioxidation, oxygen barrier, etc.) is critical. However, most studies to improve its antioxidation performance were accompanied by sacrificed mechanical properties. In the current work, a series of linear -COOH functionalized phenolic polymers were prepared from phenolic compounds (vanillin, 3,4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde) through a facile tri-component thiol-aldehyde polycondensation. While circumventing the cumbersome protection-deprotection of phenol groups, the one-pot strategy also affords water dispersible polymers for fabricating composites with cellulose nanofibers in an aqueous medium. After introducing 5-10 wt% of the copolymers, a minor soft phase was formed inside the composites, contributing to enhanced mechanical strength, toughness, antioxidation capability, and ultra-violet blocking performance, while its oxygen barrier property was well maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylon, School of Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China
| | - Wei Gao
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylon, School of Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China
| | - Yu Jin
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylon, School of Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China
| | - Wangmao Tian
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylon, School of Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China
| | - Yutao Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylon, School of Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China
| | - Chengcheng Hu
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylon, School of Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China
| | - Baoxia Wang
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylon, School of Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China
| | - Shuqi Dong
- Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, PR China.
| | - Liang Yuan
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylon, School of Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China.
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2
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Courtene-Jones W, Burgevin F, Munns L, Shillam MBT, De Falco F, Buchard A, Handy RD, Thompson RC, Hanley ME. Deterioration of bio-based polylactic acid plastic teabags under environmental conditions and their associated effects on earthworms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:172806. [PMID: 38772795 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
In response to the plastic waste crisis, teabag producers have substituted the petrochemical-plastic content of their products with bio-based, biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA). Despite widespread use, the degradation rate of PLA/PLA-blended materials in natural soil and their effects on soil biota are poorly understood. This study examined the percentage mass deterioration of teabags with differing cellulose:PLA compositions following burial (-10 cm depth) in an arable field margin for 7-months, using a suite of analytical techniques, such as size exclusion chromatography, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of 28-d exposure to teabag discs at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.02 %, 0.04 % and 0.07 % w/w) on the survival, growth and reproduction (OECD TG 222 protocol) of the key soil detritivore Eisenia fetida was assessed in laboratory trials. After 7-month burial, Tbag-A (2.4:1 blend) and Tbag-B (3.5:1 cellulose:PLA blend) lost 66 ± 5 % and 78 ± 4 % of their total mass, primarily attributed to degradation of cellulose as identified by FTIR spectroscopy and a reduction in the cellulose:PLA mass ratio, while Tbag-C (PLA) remained unchanged. There were clear treatment and dose-specific effects on the growth and reproductive output of E. fetida. At 0.07 % w/w of Tbag-A adult mortality marginally increased (15 %) and both the quantity of egg cocoons and the average mass of juveniles also increased, while at concentrations ≥0.04 % w/w of Tbag-C, the quantity of cocoons was suppressed. Adverse effects are comparable to those reported for non-biodegradable petrochemical-based plastic, demonstrating that bio-based PLA does not offer a more 'environmentally friendly' alternative. Our study emphasises the necessity to better understand the environmental fate and ecotoxicity of PLA/PLA-blends to ensure interventions developed through the UN Plastic Pollution Treaty to use alternatives and substitutes to conventional plastics do not result in unintended negative consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Courtene-Jones
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK.
| | - F Burgevin
- Institute for Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - L Munns
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - M B T Shillam
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - F De Falco
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - A Buchard
- Institute for Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - R D Handy
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - R C Thompson
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - M E Hanley
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
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López-Ibáñez S, Quade J, Wlodarczyk A, Abad MJ, Beiras R. Marine degradation and ecotoxicity of conventional, recycled and compostable plastic bags. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 351:124096. [PMID: 38703982 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Plastic bags are currently a major component of marine litter, causing aesthetical nuisance, and undesirable effects on marine fauna that ingest them or are entangled. Plastic litter also rises concern on the ecotoxicological effects due to the potential toxicity of the chemical additives leached in aquatic environments. Conventional plastic bags are made of polyethylene, either from first use or recycled, but regulations restricting single-use plastics and limiting lightweight carrier bags (<50 μm thickness) have fostered the replacement of thin PE bags by compostable materials advertised as safer for the environment. In this study, we assess the degradation of commercially available plastic bags in marine conditions at two scales: aquariums (60 days) and outdoors flow-through mesocosm (120 days). Strength at break point and other tensile strength parameters were used as ecologically relevant endpoints to track mechanical degradation. Ecotoxicity has been assessed along the incubation period using the sensitive Paracentrotus lividus embryo test. Whereas PE bags did not substantially lose their mechanical properties within the 60 d aquarium exposures, compostable bags showed remarkable weight loss and tensile strength decay, some of them fragmenting in the aquarium after 3-4 weeks. Sediment pore water inoculum promoted a more rapid degradation of compostable bags, while nutrient addition pattern did not affect the degradation rate. Longer-term mesocosms exposures supported these findings, as well as pointed out the influence of the microbial processes on the degradation efficiency of compostable/bioplastic bags. Compostable materials, in contrast toPE, showed moderate toxicity on sea-urchin larvae, partially associated to degradation of these materials, but the environmental implications of these findings remain to be assessed. These methods proved to be useful to classify plastic materials, according to their degradability in marine conditions, in a remarkably shorter time than current standard tests and promote new materials safer for the marine fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara López-Ibáñez
- ECIMAT, Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM), Universidade de Vigo, 36331, Vigo, Galicia, Spain; Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain.
| | - Jakob Quade
- ECIMAT, Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM), Universidade de Vigo, 36331, Vigo, Galicia, Spain; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringer Weg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Angelika Wlodarczyk
- ECIMAT, Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM), Universidade de Vigo, 36331, Vigo, Galicia, Spain; University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Höchstädtpl. 6, 1200, Vienna, Austria
| | - María-José Abad
- Universidade da Coruña, Campus Industrial de Ferrol, CITENI- Grupo de Polímeros, Campus de Esteiro, Ferrol, Galicia, Spain
| | - Ricardo Beiras
- ECIMAT, Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM), Universidade de Vigo, 36331, Vigo, Galicia, Spain; Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain
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Amabile C, Abate T, Muñoz R, Chianese S, Musmarra D. Techno-economic assessment of biopolymer production from methane and volatile fatty acids: effect of the reactor size and biomass concentration on the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) selling price. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172599. [PMID: 38657807 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) is a biobased and biodegradable polymer that could efficiently replace fossil-based plastics. However, its widespread deployment is slowed down by the high production cost. In this work, the techno-economic assessment of the process for producing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) from low-cost substrates, such as methane and valeric acid derived from the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes, is proposed. Several strategies for cost abatement, such as the use of a mixed consortium and a line for reagent recycling during downstream, were adopted. Different scenarios in terms of production, from 100 to 100,000 t/y, were analysed, and, for each case, the effect of the reactor volume (small, medium and large size) on the selling price was assessed. In addition, the effect of biomass concentration was also considered. Results show that the selling price of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) is minimum for a production plant with 100,000 t/y capacity, accounting for 18.4 €/kg, and highly influenced by the biomass concentration since it can be reduced up to 8.6 €/kg by increasing the total suspended solids from 5 to 30 g/L, This adjustment aligns the breakeven point of PHBV with the reported average commercial price.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Amabile
- Department of Engineering, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy; Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Teresa Abate
- Department of Engineering, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy; Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Raul Muñoz
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Simeone Chianese
- Department of Engineering, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy
| | - Dino Musmarra
- Department of Engineering, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy
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Chalermthai B, Nootong K, Olsen BD, Assabumrungrat S, Charoensuppanimit P. Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of Spirulina bioplastic produced via plasticization with glycerol. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118622. [PMID: 38442816 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Bioplastics have been used as alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics to lessen the burdens on marine and terrestrial environments due to their non-biodegradability and toxicity. However, recent studies have shown that not all bioplastics may be environmentally friendly. Microalgae, such as Spirulina that do not require arable land, have been identified as a potential bioplastic source. In this study, cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out in openLCA program using the Agribalyse database, to evaluate the environmental impacts of Spirulina bioplastic, formed from plasticization of Spirulina powder with glycerol. Two processes were created for the inventories of (i) Spirulina powder and (ii) Spirulina bioplastic, where the output of the former served as an input for the latter. The extruded bioplastic sheets were food-grade and could be used as edible packaging materials. The bioplastic was also compared to conventional plastics and it was found that the energy consumption was 3.83 ± 0.26 MJ/kg-bioplastic, which was 12% and 22% higher than that of LDPE and PVC plastic films, respectively. The impacts on the environment showed that the chemical growth medium (Zarrouk medium) and electricity were the main contributors in most of the categories. Compared to the PVC and LDPE films, the Spirulina bioplastic's impacts on the aquatic ecosystems were 2-3 times higher. The global warming potential of the Spirulina bioplastic was 1.99 ± 0.014 kg CO2 eq, which was 23% and 47% lower than that of LDPE and PVC films, respectively. Sensitivity analysis was carried out by changing the electricity source and using alternative growth media. Except for the case of switching to solar energy, the results for other cases did not differ significantly from the base case scenario. Future studies were suggested to identify different greener alternatives to the growth medium as well as different energy mixes for more environmentally benign solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Chalermthai
- Bio-Circular-Green-Economy Technology & Engineering Center (BCGeTEC), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Control and Systems Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Kasidit Nootong
- Bio-Circular-Green-Economy Technology & Engineering Center (BCGeTEC), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Bradley D Olsen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, United States
| | - Suttichai Assabumrungrat
- Bio-Circular-Green-Economy Technology & Engineering Center (BCGeTEC), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Catalysis and Catalytic Reaction Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Pongtorn Charoensuppanimit
- Bio-Circular-Green-Economy Technology & Engineering Center (BCGeTEC), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Control and Systems Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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6
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Fang C, Awoyemi OS, Naidu R. Is paper bag plastic-free, without plastic in colourful logo area? JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134403. [PMID: 38669922 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The concern over plastic contamination has led to bans on plastic shopping bags, often replaced by paper ones. However, logos painted or printed on paper bags may still contain plastics, as investigated herein. In some logos, for example, white pigment of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are bound with plastic binder onto the cellulose surface of the paper. This hybrid of plastic and nanoparticle is examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) to characterise morphology physically, and Raman imaging to identify and visualise them chemically. Raman imaging scans the sample to separate images and identify not only plastic but also the co-formulated pigment. The scan generates a hyperspectral matrix containing hundreds to thousands of spectra, and subsequent analysis can enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. Decoding the hyperspectral matrix using chemometrics like principal component analysis (PCA) can effectively map plastic and pigment separately with increased certainty. The image can be further refined through 3-dimensional surface fitting for deconvolution, providing direct visualisation of the plastic-nanoparticle hybrid at a density of approximately 7.3 million particles per square millimetre. Overall, caution should be exercised when using paper bags, as they may not be entirely free of plastics. Raman imaging proves to be an effective method for identifying and visualising complex components, including plastics and nanoparticles. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: The concern over plastic contamination has led to bans on plastic shopping bags, replaced by paper alternatives. However, some logos on paper bags may still contain plastics, which is investigated to confirm the presence of plastic-nanoparticle hybrid using SEM and Raman imaging. By employing decoding algorithms such as PCA to separately map plastic and pigment, and utilising 3D surface fitting to deconvolute the image, the hybrid plastic-nanoparticle is estimated at a density of approximately 7.3 million particles per square millimetre. It's important to exercise caution and not assume these items are plastic-free. This aspect of plastics may have been overlooked as another potential source of contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Fang
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
| | - Olalekan Simon Awoyemi
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
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7
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Bergeson AR, Silvera AJ, Alper HS. Bottlenecks in biobased approaches to plastic degradation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4715. [PMID: 38830860 PMCID: PMC11148140 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49146-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic waste is an environmental challenge, but also presents a biotechnological opportunity as a unique carbon substrate. With modern biotechnological tools, it is possible to enable both recycling and upcycling. To realize a plastics bioeconomy, significant intrinsic barriers must be overcome using a combination of enzyme, strain, and process engineering. This article highlights advances, challenges, and opportunities for a variety of common plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia R Bergeson
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ashli J Silvera
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Hal S Alper
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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8
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Pham DN, Mai DHA, Lee EY. Biosynthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate from methane and carbon dioxide using type II methanotrophs. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024:130931. [PMID: 38838829 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are the dominant greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are increasing at an alarming rate. Methanotrophs have emerged as potential CH4 and CO2 biorefineries. This study demonstrated the synchronous incorporation of CH4 and CO2 into polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) for the first time using 13C-labeling experiments in methanotrophs. By supplying substantial amounts of CO2, PHB content was enhanced in all investigated type II methanotrophic strains by 140 %, 146 %, and 162 %. The highest content of PHB from CH4 and CO2 in flask-scale cultivation reached 38 % dry cell weight in Methylocystis sp. MJC1, in which carbon percentage in PHB from CO2 was 45 %. Flux balance analysis predicted the critical roles of crotonyl-CoA carboxylase/reductase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in CO2 recycling. This study provided proof of the conversion of GHGs into a valuable and practical product using methanotrophic bacteria, contributing to addressing GHG emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diep Ngoc Pham
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
| | - Dung Hoang Anh Mai
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea
| | - Eun Yeol Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea.
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Omar MN, Minggu MM, Nor Muhammad NA, Abdul PM, Zhang Y, Ramzi AB. Towards consolidated bioprocessing of biomass and plastic substrates for semi-synthetic production of bio-poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) polymer using omics-guided construction of artificial microbial consortia. Enzyme Microb Technol 2024; 177:110429. [PMID: 38537325 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2024.110429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) plastic is a 100% renewable polyester that is currently being pursued for commercialization as the next-generation bio-based plastic. This is in line with growing demand for circular bioeconomy and new plastics economy that is aimed at minimizing plastic waste mismanagement and lowering carbon footprint of plastics. However, the current catalytic route for the synthesis of PEF is impeded with technical challenges including high cost of pretreatment and catalyst refurbishment. On the other hand, the semi-biosynthetic route of PEF plastic production is of increased biotechnological interest. In particular, the PEF monomers (Furan dicarboxylic acid and ethylene glycol) can be synthesized via microbial-based biorefinery and purified for subsequent catalyst-mediated polycondensation into PEF. Several bioengineering and bioprocessing issues such as efficient substrate utilization and pathway optimization need to be addressed prior to establishing industrial-scale production of the monomers. This review highlights current advances in semi-biosynthetic production of PEF monomers using consolidated waste biorefinery strategies, with an emphasis on the employment of omics-driven systems biology approaches in enzyme discovery and pathway construction. The roles of microbial protein transporters will be discussed, especially in terms of improving substrate uptake and utilization from lignocellulosic biomass, as well as from depolymerized plastic waste as potential bio-feedstock. The employment of artificial bioengineered microbial consortia will also be highlighted to provide streamlined systems and synthetic biology strategies for bio-based PEF monomer production using both plant biomass and plastic-derived substrates, which are important for circular and new plastics economy advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Norfikri Omar
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), UKM, Bangi, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
| | - Matthlessa Matthew Minggu
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), UKM, Bangi, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
| | - Nor Azlan Nor Muhammad
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), UKM, Bangi, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
| | - Peer Mohamed Abdul
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor 43600, Malaysia; Centre for Sustainable Process Technology (CESPRO), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
| | - Ying Zhang
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Ahmad Bazli Ramzi
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), UKM, Bangi, Selangor 43600, Malaysia.
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10
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Hao LT, Kim S, Lee M, Park SB, Koo JM, Jeon H, Park J, Oh DX. Next-generation all-organic composites: A sustainable successor to organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 269:132129. [PMID: 38718994 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
This Review presents an overview of all-organic nanocomposites, a sustainable alternative to organic-inorganic hybrids. All-organic nanocomposites contain nanocellulose, nanochitin, and aramid nanofibers as highly rigid reinforcing fillers. They offer superior mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics suitable for diverse applications. The Review discusses various methods for preparing the organic nanofillers, including top-down and bottom-up approaches. It highlights in situ polymerization as the preferred method for incorporating these nanomaterials into polymer matrices to achieve homogeneous filler dispersion, a crucial factor for realizing desired performance. Furthermore, the Review explores several applications of all-organic nanocomposites in diverse fields including food packaging, performance-advantaged plastics, and electronic materials. Future research directions-developing sustainable production methods, expanding biomedical applications, and enhancing resistance against heat, chemicals, and radiation of all-organic nanocomposites to permit their use in extreme environments-are explored. This Review offers insights into the potential of all-organic nanocomposites to drive sustainable growth while meeting the demand for high-performance materials across various industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lam Tan Hao
- Research Center for Bio-Based Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Ulsan 44429, Republic of Korea
| | - Semin Kim
- Research Center for Bio-Based Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Ulsan 44429, Republic of Korea
| | - Minkyung Lee
- Research Center for Bio-Based Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Ulsan 44429, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Bae Park
- Research Center for Bio-Based Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Ulsan 44429, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Mo Koo
- Department of Organic Materials Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeonyeol Jeon
- Research Center for Bio-Based Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Ulsan 44429, Republic of Korea; Advanced Materials & Chemical Engineering, Korea National University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jeyoung Park
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dongyeop X Oh
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering and Program in Environmental and Polymer Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Wu XT, Yang C, Xi JS, Shi C, Du FS, Li ZC. Enabling Closed-Loop Circularity of "Non-Polymerizable" α, β-Conjugated Lactone Towards High-Performance Polyester with the Assistance of Cyclopentadiene. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202404179. [PMID: 38488293 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202404179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Chemical recycling of polymers to monomers presents a promising solution to the escalating crisis associated with plastic waste. Despite considerable progress made in this field, the primary efforts have been focused on redesigning new monomers to produce readily recyclable polymers. In contrast, limited research into the potential of seemingly "non-polymerizable" monomers has been conducted. Herein, we propose a paradigm that leverages a "chaperone"-assisted strategy to establish closed-loop circularity for a "non-polymerizable" α, β-conjugated lactone, 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (DPO). The resulting PDPO, a structural analogue of poly(δ-valerolactone) (PVL), exhibits enhanced thermal properties with a melting point (Tm) of 114 °C and a decomposition temperature (Td,5%) of 305 °C. Notably, owing to the structural similarity between DPO and δ-VL, the copolymerization generates semi-crystalline P(DPO-co-VL)s irrespective of the DPO incorporation ratio. Intriguingly, the inherent C=C bonds in P(DPO-co-VL)s enable their convenient post-functionalization via Michael-addition reaction. Lastly, PDPO was demonstrated to be chemically recyclable via ring-closing metathesis (RCM), representing a significant step towards the pursuit of enabling the closed-loop circularity of "non-polymerizable" lactones without altering the ultimate polymer structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Tong Wu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Chun Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jian-Shu Xi
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Changxia Shi
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Fu-Sheng Du
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zi-Chen Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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12
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Mogany T, Bhola V, Bux F. Algal-based bioplastics: global trends in applied research, technologies, and commercialization. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-33644-9. [PMID: 38787471 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33644-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The excessive global demand for plastic materials has resulted in severe plastic waste pollution. Conventional plastics derived from non-renewable fossil fuels are non-biodegradable, leading to significant environmental problems. Algal-based bioplastics represent a more viable, renewable, and sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. They have identical properties and characteristics as conventional plastics while being naturally biodegradable. The potential of the algal biomass value chain has already been well-established by researchers. Here, we review the novel insights on research, technology, and commercialization trends of algal-based bioplastics, encompassing macroalgae and green microalgae/cyanobacteria. Data showed that within the last decade, there has been substantial interest in utilizing microalgae for biopolymer production, with more focus on using cyanobacterial species compared to green algae. Moreover, most of the research conducted has largely focused on the production of PHA or its co-polymers. Since 2011, there have been a total of 55 patents published related to algal-based bioplastics production. To date, ~ 81 entities worldwide (commercial and private businesses) produce bioplastics from algae. Overall results of this study emphasized that even with the economic and social challenges, algae possess a substantial potential for the sustainable development of bioplastics while also addressing the UN's SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trisha Mogany
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 4001, South Africa
| | - Virthie Bhola
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 4001, South Africa
| | - Faizal Bux
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
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13
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Armijo-Galdames B, Sadler JC. One-Pot Biosynthesis of Acetone from Waste Poly(hydroxybutyrate). ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2024; 12:7748-7756. [PMID: 38783840 PMCID: PMC11110063 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The plastic waste crisis is catalyzing change across the plastics life cycle. Central to this is increased production and application of bioplastics and biodegradable plastics. In particular, poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable bioplastic that can be produced from various renewable and waste feedstocks and is a promising alternative to some petrochemical-derived and non-biodegradable plastics. Despite its advantages, PHB biodegradation depends on environmental conditions, and the effects of degradation into microplastics, oligomers, and the 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB) monomer on soil microbiomes are unknown. We hypothesized that the ease of PHB biodegradation renders this next-generation plastic an ideal feedstock for microbial recycling into platform chemicals currently produced from fossil fuels. To demonstrate this, we report the one-pot degradation and recycling of PHB into acetone using a single strain of engineered Escherichia coli. Following strain development and initial bioprocess optimization, we report maximum titers of 123 mM acetone (7 g/L) from commercial PHB granules after 24 h fermentation at 30 °C. We further report biorecycling of an authentic sample of post-consumer PHB waste at a preparative scale. This is the first demonstration of biological recycling of PHB into a second-generation chemical, and it demonstrates next-generation plastic waste as a novel feedstock for the circular bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamín
O. Armijo-Galdames
- Institute of Quantitative
Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Roger Land Building, Alexander Crum
Brown Road, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, U.K.
| | - Joanna C. Sadler
- Institute of Quantitative
Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Roger Land Building, Alexander Crum
Brown Road, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, U.K.
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14
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Marcharla E, Vinayagam S, Gnanasekaran L, Soto-Moscoso M, Chen WH, Thanigaivel S, Ganesan S. Microplastics in marine ecosystems: A comprehensive review of biological and ecological implications and its mitigation approach using nanotechnology for the sustainable environment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 256:119181. [PMID: 38768884 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic contamination has rapidly become a serious environmental issue, threatening marine ecosystems and human health. This review aims to not only understand the distribution, impacts, and transfer mechanisms of microplastic contamination but also to explore potential solutions for mitigating its widespread impact. This review encompasses the categorisation, origins, and worldwide prevalence of microplastics and methodically navigates the complicated structure of microplastics. Understanding the sources of minute plastic particles infiltrating water bodies worldwide is critical for successful removal. The presence and accumulation of microplastics has far reaching negative impacts on various marine creatures, eventually extending its implications to human health. Microplastics are known to affect the metabolic activities and the survival of microbial communities, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fauna present in marine environments. Moreover, these microplastics cause developmental abnormalities, endocrine disruption, and several metabolic disorders in humans. These microplastics accumulates in aquatic environments through trophic transfer mechanisms and biomagnification, thereby disrupting the delicate balance of these ecosystems. The review also addresses the tactics for minimising the widespread impact of microplastics by suggesting practical alternatives. These include increasing public awareness, fostering international cooperation, developing novel cleanup solutions, and encouraging the use of environment-friendly materials. In conclusion, this review examines the sources and prevalence of microplastic contamination in marine environment, its impacts on living organisms and ecosystems. It also proposes various sustainable strategies to mitigate the problem of microplastics pollution. Also, the current challenges associated with the mitigation of these pollutants have been discussed and addressing these challenges require immediate and collective action for restoring the balance in marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eswar Marcharla
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Saranya Vinayagam
- Department of Biosciences, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 602 105, India
| | - Lalitha Gnanasekaran
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, 1000000, Chile.
| | | | - Wei-Hsin Chen
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung 411, Taiwan
| | - Sundaram Thanigaivel
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu 603203, India.
| | - Swamynathan Ganesan
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu 603203, India.
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15
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Xu D, Liang P, Ying X, Li X, Cheng Q. Development of cellulose/ZnO based bioplastics with enhanced gas barrier, UV-shielding effect and antibacterial activity. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 271:132335. [PMID: 38768923 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Development of renewable and biodegradable plastics with good properties, such as the gas barrier, UV-shielding, solvent resistance, and antibacterial activity, remains a challenge. Herein, cellulose/ZnO based bioplastics were fabricated by dissolving cellulose carbamate in an aqueous solution of NaOH/Zn(OH)42-, followed by coagulation in aqueous Na2SO4 solution, and subsequent hot-pressing. The carbamate groups detached from cellulose, and ZnO which transformed from cosolvent to nanofiller was uniformly immobilized in the cellulose matrix during the dissolution/regeneration process. The appropriate addition of ZnO (below 10.67 wt%) not only improved the mechanical properties but also enhanced the water and oxygen barrier properties of the material. Additionally, our cellulose/ZnO based bioplastic demonstrated excellent UV-blocking capabilities, increased water contact angle, and enhanced antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli, deriving from the incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles. Furthermore, the material exhibited resistance to organic solvents such as acetone, THF, and toluene. Indeed, the herein developed cellulose/ZnO based bioplastic presents a promising candidate to replace petrochemical plastics in various applications, such as plastic toys, anti-UV guardrails, window shades, and oil storage containers, offering a combination of favorable mechanical, gas barrier, UV-blocking, antibacterial, and solvent-resistant properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingfeng Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Pin Liang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Xinlan Ying
- Guangzhou Foreign Language School, Guangzhou 511455, China
| | - Xingxing Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Qiaoyun Cheng
- Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510316, China.
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16
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Kaushik A, Singh A, Gupta VK, Mishra YK. Nano/Micro-Plastic, an invisible threat getting into the Brain. CHEMOSPHERE 2024:142380. [PMID: 38763401 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Due to weather and working/operational conditions, plastic degradation produces toxic and non-biodegradable nano and microplastics (N/M-Ps, ranging from 10 nm to 5 mm), and over time these N/M-Ps have integrated with the human cycle through ingestion and inhalation. These N/M-Ps, as serious emerging pollutants, are causing considerable adverse health issues due to up-taken by the cells, tissue, and organs, including the brain. It has been proven that N/M-Ps can cross the blood-brain barrier (via olfactory and blood vessels) and affect the secretion of neuroinflammatory (cytokine and chemokine), transporters, and receptor markers. Neurotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and brain injury, which may result in such scenarios are a serious concern and may cause brain disorders. However, the related pathways and pathogenesis are not well-explored but are the focus of upcoming emerging research. Therefore, as a focus of this editorial, well-organized multidisciplinary research is required to explore associated pathways and pathogenesis, leading to brain mapping and nano-enabled therapeutics in acute and chronic N/M-P exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajeet Kaushik
- NanoBioTech Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland, FL-USA.
| | - Avtar Singh
- Research and Development, Molekule Inc., 3802 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa, Florida, 33612, USA.
| | - Vijai Kumar Gupta
- Biorefining and Advanced Materials Research Center, SRUC, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.
| | - Yogendra Kumar Mishra
- Mads Clausen Institute, NanoSYD, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, 6400, Sønderborg, Denmark.
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17
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Edwards M, Pratley MT, Gordon CM, Teixeira RI, Ali H, Mahmood I, Lester R, Love A, Hermens JGH, Freese T, Feringa BL, Poliakoff M, George MW. Process Intensification of the Continuous Synthesis of Bio-Derived Monomers for Sustainable Coatings Using a Taylor Vortex Flow Reactor. Org Process Res Dev 2024; 28:1917-1928. [PMID: 38783853 PMCID: PMC11110062 DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.3c00462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
We describe the optimization and scale-up of two consecutive reaction steps in the synthesis of bio-derived alkoxybutenolide monomers that have been reported as potential replacements for acrylate-based coatings (Sci. Adv.2020, 6, eabe0026). These monomers are synthesized by (i) oxidation of furfural with photogenerated singlet oxygen followed by (ii) thermal condensation of the desired 5-hydroxyfuranone intermediate product with an alcohol, a step which until now has involved a lengthy batch reaction. The two steps have been successfully telescoped into a single kilogram-scale process without any need to isolate the 5-hydroxyfuranone between the steps. Our process development involved FTIR reaction monitoring, FTIR data analysis via 2D visualization, and two different photoreactors: (i) a semicontinuous photoreactor based on a modified rotary evaporator, where FTIR and 2D correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) revealed the loss of the methyl formate coproduct, and (ii) our fully continuous Taylor Vortex photoreactor, which enhanced the mass transfer and permitted the use of near-stoichiometric equivalents of O2. The use of in-line FTIR monitoring and modeling greatly accelerated process optimization in the Vortex reactor. This led to scale-up of the photo-oxidation in 85% yield with a projected productivity of 1.3 kg day-1 and a space-time yield of 0.06 mol day-1 mL-1. Higher productivities could be achieved while sacrificing yield (e.g., 4 kg day-1 at 40% yield). The use of superheated methanol at 200 °C in a pressurized thermal flow reactor accelerated the second step, the thermal condensation of 5-hydroxyfuranone, from a 20 h batch reflux reaction (0.5 L, 85 g) to a space time of <1 min in a reactor only 3 mL in volume operating with projected productivities of >700 g day-1. Proof of concept for telescoping the two steps was established with an overall two-step yield of 67%, producing a process with a projected productivity of 1.1 kg day-1 for the methoxybutenolide monomer without any purification of the 5-hydroxyfuranone intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew
D. Edwards
- School
of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Matthew T. Pratley
- School
of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Charles M. Gordon
- Scale-up
Systems Ltd., 23 Shelbourne
Road, Dublin 4, D04 PY68, Ireland
| | - Rodolfo I. Teixeira
- School
of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Hamza Ali
- School
of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Irfhan Mahmood
- School
of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Reece Lester
- School
of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Ashley Love
- School
of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Johannes G. H. Hermens
- Advanced
Research Centre CBBC, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty of
Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Freese
- Advanced
Research Centre CBBC, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty of
Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ben L. Feringa
- Advanced
Research Centre CBBC, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty of
Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martyn Poliakoff
- School
of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Michael W. George
- School
of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
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18
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Wawrzyńczak A, Chudzińska J, Feliczak-Guzik A. Metal and Metal Oxides Nanoparticles as Nanofillers for Biodegradable Polymers. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202300823. [PMID: 38353297 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Polymeric materials, despite their many undeniable advantages, nowadays are a major environmental challenge. Thus, in recent years biodegradable polymer matrices have been widely used in various sectors, including the medicinal, chemical, and packaging industry. Their widespread use is due to the properties of biodegradable polymer matrices, among which are their adjustable physicochemical and mechanical properties, as well as lower environmental impact. The properties of biodegradable polymers can be modified with various types of nanofillers, among which clays, organic and inorganic nanoparticles, and carbon nanostructures are most commonly used. The performance of the final product depends on the size and uniformity of the used nanofillers, as well as on their distribution and dispersion in the polymer matrix. This literature review aims to highlight new research results on advances and improvements in the synthesis, physicochemical properties and applications of biodegradable polymer matrices modified with metal nanoparticles and metal oxides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Wawrzyńczak
- Department of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań University 8, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jagoda Chudzińska
- Department of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań University 8, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Feliczak-Guzik
- Department of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań University 8, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
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19
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Fang C, Awoyemi OS, Luo Y, Naidu R. How to Identify and Quantify Microplastics and Nanoplastics Using Raman Imaging? Anal Chem 2024; 96:7323-7331. [PMID: 38695421 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
While microplastics and nanoplastics are emerging as a big environmental concern, their characterization is still a challenge, particularly for identification and simultaneous quantification analysis where imaging via a hyper spectrum is generally needed. In the past few years, Raman imaging has been greatly advanced, but the analysis protocol is complicated and not yet standardized because imaging analysis is different from traditional analysis. Herein we provide a step-by-step demonstration of how to employ confocal Raman techniques to image microplastics and nanoplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Fang
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia
- CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Olalekan Simon Awoyemi
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Yunlong Luo
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia
- CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia
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20
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Elgharbawy AS, El Demerdash AGM, Sadik WA, Kasaby MA, Lotfy AH, Osman AI. Synthetic Degradable Polyvinyl Alcohol Polymer and Its Blends with Starch and Cellulose-A Comprehensive Overview. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1356. [PMID: 38794547 PMCID: PMC11124784 DOI: 10.3390/polym16101356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Approximately 50% of global plastic wastes are produced from plastic packaging, a substantial amount of which is disposed of within a few minutes of its use. Although many plastic types are designed for single use, they are not always disposable. It is now widely acknowledged that the production and disposal of plastics have led to a plethora of negative consequences, including the contamination of both groundwater and soil resources and the deterioration of human health. The undeniable impact of excessive plastic manufacturing and waste generation on the global plastic pollution crisis has been well documented. Therefore, degradable polymers are a crucial solution to the problem of the non-degradation of plastic wastes. The disadvantage of degradable polymers is their high cost, so blending them with natural polymers will reduce the cost of final products and maximize their degradation rate, making degradable polymers competitive with industrial polymers that are currently in use daily. In this work, we will delineate various degradable polymers, including polycaprolactone, starch, and cellulose. Furthermore, we will elucidate several aspects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and its blends with natural polymers to show the effects of adding natural polymers on PVA properties. This paper will study cost-effective and ecologically acceptable polymers by combining inexpensive natural polymers with readily accessible biodegradable polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah S. Elgharbawy
- Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, 163 Horrya Avenue, Shatby, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; (A.S.E.)
- The Egyptian Ethylene and Derivatives Company (Ethydco), Alexandria 21544, Egypt
| | - Abdel-Ghaffar M. El Demerdash
- Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, 163 Horrya Avenue, Shatby, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; (A.S.E.)
| | - Wagih A. Sadik
- Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, 163 Horrya Avenue, Shatby, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; (A.S.E.)
| | - Mosaad A. Kasaby
- Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, 163 Horrya Avenue, Shatby, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; (A.S.E.)
| | - Ahmed H. Lotfy
- Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, 163 Horrya Avenue, Shatby, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt; (A.S.E.)
| | - Ahmed I. Osman
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK
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21
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Adetunji AI, Erasmus M. Green Synthesis of Bioplastics from Microalgae: A State-of-the-Art Review. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1322. [PMID: 38794516 PMCID: PMC11124873 DOI: 10.3390/polym16101322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of conventional plastics has increased tremendously in the last decades due to rapid industrialization, population growth, and advancement in the use of modern technologies. However, overuse of these fossil fuel-based plastics has resulted in serious environmental and health hazards by causing pollution, global warming, etc. Therefore, the use of microalgae as a feedstock is a promising, green, and sustainable approach for the production of biobased plastics. Various biopolymers, such as polyhydroxybutyrate, polyurethane, polylactic acid, cellulose-based polymers, starch-based polymers, and protein-based polymers, can be produced from different strains of microalgae under varying culture conditions. Different techniques, including genetic engineering, metabolic engineering, the use of photobioreactors, response surface methodology, and artificial intelligence, are used to alter and improve microalgae stocks for the commercial synthesis of bioplastics at lower costs. In comparison to conventional plastics, these biobased plastics are biodegradable, biocompatible, recyclable, non-toxic, eco-friendly, and sustainable, with robust mechanical and thermoplastic properties. In addition, the bioplastics are suitable for a plethora of applications in the agriculture, construction, healthcare, electrical and electronics, and packaging industries. Thus, this review focuses on techniques for the production of biopolymers and bioplastics from microalgae. In addition, it discusses innovative and efficient strategies for large-scale bioplastic production while also providing insights into the life cycle assessment, end-of-life, and applications of bioplastics. Furthermore, some challenges affecting industrial scale bioplastics production and recommendations for future research are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adegoke Isiaka Adetunji
- Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
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22
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Wang Y, Ju J, Diao Y, Zhao F, Yang Q. The application of starch-based edible film in food preservation: a comprehensive review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2024:1-34. [PMID: 38712440 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2024.2349735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Using renewable resources for food packaging not only helps reduce our dependence on fossil fuels but also minimizes the environmental impact associated with traditional plastics. Starch has been a hot topic in the field of current research because of its low cost, wide source and good film forming property. However, a comprehensive review in this field is still lacking. Starch-based films offer a promising alternative for sustainable packaging in the food industry. The present paper covers various aspects such as raw material sources, modification methods, and film formation mechanisms. Understanding the physicochemical properties and potential commercial applications is crucial for bridging the gap between research and practical implementation. Finally, the application of starch-based films in the food industry is discussed in detail. Different modifications of starch can improve the mechanical and barrier properties of the films. The addition of active substances to starch-based films can endow them with more functions. Therefore, these factors should be better investigated and optimized in future studies to improve the physicochemical properties and functionality of starch-based films. In summary, this review provides comprehensive information and the latest research progress of starch-based films in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Wang
- Special Food Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
- Qingdao Special Food Research Institute, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Special Food Processing (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture Rural Affairs, People's Republic of China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Special Food, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Ju
- Special Food Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
- Qingdao Special Food Research Institute, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Special Food Processing (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture Rural Affairs, People's Republic of China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Special Food, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuduan Diao
- Institute of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science
| | - Fangyuan Zhao
- Special Food Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
- Qingdao Special Food Research Institute, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Special Food Processing (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture Rural Affairs, People's Republic of China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Special Food, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingli Yang
- Special Food Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
- Qingdao Special Food Research Institute, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Special Food Processing (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture Rural Affairs, People's Republic of China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Special Food, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
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23
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Scolaro C, Brahimi S, Falcone A, Beghetto V, Visco A. Mechanical and Physical Changes in Bio-Polybutylene-Succinate Induced by UVC Ray Photodegradation. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1288. [PMID: 38732759 PMCID: PMC11085343 DOI: 10.3390/polym16091288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Bio-polybutylene succinate (PBS) is a biodegradable polymer obtained from renewable feedstock having physical-mechanical properties like traditional low-density polyethylene (LDPE). PBS is employed by many manufacturing sectors, from biomedical to agri-food and cosmetics. Although some studies have already evaluated the resistance of PBS to photodegradation caused by natural outdoor solar exposure (UVA-UVB), a systematic study on the resistance to degradation caused by exposure to UVC rays, which is the subject of this study, has not yet been carried out. PBS was exposed to UVC either neat or filled with 2% carbon black (CB). Mechanical and physical characterization (tensile, hardness, calorimetry, contact angle, morphology, and surface roughness analyses) indicates that the bulk and surface properties of the polymer matrix changes after exposure to UVC radiations, due to a severe degradation. However, the presence of carbon black compensates for the degradation phenomenon. Because UVC rays are used for the sterilization process, necessary in applications such as biomedical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food, and other products, a comparison of the protocol used in this paper with the literature's data has been reported and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Scolaro
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, C. da Di Dio, 98166 Messina, Italy; (S.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Salim Brahimi
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, C. da Di Dio, 98166 Messina, Italy; (S.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Aurora Falcone
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, C. da Di Dio, 98166 Messina, Italy; (S.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Valentina Beghetto
- Crossing S.r.l., Viale della Repubblica 193/b, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice, Via Torino5 155, 30172 Mestre, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Reattività Chimiche e la Catalisi (CIRCC), Via C. Ulpiani 27, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Annamaria Visco
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, C. da Di Dio, 98166 Messina, Italy; (S.B.); (A.F.)
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials—CNR IPCB, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy
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24
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Gonçalves LFFF, Reis RL, Fernandes EM. Forefront Research of Foaming Strategies on Biodegradable Polymers and Their Composites by Thermal or Melt-Based Processing Technologies: Advances and Perspectives. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1286. [PMID: 38732755 PMCID: PMC11085284 DOI: 10.3390/polym16091286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The last few decades have witnessed significant advances in the development of polymeric-based foam materials. These materials find several practical applications in our daily lives due to their characteristic properties such as low density, thermal insulation, and porosity, which are important in packaging, in building construction, and in biomedical applications, respectively. The first foams with practical applications used polymeric materials of petrochemical origin. However, due to growing environmental concerns, considerable efforts have been made to replace some of these materials with biodegradable polymers. Foam processing has evolved greatly in recent years due to improvements in existing techniques, such as the use of supercritical fluids in extrusion foaming and foam injection moulding, as well as the advent or adaptation of existing techniques to produce foams, as in the case of the combination between additive manufacturing and foam technology. The use of supercritical CO2 is especially advantageous in the production of porous structures for biomedical applications, as CO2 is chemically inert and non-toxic; in addition, it allows for an easy tailoring of the pore structure through processing conditions. Biodegradable polymeric materials, despite their enormous advantages over petroleum-based materials, present some difficulties regarding their potential use in foaming, such as poor melt strength, slow crystallization rate, poor processability, low service temperature, low toughness, and high brittleness, which limits their field of application. Several strategies were developed to improve the melt strength, including the change in monomer composition and the use of chemical modifiers and chain extenders to extend the chain length or create a branched molecular structure, to increase the molecular weight and the viscosity of the polymer. The use of additives or fillers is also commonly used, as fillers can improve crystallization kinetics by acting as crystal-nucleating agents. Alternatively, biodegradable polymers can be blended with other biodegradable polymers to combine certain properties and to counteract certain limitations. This work therefore aims to provide the latest advances regarding the foaming of biodegradable polymers. It covers the main foaming techniques and their advances and reviews the uses of biodegradable polymers in foaming, focusing on the chemical changes of polymers that improve their foaming ability. Finally, the challenges as well as the main opportunities presented reinforce the market potential of the biodegradable polymer foam materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis F. F. F. Gonçalves
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs–Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui L. Reis
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs–Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Emanuel M. Fernandes
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs–Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
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25
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Rahmati F, Sethi D, Shu W, Asgari Lajayer B, Mosaferi M, Thomson A, Price GW. Advances in microbial exoenzymes bioengineering for improvement of bioplastics degradation. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 355:141749. [PMID: 38521099 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has become a major global concern, posing numerous challenges for the environment and wildlife. Most conventional ways of plastics degradation are inefficient and cause great damage to ecosystems. The development of biodegradable plastics offers a promising solution for waste management. These plastics are designed to break down under various conditions, opening up new possibilities to mitigate the negative impact of traditional plastics. Microbes, including bacteria and fungi, play a crucial role in the degradation of bioplastics by producing and secreting extracellular enzymes, such as cutinase, lipases, and proteases. However, these microbial enzymes are sensitive to extreme environmental conditions, such as temperature and acidity, affecting their functions and stability. To address these challenges, scientists have employed protein engineering and immobilization techniques to enhance enzyme stability and predict protein structures. Strategies such as improving enzyme and substrate interaction, increasing enzyme thermostability, reinforcing the bonding between the active site of the enzyme and substrate, and refining enzyme activity are being utilized to boost enzyme immobilization and functionality. Recently, bioengineering through gene cloning and expression in potential microorganisms, has revolutionized the biodegradation of bioplastics. This review aimed to discuss the most recent protein engineering strategies for modifying bioplastic-degrading enzymes in terms of stability and functionality, including enzyme thermostability enhancement, reinforcing the substrate binding to the enzyme active site, refining with other enzymes, and improvement of enzyme surface and substrate action. Additionally, discovered bioplastic-degrading exoenzymes by metagenomics techniques were emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Rahmati
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Qom 37185364, Iran
| | - Debadatta Sethi
- Sugarcane Research Station, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Nayagarh, India
| | - Weixi Shu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada
| | | | - Mohammad Mosaferi
- Health and Environment Research Center, Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Allan Thomson
- Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation., 173 Dr. Bernie MacDonald Dr., Bible Hill, Truro, NS, B6L 2H5, Canada
| | - G W Price
- Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada.
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26
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Gómez-Bachar L, Vilcovsky M, González-Seligra P, Famá L. Effects of PVA and yerba mate extract on extruded films of carboxymethyl cassava starch/PVA blends for antioxidant and mechanically resistant food packaging. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 268:131464. [PMID: 38702248 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Global concerns over environmental damage caused by non-biodegradable single-use packaging have sparked interest in developing biomaterials. The food packaging industry is a major contributor to non-degradable plastic waste. This study investigates the impact of incorporating different concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and yerba mate extract as a natural antioxidant into carboxymethyl cassava starch films to possibly use as active degradable packaging to enhance food shelf life. Films with starch and PVA blends (SP) at different ratios (SP radios of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20 and 70:30) with and without yerba mate extract (Y) were successfully produced through extrusion and thermoforming. The incorporation of up to 20 wt% PVA improved starch extrusion processing and enhanced film transparency. PVA played a crucial role in improving the hydrophobicity, tensile strength and flexibility of the starch films but led to a slight deceleration in their degradation in compost. In contrast, yerba mate extract contributed to better compost degradation of the blend films. Additionally, it provided antioxidant activity, particularly in hydrophilic and lipophilic food simulants, suggesting its potential to extend the shelf life of food products. Starch-PVA blend films with yerba mate extract emerged as a promising alternative for mechanically resistant and active food packaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Gómez-Bachar
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Física, Laboratorio de Polímeros y Materiales Compuestos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maia Vilcovsky
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Física, Laboratorio de Polímeros y Materiales Compuestos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula González-Seligra
- Instituto de Ingenierías y Nuevas Tecnologías, Universidad Nacional del Oeste, San Antonio de Padua, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía Famá
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Física, Laboratorio de Polímeros y Materiales Compuestos, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires (IFIBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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27
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Shaw WJ, Kidder MK, Bare SR, Delferro M, Morris JR, Toma FM, Senanayake SD, Autrey T, Biddinger EJ, Boettcher S, Bowden ME, Britt PF, Brown RC, Bullock RM, Chen JG, Daniel C, Dorhout PK, Efroymson RA, Gaffney KJ, Gagliardi L, Harper AS, Heldebrant DJ, Luca OR, Lyubovsky M, Male JL, Miller DJ, Prozorov T, Rallo R, Rana R, Rioux RM, Sadow AD, Schaidle JA, Schulte LA, Tarpeh WA, Vlachos DG, Vogt BD, Weber RS, Yang JY, Arenholz E, Helms BA, Huang W, Jordahl JL, Karakaya C, Kian KC, Kothandaraman J, Lercher J, Liu P, Malhotra D, Mueller KT, O'Brien CP, Palomino RM, Qi L, Rodriguez JA, Rousseau R, Russell JC, Sarazen ML, Sholl DS, Smith EA, Stevens MB, Surendranath Y, Tassone CJ, Tran B, Tumas W, Walton KS. A US perspective on closing the carbon cycle to defossilize difficult-to-electrify segments of our economy. Nat Rev Chem 2024; 8:376-400. [PMID: 38693313 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00587-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Electrification to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions is essential to mitigate climate change. However, a substantial portion of our manufacturing and transportation infrastructure will be difficult to electrify and/or will continue to use carbon as a key component, including areas in aviation, heavy-duty and marine transportation, and the chemical industry. In this Roadmap, we explore how multidisciplinary approaches will enable us to close the carbon cycle and create a circular economy by defossilizing these difficult-to-electrify areas and those that will continue to need carbon. We discuss two approaches for this: developing carbon alternatives and improving our ability to reuse carbon, enabled by separations. Furthermore, we posit that co-design and use-driven fundamental science are essential to reach aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy J Shaw
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
| | | | - Simon R Bare
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
| | | | | | - Francesca M Toma
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Institute of Functional Materials for Sustainability, Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon, Teltow, Brandenburg, Germany.
| | | | - Tom Autrey
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Shannon Boettcher
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mark E Bowden
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Robert C Brown
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Jingguang G Chen
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Peter K Dorhout
- Vice President for Research, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | | | - Laura Gagliardi
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aaron S Harper
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - David J Heldebrant
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Oana R Luca
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - Jonathan L Male
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Robert Rallo
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Rachita Rana
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Robert M Rioux
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Aaron D Sadow
- Ames National Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Lisa A Schulte
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - William A Tarpeh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Dionisios G Vlachos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Bryan D Vogt
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Robert S Weber
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Jenny Y Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Elke Arenholz
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Brett A Helms
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Wenyu Huang
- Ames National Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - James L Jordahl
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Kourosh Cyrus Kian
- Independent consultant, Washington DC, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Johannes Lercher
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ping Liu
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA
| | | | - Karl T Mueller
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Casey P O'Brien
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | | | - Long Qi
- Ames National Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | | | - Jake C Russell
- Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy, Department of Energy, Washington DC, USA
| | - Michele L Sarazen
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Emily A Smith
- Ames National Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Yogesh Surendranath
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Ba Tran
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - William Tumas
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Krista S Walton
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Jurczyk S, Andrzejewski J, Piasecki A, Musioł M, Rydz J, Kowalczuk M. Mechanical and Rheological Evaluation of Polyester-Based Composites Containing Biochar. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1231. [PMID: 38732701 PMCID: PMC11085265 DOI: 10.3390/polym16091231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of biodegradable polymers as matrices in composites gives a wide range of applications, especially in niche areas. The assessment of the effect of the filler content on the change of mechanical properties makes it possible to optimize the composition for specific needs. Biochar was used as a filler in the studied composites with two different biodegradable blends as a matrix. Poly(1,4-butylene adipate-co-1,4-butylene terephthalate)/polylactide/biochar (PBAT/PLA/BC) and polylactide/poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate]/biochar (PLA/P(3HB-co-4HB)/BC) composites with 0, 10, 15, 20 and 30 wt% of biochar underwent mechanical tests. The test results revealed a change in the properties of the composites related to the filler content. The results of the tensile test showed that increasing the biochar content increased the tensile modulus values by up to 100% for composites with 30 wt% of biochar, compared to unfilled matrices, and decreased the elongation associated with the breaking of PBAT/PLA and PLA/P(3HB-co-4HB) matrix composites. The elongation values at break of PBAT/PLA and PLA/(3HB-co-4HB) composites with 30 wt% biochar were reduced by 50% and 65%, respectively, compared to the unfilled matrices. PLA/P(3HB-co-4HB) matrix composites, in contrast to PBAT/PLA/BC, showed a decrease in tensile strength with the increases in filler content from 35.6 MPa for unfilled matrix to 27.1 MPa for PLA/P(3HB-co-4HB)/BC30 composites. An increase in filler content increased the brittleness of the composites regardless of the matrix used, as determined under the Charpy impact-test. This phenomenon was observed for all tested PLA/P(3HB-co-4HB) composites, for which the impact strength decreased from 4.47 kJ/m2 for the matrix to 1.61 kJ/m2 for the composite containing 30 wt% biochar. PBAT/PLA-based composites with 10 wt% of biochar showed slightly lower impact strength compared to the unfilled matrix, but composites with 30 wt% biochar showed 30% lower impact strength than PBAT/PLA. The complex viscosity value increased with increased filler content. For all composites tested on both polyester matrices, the viscosity decreased with increasing angular frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jurczyk
- Łukasiewicz Research Network—Institute for Engineering of Polymer Materials and Dyes, 55. M. Skłodowska-Curie St., 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Jacek Andrzejewski
- Institute of Materials Technology, Polymer Processing Division, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Poznań University of Technology, 3. Piotrowo St., 61-138 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Adam Piasecki
- Institute of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Materials Engineering and Technical Physics, Poznan University of Technology, 3. Piotrowo St., 61-138 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Marta Musioł
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34. M. Curie-Skłodowska St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland; (M.M.); (J.R.); (M.K.)
| | - Joanna Rydz
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34. M. Curie-Skłodowska St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland; (M.M.); (J.R.); (M.K.)
| | - Marek Kowalczuk
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34. M. Curie-Skłodowska St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland; (M.M.); (J.R.); (M.K.)
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29
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Wongphan P, Promhuad K, Srisa A, Laorenza Y, Oushapjalaunchai C, Harnkarnsujarit N. Unveiling the Future of Meat Packaging: Functional Biodegradable Packaging Preserving Meat Quality and Safety. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1232. [PMID: 38732702 PMCID: PMC11085279 DOI: 10.3390/polym16091232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Meat quality and shelf life are important parameters affecting consumer perception and safety. Several factors contribute to the deterioration and spoilage of meat products, including microbial growth, chemical reactions in the food's constituents, protein denaturation, lipid oxidation, and discoloration. This study reviewed the development of functional packaging biomaterials that interact with food and the environment to improve food's sensory properties and consumer safety. Bioactive packaging incorporates additive compounds such as essential oils, natural extracts, and chemical substances to produce composite polymers and polymer blends. The findings showed that the incorporation of additive compounds enhanced the packaging's functionality and improved the compatibility of the polymer-polymer matrices and that between the polymers and active compounds. Food preservatives are alternative substances for food packaging that prevent food spoilage and preserve quality. The safety of food contact materials, especially the flavor/odor contamination from the packaging to the food and the mass transfer from the food to the packaging, was also assessed. Flavor is a key factor in consumer purchasing decisions and also determines the quality and safety of meat products. Novel functional packaging can be used to preserve the quality and safety of packaged meat products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phanwipa Wongphan
- Department of Packaging and Materials Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Rd., Latyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (P.W.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (Y.L.); (C.O.)
| | - Khwanchat Promhuad
- Department of Packaging and Materials Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Rd., Latyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (P.W.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (Y.L.); (C.O.)
| | - Atcharawan Srisa
- Department of Packaging and Materials Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Rd., Latyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (P.W.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (Y.L.); (C.O.)
| | - Yeyen Laorenza
- Department of Packaging and Materials Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Rd., Latyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (P.W.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (Y.L.); (C.O.)
| | - Chayut Oushapjalaunchai
- Department of Packaging and Materials Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Rd., Latyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (P.W.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (Y.L.); (C.O.)
| | - Nathdanai Harnkarnsujarit
- Department of Packaging and Materials Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Rd., Latyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (P.W.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (Y.L.); (C.O.)
- Center for Advanced Studies for Agriculture and Food, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Rd., Latyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
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30
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Peprah F, Tarantola GE, Plaman AS, Vu EL, Huynh AB, Durr CB. Synthesis and catalytic activity of single-site group V alkoxide complexes for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. Dalton Trans 2024; 53:7073-7080. [PMID: 38567482 DOI: 10.1039/d4dt00422a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The synthesis, characterization, and ring-opening polymerization (ROP) activity of a family of niobium and tantalum alkoxide catalysts was studied. The final catalysts are made in a two-step synthesis, first by reacting the desired homoleptic metal ethoxide with a phenolketoimine ligand to form a series of synthetic intermediates, followed by reaction with catechol to produce a catalytic platform with a single ethoxide initiator. By using two separate ligands, the electronic properties of the catalyst can be tuned, and the molecular weight of the polymer can be increased. It was found that synthetic intermediates adopted a mer geometry both in solution and in the solid state. This mer geometry was retained for the final catechol derivatives, however in one case, where catechol was substituted for 3-methoxycatechol, the molecule adopted a highly distorted fac geometry. Catalytic ROP activity of the synthetic intermediates and final catechol derivatives with ε-caprolactone was studied through a kinetic analysis. In all seven cases studied the reactions proceeded through the expected coordination-insertion mechanism, following pseudo first-order kinetics and increasing in Mn linearly vs. conversion. The single-initiator catechol derivatives increased the Mn by three times compared to that of the three-initiator synthetic intermediates with little decrease in the overall reaction rate. Both the nature of the ligand and metal were found to impact the rate of reaction in these systems. By switching from an electron donating ligand to an electron withdrawing ligand, the rate was found to nearly double. Tantalum species were faster than their niobium counterparts by ∼3 times in the synthetic intermediates and ∼1.5 times in the catechol derivatives. This observed periodicity supports recent literature findings in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Peprah
- Department of Chemistry, Amherst College, 25 East Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002, USA.
| | - Grace E Tarantola
- Department of Chemistry, Amherst College, 25 East Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002, USA.
| | - Alyson S Plaman
- Department of Chemistry, Amherst College, 25 East Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002, USA.
| | - Emily L Vu
- Department of Chemistry, Amherst College, 25 East Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002, USA.
| | - Alyssa B Huynh
- Department of Chemistry, Amherst College, 25 East Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002, USA.
| | - Christopher B Durr
- Department of Chemistry, Amherst College, 25 East Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002, USA.
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31
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Yang Z, Zhang H, Lü F, Yang Y, Hu T, He P. A Novel High-Throughput Detection Method for Plastic Debris in Organic-Rich Matrices Based on Image Fusion. Anal Chem 2024; 96:6045-6054. [PMID: 38569073 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution pervades natural environments and wildlife. Consequently, high-throughput detection methods for plastic debris are urgently needed. A novel method was developed to detect plastic debris larger than 0.5 mm, which integrated an extraction method with low organic loss and plastic damage alongside a classification method for fused images. This extraction method broadened the size range of the remaining plastic debris, while the fusion solved the low spatial resolution of hyperspectral images and the absence of spectral information in red-green-blue (RGB) images. This method was validated for plastic debris in digestate, compost, and sludge, with extraction demonstrating 100% recovery rates for all samples. After fusion, the spatial resolution of hyperspectral images was improved about five times. Classification recall for the fused hyperspectral images achieved 97 ± 8%, surpassing 83 ± 29% of the raw images. Application of this method to solid digestate detected 1030 ± 212 items/kg of plastic debris, comparable with the conventional Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic result of 1100 ± 436 items/kg. This developed method can investigate plastic debris in complex matrices, simultaneously addressing a wide range of sizes and types. This capability helps acquire reliable data to predict secondary microplastic generation and conduct a risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan Yang
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Fan Lü
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Yicheng Yang
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Tian Hu
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Pinjing He
- Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
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32
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Wang F, Kramer TS, Yan B, Zhu L, Zhu Y, Heeres A, Ciolca D, Jan Heeres H, He S. Enhanced Bio-BTX Formation by Catalytic Pyrolysis of Glycerol with In Situ Produced Toluene as the Cofeed. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2024; 12:5731-5737. [PMID: 38638549 PMCID: PMC11022236 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c00451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The catalytic coconversion of glycerol and toluene (93/7 wt %) over a technical H-ZSM-5/Al2O3 (60-40 wt %) catalyst was studied, aiming for enhanced production of biobased benzene, toluene, and xylenes (bio-BTX). When using glycerol/toluene cofeed with a mass ratio of 93/7 wt %, a peak BTX carbon yield of 29.7 ± 1.1 C.% (at time on stream (TOS) of 1.5-2.5 h), and an overall BTX carbon yield of 28.7 C.% (during TOS of 8.5 h) were obtained, which are considerably higher than those (19.1 ± 0.4 C.% and 11.0 C.%) for glycerol alone. Synergetic effects when cofeeding toluene on the peak and overall BTX carbon yields were observed and quantified, showing a relative increase of 3.1% and 30.0% for the peak and overall BTX carbon yield (based on the feedstock). These findings indicate that the strategy of cofeeding in situ produced toluene for the conversion of glycerol to aromatics has potential to increase BTX yields. In addition, BTX production on the catalyst (based on the fresh catalyst during the first run for TOS of 8.5 h and without regeneration) is significantly improved to 0.547 ton ton-1catalyst (excluding the 76% of toluene product that is 0.595 ton ton-1catalyst for the recycle in the cofeed) for glycerol/toluene cofeed, which was 0.426 ton ton-1catalyst for glycerol alone. In particular, this self-sufficient toluene product recycling strategy is advantageous for the production and selectivity (relative increase of 84.4% and 43.5% during TOS of 8.5 h) of biobased xylenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fukang Wang
- Joint
International Research Laboratory of Circular Carbon, Nanjing Tech University, 211816 Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Thomas Sjouke Kramer
- Green
Chemical Reaction Engineering, Engineering and Technology Institute
Groningen, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bin Yan
- Joint
International Research Laboratory of Circular Carbon, Nanjing Tech University, 211816 Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Joint
International Research Laboratory of Circular Carbon, Nanjing Tech University, 211816 Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Yuezhao Zhu
- Joint
International Research Laboratory of Circular Carbon, Nanjing Tech University, 211816 Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Andre Heeres
- Hanze
University of Applied Sciences, 9747 AS Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hero Jan Heeres
- Green
Chemical Reaction Engineering, Engineering and Technology Institute
Groningen, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Songbo He
- Joint
International Research Laboratory of Circular Carbon, Nanjing Tech University, 211816 Nanjing, P. R. China
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33
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Liu CX, Liu K, Xu Y, Wang Z, Weng Y, Liu F, Chen Y. Photocatalytic Upgrading of Polylactic Acid Waste into Alanine under Mild Conditions. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401255. [PMID: 38298118 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA) has attracted increasing interest as a sustainable plastic because it can be degraded into CO2 and H2O in nature. However, this process is sluggish, and even worse, it is a CO2-emitting and carbon resource waste process. Therefore, it is highly urgent to develop a novel strategy for recycling post-consumer PLA to achieve a circular plastic economy. Herein, we report a one-pot photoreforming route for the efficient and selective amination of PLA waste into value-added alanine using CoP/CdS catalysts under mild conditions. Results show the alanine production rate can reach up to 2.4 mmol gcat -1 h-1, with a high selectivity (>75 %) and excellent stability. Time-resolved transient absorption spectra (TAS) reveal that CoP can rapidly extract photogenerated electrons from CdS to accelerate proton reduction, favoring hole-dominated PLA oxidation to coproduce alanine. This study offers an appealing way for upcycling PLA waste and creates new opportunities for green synthesis of amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu-Xuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials & CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory on New Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Kesheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials & CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory on New Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yanjun Xu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics & CAS, Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Zhuan Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics & CAS, Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Yuxiang Weng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics & CAS, Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Fulai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials & CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory on New Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Yong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials & CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory on New Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
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34
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Wu X, Hartmann P, Berne D, De Bruyn M, Cuminet F, Wang Z, Zechner JM, Boese AD, Placet V, Caillol S, Barta K. Closed-loop recyclability of a biomass-derived epoxy-amine thermoset by methanolysis. Science 2024; 384:eadj9989. [PMID: 38603486 DOI: 10.1126/science.adj9989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Epoxy resin thermosets (ERTs) are an important class of polymeric materials. However, owing to their highly cross-linked nature, they suffer from poor recyclability, which contributes to an unacceptable level of environmental pollution. There is a clear need for the design of inherently recyclable ERTs that are based on renewable resources. We present the synthesis and closed-loop recycling of a fully lignocellulose-derivable epoxy resin (DGF/MBCA), prepared from dimethyl ester of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (DMFD), 4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexylamine) (MBCA), and glycidol, which displays excellent thermomechanical properties (a glass transition temperature of 170°C, and a storage modulus at 25°C of 1.2 gigapascals). Notably, the material undergoes methanolysis in the absence of any catalyst, regenerating 90% of the original DMFD. The diamine MBCA and glycidol can subsequently be reformed by acetolysis. Application and recycling of DGF/MBCA in glass and plant fiber composites are demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyuan Wu
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, 9747AG Groningen, Netherlands
- Institute of Chemistry, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Peter Hartmann
- Institute of Chemistry, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Dimitri Berne
- ICGM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Mario De Bruyn
- Institute of Chemistry, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Florian Cuminet
- ICGM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- Institute of Chemistry, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | | | - Adrian Daniel Boese
- Institute of Chemistry, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Vincent Placet
- Université de Franche-Comté, CNRS, institut FEMTO-ST, 2500 Besançon, France
| | - Sylvain Caillol
- ICGM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Katalin Barta
- Institute of Chemistry, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
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35
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Cruz RMS, Rainer B, Wagner I, Krauter V, Janalíková M, Vicente AA, Vieira JM. Valorization of Cork Stoppers, Coffee-Grounds and Walnut Shells in the Development and Characterization of Pectin-Based Composite Films: Physical, Barrier, Antioxidant, Genotoxic, and Biodegradation Properties. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1053. [PMID: 38674972 PMCID: PMC11053454 DOI: 10.3390/polym16081053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of sustainable materials from the valorization of waste is a good alternative to reducing the negative environmental impact of plastic packaging. The objectives of this study were to develop and characterize pectin-based composite films incorporated with cork or cork with either coffee grounds or walnut shells, as well as to test the films' genotoxicity, antioxidant properties, and biodegradation capacity in soil and seawater. The addition of cork, coffee grounds, or walnut shells modified the films' characteristics. The results showed that those films were thicker (0.487 ± 0.014 mm to 0.572 ± 0.014 mm), more opaque (around 100%), darker (L* = 25.30 ± 0.78 to 33.93 ± 0.84), and had a higher total phenolic content (3.17 ± 0.01 mg GA/g to 4.24 ± 0.02 mg GA/g). On the other hand, the films incorporated only with cork showed higher values of elongation at break (32.24 ± 1.88% to 36.30 ± 3.25%) but lower tensile strength (0.91 ± 0.19 MPa to 1.09 ± 0.08 MPa). All the films presented more heterogeneous and rougher microstructures than the pectin film. This study also revealed that the developed films do not contain DNA-reactive substances and that they are biodegradable in soil and seawater. These positive properties could subsequently make the developed films an interesting eco-friendly food packaging solution that contributes to the valorization of organic waste and by-products, thus promoting the circular economy and reducing the environmental impact of plastic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui M. S. Cruz
- Department of Food Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Universidade do Algarve, Campus da Penha, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Bernhard Rainer
- Packaging and Resource Management, Department Applied Life Sciences, FH Campus Wien, University of Applied Sciences, 1100 Vienna, Austria; (B.R.); (I.W.); (V.K.)
| | - Isabella Wagner
- Packaging and Resource Management, Department Applied Life Sciences, FH Campus Wien, University of Applied Sciences, 1100 Vienna, Austria; (B.R.); (I.W.); (V.K.)
| | - Victoria Krauter
- Packaging and Resource Management, Department Applied Life Sciences, FH Campus Wien, University of Applied Sciences, 1100 Vienna, Austria; (B.R.); (I.W.); (V.K.)
| | - Magda Janalíková
- Department of Environmental Protection Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Vavrečkova 275, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic;
| | - António A. Vicente
- CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (A.A.V.); (J.M.V.)
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Jorge M. Vieira
- CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (A.A.V.); (J.M.V.)
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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36
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Ximenis M, Monot J, Gabirondo E, Jeschke J, Martín-Vaca B, Bourissou D, Sardon H. Boosting the Reactivity of Bis-Lactones to Enable Step-Growth Polymerization at Room Temperature. Macromolecules 2024; 57:3319-3327. [PMID: 38616811 PMCID: PMC11008534 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c02527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The development of new sustainable polymeric materials endowed with improved performances but minimal environmental impact is a major concern, with polyesters as primary targets. Lactones are key monomers thanks to ring-opening polymerization, but their use in step-growth polymerization has remained scarce and challenging. Herein, we report a powerful bis(γ-lactone) (γSL) that was efficiently prepared on a gram scale from malonic acid by Pd-catalyzed cycloisomerization. The γ-exomethylene moieties and the spiro structure greatly enhance its reactivity toward ring-opening and enable step-growth polymerization under mild conditions. Using diols, dithiols, or diamines as comonomers, a variety of regioregular (AB)n copolymers with diverse linkages and functional groups (from oxo-ester to β-thioether lactone and β-hydroxy-lactame) have been readily prepared. Reaction modeling and monitoring revealed the occurrence of an original trans-lactonization process following the first ring-opening of γSL. This peculiar reactivity opens the way to regioregular (ABAC)n terpolymers, as illustrated by the successive step-growth polymerization of γSL with a diol and a diamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Ximenis
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center Avda. Tolosa
72, 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastian, Spain
| | - Julien Monot
- Laboratoire
Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée (UMR 5069), Université de Toulouse (UPS), CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Elena Gabirondo
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center Avda. Tolosa
72, 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastian, Spain
| | - Janna Jeschke
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center Avda. Tolosa
72, 20018 Donostia-San
Sebastian, Spain
| | - Blanca Martín-Vaca
- Laboratoire
Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée (UMR 5069), Université de Toulouse (UPS), CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Didier Bourissou
- Laboratoire
Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée (UMR 5069), Université de Toulouse (UPS), CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Haritz Sardon
- POLYMAT
and Department of Polymers and Advanced Materials/Physics, Chemistry
and Technology, University of the Basque
Country UPV/EHU, Joxe
Mari Korta Center Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
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37
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Karydis-Messinis A, Kyriakaki C, Triantafyllou E, Tsirka K, Gioti C, Gkikas D, Nesseris K, Exarchos DA, Farmaki S, Giannakas AE, Salmas CE, Matikas TE, Moschovas D, Avgeropoulos A. Development and Physicochemical Characterization of Edible Chitosan-Casein Hydrogel Membranes for Potential Use in Food Packaging. Gels 2024; 10:254. [PMID: 38667673 PMCID: PMC11049393 DOI: 10.3390/gels10040254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing global concern over plastic waste and its environmental impact has led to a growing interest in the development of sustainable packaging alternatives. This study focuses on the innovative use of expired dairy products as a potential resource for producing edible packaging materials. Expired milk and yogurt were selected as the primary raw materials due to their protein and carbohydrate content. The extracted casein was combined with various concentrations of chitosan, glycerol, and squid ink, leading to the studied samples. Chitosan was chosen due to its appealing characteristics, including biodegradability, and film-forming properties, and casein was utilized for its superior barrier and film-forming properties, as well as its biodegradability and non-toxic nature. Glycerol was used to further improve the flexibility of the materials. The prepared hydrogels were characterized using various instrumental methods, and the findings reveal that the expired dairy-based edible packaging materials exhibited promising mechanical properties comparable to conventional plastic packaging and improved barrier properties with zero-oxygen permeability of the hydrogel membranes, indicating that these materials have the potential to effectively protect food products from external factors that could compromise quality and shelf life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Karydis-Messinis
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
| | - Christina Kyriakaki
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
| | - Eleni Triantafyllou
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
| | - Kyriaki Tsirka
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
| | - Christina Gioti
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
| | - Dimitris Gkikas
- DODONI SA, 1 Tagmatarchi Kostaki, Eleousa, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (D.G.); (K.N.)
| | | | - Dimitrios A. Exarchos
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
- Hellenic Institute for Packaging and Agrifood Safety, 45445 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Spyridoula Farmaki
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
- Hellenic Institute for Packaging and Agrifood Safety, 45445 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Aris E. Giannakas
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Patras, 30100 Agrinio, Greece;
| | - Constantinos E. Salmas
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
| | - Theodore E. Matikas
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
- Hellenic Institute for Packaging and Agrifood Safety, 45445 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Moschovas
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
| | - Apostolos Avgeropoulos
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (C.K.); (E.T.); (K.T.); (C.G.); (D.A.E.); (S.F.); (C.E.S.); (T.E.M.)
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38
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Wu J, Cortes KAF, Li C, Wang Y, Guo C, Momenzadeh K, Yeritsyan D, Hanna P, Lechtig A, Nazarian A, Lin SJ, Kaplan DL. Tuning the Biodegradation Rate of Silk Materials via Embedded Enzymes. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:2607-2615. [PMID: 38478959 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Conventional thinking when designing biodegradable materials and devices is to tune the intrinsic properties and morphological features of the material to regulate their degradation rate, modulating traditional factors such as molecular weight and crystallinity. Since regenerated silk protein can be directly thermoplastically molded to generate robust dense silk plastic-like materials, this approach afforded a new tool to control silk degradation by enabling the mixing of a silk-degrading protease into bulk silk material prior to thermoplastic processing. Here we demonstrate the preparation of these silk-based devices with embedded silk-degrading protease to modulate the degradation based on the internal presence of the enzyme to support silk degradation, as opposed to the traditional surface degradation for silk materials. The degradability of these silk devices with and without embedded protease XIV was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. Ultimately, this new process approach provides direct control of the degradation lifetime of the devices, empowered through internal digestion via water-activated proteases entrained and stabilized during the thermoplastic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqi Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Kareen A Fajardo Cortes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Chunmei Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Yushu Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Chengchen Guo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Kaveh Momenzadeh
- Center for Advanced Orthopedic Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave., RN 115, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Diana Yeritsyan
- Center for Advanced Orthopedic Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave., RN 115, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Philip Hanna
- Center for Advanced Orthopedic Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave., RN 115, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Aron Lechtig
- Center for Advanced Orthopedic Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave., RN 115, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Ara Nazarian
- Center for Advanced Orthopedic Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave., RN 115, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Samuel J Lin
- Divisions of Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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Thiele I, Santolin L, Meyer K, Machatschek R, Bölz U, Tarazona NA, Riedel SL. Microbially synthesized poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate) with low to moderate hydroxyhexanoate content: Properties and applications. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130188. [PMID: 38373562 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is the biggest environmental concern of our time. Breakdown products like micro- and nano-plastics inevitably enter the food chain and pose unprecedented health risks. In this scenario, bio-based and biodegradable plastic alternatives have been given a momentum aiming to bridge a transition towards a more sustainable future. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are one of the few thermoplastic polymers synthesized 100 % via biotechnological routes which fully biodegrade in common natural environments. Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate) [P(HB-co-HHx)] is a PHA copolymer with great potential for the commodity polymers industry, as its mechanical properties can be tailored through fine-tuning of its molar HHx content. We have recently developed a strategy that enables for reliable tailoring of the monomer content of P(HB-co-HHx). Nevertheless, there is often a lack of comprehensive investigation of the material properties of PHAs to evaluate whether they actually mimic the functionalities of conventional plastics. We present a detailed study of P(HB-co-HHx) copolymers with low to moderate hydroxyhexanoate content to understand how the HHx monomer content influences the thermal and mechanical properties and to link those to their abiotic degradation. By increasing the HHx fractions in the range of 2 - 14 mol%, we impart an extension of the processing window and application range as the melting temperature (Tm) and glass temperature (Tg) of the copolymers decrease from Tm 165 °C to 126 °C, Tg 4 °C to -5.9 °C, accompanied by reduced crystallinity from 54 % to 20 %. Elongation at break was increased from 5.7 % up to 703 % at 14 mol% HHx content, confirming that the range examined was sufficiently large to obtain ductile and brittle copolymers, while tensile strength was maintained throughout the studied range. Finally, accelerated abiotic degradation was shown to be slowed down with an increasing HHx fraction decreasing from 70 % to 55 % in 12 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Thiele
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Biotechnology, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lara Santolin
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Biotechnology, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klas Meyer
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Uwe Bölz
- HPX Polymers GmbH, Tutzing, Germany
| | - Natalia A Tarazona
- Institute of Active Polymers, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Teltow, Germany.
| | - Sebastian L Riedel
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Biotechnology, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Berlin, Germany; Berliner Hochschule für Technik, Department VIII - Mechanical Engineering, Event Technology and Process Engineering, Environmental and Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory, Berlin, Germany.
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40
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Xin K, Lu J, Zeng Q, Zhang T, Liu J, Zhou J, Dong W, Jiang M. Depolymerization of the polyester-polyurethane by amidase GatA250 and enhancing the production of 4,4'-methylenedianiline with cutinase LCC. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300723. [PMID: 38622797 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Polyurethane (PU) is a complex polymer synthesized from polyols and isocyanates. It contains urethane bonds that resist hydrolysis, which decreases the efficiency of biodegradation. In this study, we first expressed the amidase GatA250, and then, assessed the enzymatic characterization of GatA250 and its efficiency in degrading the polyester-PU. GatA250 degraded self-synthesized thermoplastic PU film and postconsumption foam with degradation efficiency of 8.17% and 4.29%, respectively. During the degradation, the film released 14.8 µm 4,4'-methylenedianiline (MDA), but 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and adipic acid (AA) were not released. Our findings indicated that GatA250 only cleaved urethane bonds in PU, and the degradation efficiency was extremely low. Hence, we introduced the cutinase LCC, which possesses hydrolytic activity on the ester bonds in PU, and then used both enzymes simultaneously to degrade the polyester-PU. The combined system (LCC-GatA250) had higher degradation efficiency for the degradation of PU film (42.2%) and foam (13.94%). The combined system also showed a 1.80 time increase in the production of the monomer MDA, and a 1.23 and 3.62 times increase in the production of AA and BDO, respectively, compared to their production recorded after treatment with only GatA250 or LCC. This study provides valuable insights into PU pollution control and also proposes applicable solutions to manage PU wastes through bio-recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyuan Xin
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Jianqi Lu
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Qingyi Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Tianyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Jiawei Liu
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
- Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center, for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
- Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center, for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Weiliang Dong
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
- Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center, for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Min Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
- Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center, for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
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41
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Serrano‐Aguirre L, Prieto MA. Can bioplastics always offer a truly sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics? Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14458. [PMID: 38568795 PMCID: PMC10990045 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioplastics, comprised of bio-based and/or biodegradable polymers, have the potential to play a crucial role in the transition towards a sustainable circular economy. The use of biodegradable polymers not only leads to reduced greenhouse gas emissions but also might address the problem of plastic waste persisting in the environment, especially when removal is challenging. Nevertheless, biodegradable plastics should not be considered as substitutes for proper waste management practices, given that their biodegradability strongly depends on environmental conditions. Among the challenges hindering the sustainable implementation of bioplastics in the market, the development of effective downstream recycling routes is imperative, given the increasing production volumes of these materials. Here, we discuss about the most advisable end-of-life scenarios for bioplastics. Various recycling strategies, including mechanical, chemical or biological (both enzymatic and microbial) approaches, should be considered. Employing enzymes as biocatalysts emerges as a more selective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical recycling, allowing the production of new bioplastics and added value and high-quality products. Other pending concerns for industrial implementation of bioplastics include misinformation among end users, the lack of a standardised bioplastic labelling, unclear life cycle assessment guidelines and the need for higher financial investments. Although further research and development efforts are essential to foster the sustainable and widespread application of bioplastics, significant strides have already been made in this direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Serrano‐Aguirre
- Polymer Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biological Research Centre Margarita SalasSpanish National Research Council (CIB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
- Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics Towards a Circular Economy‐CSIC (SusPlast‐CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - M. Auxiliadora Prieto
- Polymer Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biological Research Centre Margarita SalasSpanish National Research Council (CIB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
- Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics Towards a Circular Economy‐CSIC (SusPlast‐CSIC)MadridSpain
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42
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Kim J, Kim H, Kang H, Kim W, Chen Y, Choi J, Lee H, Rho J. A water-soluble label for food products prevents packaging waste and counterfeiting. NATURE FOOD 2024; 5:293-300. [PMID: 38575840 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-00957-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Sustainability, humidity sensing and product origin are important features of food packaging. While waste generated from labelling and packaging causes environmental destruction, humidity can result in food spoilage during delivery and counterfeit-prone labelling undermines consumer trust. Here we introduce a food label based on a water-soluble nanocomposite ink with a high refractive index that addresses these issues. By patterning the nanocomposite ink using nanoimprint lithography, the resultant metasurface shows bright and vivid structural colours. This method makes it possible to quickly and inexpensively create patterns on large surfaces. A QR code is also developed that can provide up-to-date information on food products. Microprinting hidden in the QR code protects against counterfeiting, cannot be physically detached or replicated and may be used as a humidity indicator. Our proposed food label can reduce waste while ensuring customers receive accurate product information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joohoon Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongyoon Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjung Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonjoong Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yi Chen
- Materials, Engineering and Manufacturing Research Group, Scion, Rotorua, New Zealand
| | - Jonghyun Choi
- Bioengineering Technology Group, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research, Hamilton, New Zealand.
| | - Heon Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Junsuk Rho
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea.
- POSCO-POSTECH-RIST Convergence Research Center for Flat Optics and Metaphotonics, Pohang, Republic of Korea.
- National Institute of Nanomaterials Technology (NINT), Pohang, Republic of Korea.
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43
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Morgan MF, Diab J, Gilliham M, Mortimer JC. Green horizons: how plant synthetic biology can enable space exploration and drive on Earth sustainability. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 86:103069. [PMID: 38341984 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
As humanity looks towards expanding activity from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond, resource use efficiency and self-sustainability will be critical to ensuring success in the long term. Furthermore, solutions developed for the stringent requirements of space will be equally valuable in meeting sustainability goals here on Earth. Advances in synthetic biology allow us to harness the complex metabolism of life to produce the materials we need in situ. Translating those lessons learned from microbial systems to more carbon-efficient photosynthetic organisms is an area of growing interest. Plants can be engineered to sustainably meet a range of needs, from fuels to materials and medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Fox Morgan
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia
| | - Jonathan Diab
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia
| | - Matthew Gilliham
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia.
| | - Jenny C Mortimer
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia; Joint BioEnergy Institute, CA, USA.
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44
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Ma X, Lin X, Chang C, Duan B. Chitinous Bioplastic Enabled by Noncovalent Assembly. ACS NANO 2024; 18:8906-8918. [PMID: 38483090 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c12211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Natural polymeric-based bioplastics usually lack good mechanical or processing performance. It is still challenging to achieve simultaneous improvement for these two usual trade-off features. Here, we demonstrate a full noncovalent mediated self-assembly design for simultaneously improving the chitinous bioplastic processing and mechanical properties via plane hot-pressing. Tannic acid (TA) is chosen as the noncovalent mediator to (i) increase the noncovalent cross-link intensity for obtaining the tough noncovalent network and (ii) afford the dynamic noncovalent cross-links to enable the mobility of chitin molecular chains for benefiting chitinous bioplastic nanostructure rearrangement during the shaping procedure. The multiple noncovalent mediated network (chitin-TA and chitin-chitin cross-links) and the pressure-induced orientation nanofibers structure endow the chitinous bioplastics with robust mechanical properties. The relatively weak chitin-TA noncovalent interactions serve as water mediation switches to enhance the molecular mobility for endowing the chitin/TA bioplastic with hydroplastic processing properties, rendering them readily programmable into versatile 2D/3D shapes. Moreover, the fully natural resourced chitinous bioplastic exhibits superior weld, solvent resistance, and biodegradability, enabling the potential for diverse applications. The full physical cross-linking mechanism highlights an effective design concept for balancing the trade-off of the mechanical properties and processability for the polymeric materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ma
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Hubei Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P.R. China
| | - Xinghuan Lin
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Hubei Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P.R. China
| | - Chunyu Chang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Hubei Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P.R. China
| | - Bo Duan
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Hubei Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P.R. China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of NMR and Molecular Sciences, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, P.R. China
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45
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Cao Q, Tu YM, Fan HZ, Shan SY, Cai Z, Zhu JB. Torsional Strain Enabled Ring-Opening Polymerization towards Axially Chiral Semiaromatic Polyesters with Chemical Recyclability. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202400196. [PMID: 38356038 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202400196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The development of new chemically recyclable polymers via monomer design would provide a transformative strategy to address the energy crisis and plastic pollution problem. Biaryl-fused cyclic esters were targeted to generate axially chiral polymers, which would impart new material performance. To overcome the non-polymerizability of the biaryl-fused monomer DBO, a cyclic ester Me-DBO installed with dimethyl substitution was prepared to enable its polymerizability via enhancing torsional strain. Impressively, Me-DBO readily went through well-controlled ring-opening polymerization, producing polymer P(Me-DBO) with high glass transition temperature (Tg >100 °C). Intriguingly, mixing these complementary enantiopure polymers containing axial chirality promoted a transformation from amorphous to crystalline material, affording a semicrystalline stereocomplex with a melting transition temperature more than 300 °C. P(Me-DBO) were capable of depolymerizing back to Me-DBO in high efficiency, highlighting an excellent recyclability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Cao
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Yi-Min Tu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Hua-Zhong Fan
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Si-Yi Shan
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Zhongzheng Cai
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Jian-Bo Zhu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
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46
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Bekmirzaev J, Simon M, D'Aniello S, Mazzeo M, Cohen-Janes SJ, Mathers RT, Gauvin RM, Thomas CM. A New Life For Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber: Co-Harnessing Metathesis And Condensation For Reincorporation Into Bio-Based Materials. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319414. [PMID: 38295149 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Efficient plastic recycling processes are crucial for the production of value-added products or intermediates. Here, we present a multicatalytic route that allows the degradation of nitrile-butadiene rubber, cross-metathesis of the formed oligomers, and polymerization of the resulting dicarboxylic acids with bio-based diols, providing direct access to unsaturated polyesters. This one-pot approach combines the use of commercially available catalysts that are active and selective under mild conditions to synthesize renewable copolymers without the need to isolate intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakhongir Bekmirzaev
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Malaury Simon
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sara D'Aniello
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biologia "Adolfo Zambelli", Università di Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, SA-84084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Mina Mazzeo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biologia "Adolfo Zambelli", Università di Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, SA-84084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Sander J Cohen-Janes
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, 15068, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA
| | - Robert T Mathers
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, 15068, USA
| | - Régis M Gauvin
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Christophe M Thomas
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
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Chen T, Pang Z, He S, Li Y, Shrestha S, Little JM, Yang H, Chung TC, Sun J, Whitley HC, Lee IC, Woehl TJ, Li T, Hu L, Chen PY. Machine intelligence-accelerated discovery of all-natural plastic substitutes. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024:10.1038/s41565-024-01635-z. [PMID: 38499859 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-024-01635-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
One possible solution against the accumulation of petrochemical plastics in natural environments is to develop biodegradable plastic substitutes using natural components. However, discovering all-natural alternatives that meet specific properties, such as optical transparency, fire retardancy and mechanical resilience, which have made petrochemical plastics successful, remains challenging. Current approaches still rely on iterative optimization experiments. Here we show an integrated workflow that combines robotics and machine learning to accelerate the discovery of all-natural plastic substitutes with programmable optical, thermal and mechanical properties. First, an automated pipetting robot is commanded to prepare 286 nanocomposite films with various properties to train a support-vector machine classifier. Next, through 14 active learning loops with data augmentation, 135 all-natural nanocomposites are fabricated stagewise, establishing an artificial neural network prediction model. We demonstrate that the prediction model can conduct a two-way design task: (1) predicting the physicochemical properties of an all-natural nanocomposite from its composition and (2) automating the inverse design of biodegradable plastic substitutes that fulfils various user-specific requirements. By harnessing the model's prediction capabilities, we prepare several all-natural substitutes, that could replace non-biodegradable counterparts as exhibiting analogous properties. Our methodology integrates robot-assisted experiments, machine intelligence and simulation tools to accelerate the discovery and design of eco-friendly plastic substitutes starting from building blocks taken from the generally-recognized-as-safe database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianle Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Zhenqian Pang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Shuaiming He
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Snehi Shrestha
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Joshua M Little
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Haochen Yang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Tsai-Chun Chung
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Jiayue Sun
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | - I-Chi Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Taylor J Woehl
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Teng Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Liangbing Hu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Po-Yen Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Maryland Robotics Center, College Park, MD, USA.
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48
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Park H, He H, Yan X, Liu X, Scrutton NS, Chen GQ. PHA is not just a bioplastic! Biotechnol Adv 2024; 71:108320. [PMID: 38272380 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) have evolved into versatile biopolymers, transcending their origins as mere bioplastics. This extensive review delves into the multifaceted landscape of PHA applications, shedding light on the diverse industries that have harnessed their potential. PHA has proven to be an invaluable eco-conscious option for packaging materials, finding use in films foams, paper coatings and even straws. In the textile industry, PHA offers a sustainable alternative, while its application as a carbon source for denitrification in wastewater treatment showcases its versatility in environmental remediation. In addition, PHA has made notable contributions to the medical and consumer sectors, with various roles ranging from 3D printing, tissue engineering implants, and cell growth matrices to drug delivery carriers, and cosmetic products. Through metabolic engineering efforts, PHA can be fine-tuned to align with the specific requirements of each industry, enabling the customization of material properties such as ductility, elasticity, thermal conductivity, and transparency. To unleash PHA's full potential, bridging the gap between research and commercial viability is paramount. Successful PHA production scale-up hinges on establishing direct supply chains to specific application domains, including packaging, food and beverage materials, medical devices, and agriculture. This review underscores that PHA's future rests on ongoing exploration across these industries and more, paving the way for PHA to supplant conventional plastics and foster a circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Park
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; EPSRC/BBSRC Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, BBSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, SYNBIOCHEM, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Hongtao He
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xu Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xu Liu
- PhaBuilder Biotech Co. Ltd., Shunyi District, Zhaoquan Ying, Beijing 101309, China
| | - Nigel S Scrutton
- EPSRC/BBSRC Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, BBSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, SYNBIOCHEM, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Guo-Qiang Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China; MOE Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Dept Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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49
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Wang H, Li H, Lee CK, Mat Nanyan NS, Tay GS. A systematic review on utilization of biodiesel-derived crude glycerol in sustainable polymers preparation. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 261:129536. [PMID: 38278390 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
With the rapid development of biodiesel, biodiesel-derived glycerol has become a promising renewable bioresource. The key to utilizing this bioresource lies in the value-added conversion of crude glycerol. While purifying crude glycerol into a pure form allows for diverse applications, the intricate nature of this process renders it costly and environmentally stressful. Consequently, technology facilitating the direct utilization of unpurified crude glycerol holds significant importance. It has been reported that crude glycerol can be bio-transformed or chemically converted into high-value polymers. These technologies provide cost-effective alternatives for polymer production while contributing to a more sustainable biodiesel industry. This review article describes the global production and quality characteristics of biodiesel-derived glycerol and investigates the influencing factors and treatment of the composition of crude glycerol including water, methanol, soap, matter organic non-glycerol, and ash. Additionally, this review also focused on the advantages and challenges of various technologies for converting crude glycerol into polymers, considering factors such as the compatibility of crude glycerol and the control of unfavorable factors. Lastly, the application prospect and value of crude glycerol conversion were discussed from the aspects of economy and environmental protection. The development of new technologies for the increased use of crude glycerol as a renewable feedstock for polymer production will be facilitated by the findings of this review, while promoting mass market applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wang
- Bioresource Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang USM 11800, Malaysia
| | - Hongpeng Li
- Tangshan Jinlihai Biodiesel Co. Ltd., 063000 Tangshan, China
| | - Chee Keong Lee
- Bioprocess Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang USM 11800, Malaysia; School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang USM 11800, Malaysia
| | - Noreen Suliani Mat Nanyan
- Bioprocess Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang USM 11800, Malaysia; School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang USM 11800, Malaysia
| | - Guan Seng Tay
- Bioresource Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang USM 11800, Malaysia; Green Biopolymer, Coatings & Packaging Cluster, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang USM 11800, Malaysia.
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50
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Li W, Cao J, Fu L, Liu F, Huang Y, He Y, Jiang L, Dan Y. Effect of stereo-complexation on crystallization behavior and barrier properties of poly-lactide. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 261:129834. [PMID: 38302029 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
The unique stere-complex crystal formed by poly(ʟ-lactide)/poly(ᴅ-lactide) (PLLA/PDLA) has a significant impact on properties of poly-lactide materials and is considered an effective means to improve the barrier properties of poly-lactide (PLA). In this work, poly-lactide films with different aggregate structures were prepared and the relationship of aggregate structure and barrier properties were explored. The results show that the crystal structure including crystallinity and crystal forms can be controlled by adjusting the isothermal crystallization time and crystallization temperature during the molding process. PLLA/PDLA composite films contain both homochiral crystallites and stereo-complex crystallites, and there is a synergistic crystallization effect between the two of them, which provides the composite films with high crystallinity and excellent barrier properties. Compared to the PLLA with homochiral crystallites, the PLLA/PDLA composite film with only stereo-complex crystallites exhibits higher barrier properties. The linear correlation between the crystallinity and the barrier properties is weak due to the changes in crystallization behavior and then the structure of poly-lactide caused by stereo-complexation. The linear correlation between the crystallinity and the barrier properties of the blend film is strong in the low crystallinity but weak at high crystallinity. Compared to homochiral crystallites, stereo-complex crystallites exhibits lower crystallinity dependence. It has been proven that different crystal forms have different design ideas for preparing high-barrier films, but the stereo-complexation resulting from the intermolecular forces between PLLA and PDLA having complementary chemical structure, is an effective method for enhancing the barrier performances of poly-lactide sustainably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering of China, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jilong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering of China, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Ling Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering of China, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Fei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering of China, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering of China, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yuan He
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering of China, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Long Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering of China, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Yi Dan
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering of China, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
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