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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomacromolecules, Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2020) | Viewed by 45974

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Dr. Stanislav Obruca

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Department of Food Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: polyhydroxyalkanoates; biopolymers; biorefinery; microbial stress response; extremophiles
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Dr. Adriana Kovalcik

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: polyhydroxyalkanoates; polylactide; lignin; biocomposites; modification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern society faces numerous global challenges, including the rapid irretrievable depletion of non-renewable resources. Therefore, at least partial transition from oil-bases to bio-based economy is generally considered as an inevitable step towards sustainable development. In this context, polymers produced from biomass attract attention not only from the scientific community but also the general public, since they represent attractive renewable alternatives to petrochemical polymers. Moreover, numerous biopolymers possess qualities such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, positive biological activity, or unique material properties which might enable their advantageous applications in numerous fields. Hence, this Special Issue is dedicated to all the aspects of production, processing, and applications of polymeric materials produced from biomass.

Assoc. Prof. Stanislav Obruca
Assoc. Prof. Adriana Kovalcik
Guest Editor

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Keywords

biopolymers
biomass valorization
biorefinery
high-value applications
biodegradability
biocompatibility

Related Special Issue

Sustainable Polymers from Biomass II in Polymers (2 articles)

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 8403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Characterization of Ultra-Fine Oil Palm Ash Powder by Ultrasonication and Alkaline Treatment for Its Evaluation as Reinforcing Filler in Natural Rubber

by Methakarn Jarnthong, Chutarat Malawet, Lusheng Liao, Puwang Li, Zheng Peng and Punyanich Intharapat

Polymers 2021, 13(1), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13010100 - 29 Dec 2020

Viewed by 1516

Abstract

Ultra-fine oil palm ash (OPA) particles were successfully prepared using ultrasonication along with optimal chemical deagglomeration. The influence of chemical treatment by sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution on the OPA particles was found to be an important factor in enhancing deagglomeration efficiency. The average particle size of the original OPA (41.651 μm) decreased remarkably more than 130 times (0.318 μm) with an obvious increase of Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) surface area after treating the OPA with 3M NaOH, followed by ultrasonication for 30 min. The changes in particle size and surface morphology were investigated using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the chemical functional groups of the untreated and treated OPA showed different patterns of infrared spectra by the presence of sodium carbonate species owing to the effect of NaOH treatment. The incorporation of both untreated and treated OPA in natural rubber by increasing their loading can improve cure characteristics (i.e., reducing optimum cure time and increasing torques) and cure kinetic parameters (i.e., increasing the rate of cure and reducing activation energy). Nevertheless, the strength, degree of reinforcement, and thermal stability of treated OPA as well as wettability between treated OPA particles and NR were greater than that resulting from the untreated OPA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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15 pages, 5611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chitosan Woven Meshes: Influence of Threads Configuration on Mechanical, Morphological, and Physiological Properties

by Henrique Nunes da Silva, Milena Costa da Silva, Flavia Suzany Ferreira dos Santos, José Alberto Campos da Silva Júnior, Rossemberg Cardoso Barbosa and Marcus Vinícius Lia Fook

Polymers 2021, 13(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13010047 - 25 Dec 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2053

Abstract

This study aimed to develop meshes from the weaving of mono- and multifilament wet-spun chitosan (CS), for possible biomedical applications. In the wet-spinning process, CS solution (4% w/v) was extruded in a coagulation bath containing 70% sodium hydroxide solution (0.5 M), and 30% methanol was used. The multifilament thread was prepared by twisted of two and three monofilaments. CS threads obtained were characterized by tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, it was verified from the morphological tests that threads preserve the characteristics of the individual filaments and present typical “skin-core” microstructure obtained by wet spinning. CS woven meshes obtained were evaluated by optical microscopy (OM), tensile test, swelling degree, and in vitro enzymatic biodegradation. Mechanical properties, biodegradation rate, and amount of fluid absorbed of CS woven meshes were influenced by thread configuration. Hydrated CS meshes showed a larger elastic zone than the dry state. Therefore, CS woven meshes were obtained with modular properties from thread configuration used in weaving, suggesting potential applications in the biomedical field, like dressings, controlled drug delivery systems, or mechanical support. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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19 pages, 6901 KiB

Open AccessArticle

FDM 3D Printed Composites for Bone Tissue Engineering Based on Plasticized Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(d,l-lactide) Blends

by Veronika Melčová, Kateřina Svoradová, Přemysl Menčík, Soňa Kontárová, Michala Rampichová, Věra Hedvičáková, Věra Sovková, Radek Přikryl and Lucy Vojtová

Polymers 2020, 12(12), 2806; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12122806 - 27 Nov 2020

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 2949

Abstract

Tissue engineering is a current trend in the regenerative medicine putting pressure on scientists to develop highly functional materials and methods for scaffolds’ preparation. In this paper, the calibrated filaments for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) based on plasticized poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(d,l-lactide) 70/30 blend modified with tricalcium phosphate bioceramics were prepared. Two different plasticizers, Citroflex (n-Butyryl tri-n-hexyl citrate) and Syncroflex (oligomeric adipate ester), both used in the amount of 12 wt%, were compared. The printing parameters for these materials were optimized and the printability was evaluated by recently published warping test. The samples were studied with respect to their thermal and mechanical properties, followed by biological in vitro tests including proliferation, viability, and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. According to the results from differential scanning calorimetry and tensile measurements, the Citroflex-based plasticizer showed very good softening effect at the expense of worse printability and unsatisfactory performance during biological testing. On the other hand, the samples with Syncroflex demonstrated lower warping tendency compared to commercial polylactide filament with the warping coefficient one third lower. Moreover, the Syncroflex-based samples exhibited the non-cytotoxicity and promising biocompatibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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14 pages, 1545 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Method of Adding Binder by High-Pressure Spraying to Improve the Biomass Densification

by Xiaonan Ju, Kexin Zhang, Zhongjia Chen and Jianbo Zhou

Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2374; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12102374 - 15 Oct 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2074

Abstract

In order to cut down the usage amount of binder, mix it more evenly with the biomass raw materials and improve the quality of pellets in the densification process, this study explored the feasibility of promoting the densification of biomass by using a high-pressure spraying method to add liquid binder. In the study, a high-pressure sprayer was used to spray saturated brown sugar water into sawdust for densification tests. A three-factor orthogonal experiment was designed to analyze the physical characteristics of the pellets under different variables. Through analysis of range and multiple linear regression, the effect curve was drawn to analyze the impact of the high-pressure spraying method on densification. The results showed that under low compaction pressure of 14.9 MPa, the raw materials with adding 6% saturated brown sugar water can be densified into pellets, while the raw materials without binder cannot. Moreover, compared with the method of adding binder by stirring, the high-pressure spraying method obtained the pellets with fewer cracks on the surface and increased the relaxation density of pellets by 8.65%. Under high compaction pressure (75, 100, 124 and 149 MPa), the high-pressure spraying method has a significant effect on increasing the relaxation density, not only on the compressive strength. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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9 pages, 3227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Xylan-Derived Light Conversion Nanocomposite Film

by Yunyi Yang, Yushuang Zhao, Yijie Hu, Xinwen Peng and Linxin Zhong

Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1779; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12081779 - 09 Aug 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3160

Abstract

A new type of sustainable light conversion nanocomposite film was fabricated by using carboxymethyl xylan as matrix and xylan-derived carbon dots (CDs) as both light conversion regents and nano reinforcements. The results demonstrate that CDs can not only significantly enhance the mechanical strength of the nanocomposite film because of chemical reaction between CDs and carboxymethyl xylan, but also impart the film with excellent optical properties. With 1.92 wt% CDs, the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the film are increased by 114.3% and 90.7%, respectively. Moreover, the film has typical excitation and emission spectra, enabling the efficient absorption of UV and the conversion of UV to blue light. This xylan-derived light conversion nanocomposite film is expected to be used in agricultural planting and food packaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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12 pages, 2093 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conversion of Starchy Waste Streams into Polyhydroxyalkanoates Using Cupriavidus necator DSM 545

by Silvia Brojanigo, Elettra Parro, Tiziano Cazzorla, Lorenzo Favaro, Marina Basaglia and Sergio Casella

Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1496; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12071496 - 04 Jul 2020

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 3615

Abstract

Due to oil shortage and environmental problems, synthetic plastics have to be replaced by different biodegradable materials. A promising alternative could be polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and the low-cost abundant agricultural starchy by-products could be usefully converted into PHAs by properly selected and/or developed microbes. Among the widely available starchy waste streams, a variety of residues have been explored as substrates, such as broken, discolored, unripe rice and white or purple sweet potato waste. Cupriavidus necator DSM 545, a well-known producer of PHAs, was adopted in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process through an optimized dosage of the commercial amylases cocktail STARGEN™ 002. Broken rice was found to be the most promising carbon source with PHAs levels of up to 5.18 g/L. This research demonstrates that rice and sweet potato waste are low-cost feedstocks for PHAs production, paving the way for the processing of other starchy materials into bioplastics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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17 pages, 2373 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Introducing the Newly Isolated Bacterium Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 as an Auspicious Thermophilic Producer of Various Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) Copolymers–2. Material Study on the Produced Copolymers

by Petr Sedlacek, Iva Pernicova, Ivana Novackova, Xenie Kourilova, Michal Kalina, Adriana Kovalcik, Martin Koller, Jana Nebesarova, Vladislav Krzyzanek, Kamila Hrubanova, Jiri Masilko, Eva Slaninova, Monika Trudicova and Stanislav Obruca

Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1298; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12061298 - 05 Jun 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3102

Abstract

Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 is a promising, moderately thermophilic, novel Gram-positive bacterium capable of the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with tunable monomer composition. In particular, the strain is able to synthesize copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) with remarkably high 4HB and 3HV fractions. In this study we performed an in-depth material analysis of PHA polymers produced by Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 in order to describe how the monomer composition affects fundamental structural and physicochemical parameters of the materials in the form of solvent-casted films. Results of infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and thermal analysis clearly show that controlling the monomer composition enables optimization of PHA crystallinity both qualitatively (the type of the crystalline lattice) and quantitatively (the overall degree of crystallinity). Furthermore, resistance of the films against thermal and/or enzymatic degradation can also be manipulated by the monomer composition. Results of this study hence confirm Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 as an auspicious candidate for thermophilic production of PHA polymers with material properties that can be tuned together with their chemical composition by the corresponding adjustment of the cultivation process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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13 pages, 2894 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Introducing the Newly Isolated Bacterium Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 as an Auspicious Thermophilic Producer of Various Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) Copolymers–1. Isolation and Characterization of the Bacterium

by Iva Pernicova, Ivana Novackova, Petr Sedlacek, Xenie Kourilova, Michal Kalina, Adriana Kovalcik, Martin Koller, Jana Nebesarova, Vladislav Krzyzanek, Kamila Hrubanova, Jiri Masilko, Eva Slaninova and Stanislav Obruca

Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1235; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12061235 - 29 May 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4494

Abstract

Extremophilic microorganisms are considered being very promising candidates for biotechnological production of various products including polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The aim of this work was to evaluate the PHA production potential of a novel PHA-producing thermophilic Gram-positive isolate Aneurinibacillus sp. H1. This organism was capable of efficient conversion of glycerol into poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB), the homopolyester of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB). In flasks experiment, under optimal cultivation temperature of 45 °C, the P3HB content in biomass and P3HB titers reached 55.31% of cell dry mass and 2.03 g/L, respectively. Further, the isolate was capable of biosynthesis of PHA copolymers and terpolymers containing high molar fractions of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) and 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB). Especially 4HB contents in PHA were very high (up to 91 mol %) when 1,4-butanediol was used as a substrate. Based on these results, it can be stated that Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 is a very promising candidate for production of PHA with tailored material properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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12 pages, 2778 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Processing and Particle Size on Binderless Particleboards Made from Arundo donax L. Rhizome

by Manuel Ferrandez-Villena, Clara Eugenia Ferrandez-Garcia, Teresa Garcia-Ortuño, Antonio Ferrandez-Garcia and Maria Teresa Ferrandez-Garcia

Polymers 2020, 12(3), 696; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030696 - 21 Mar 2020

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 2862

Abstract

The giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is considered one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. The main method by which this species propagates is by growth of scattered fragments of rhizome, spreading without control with very strong, deep roots. Agricultural waste consists of lignocellulosic materials that can substitute natural wood and offer a suitable alternative with which to manufacture boards for furniture, packaging and building purposes. The objectives of this work were to obtain binderless particleboards using giant reed rhizome as the raw material, to evaluate their mechanical and physical properties according to the applicable European standards and to assess the self-binding mechanism of the particles in the board. Six types of boards (12 classes) were manufactured with giant reed rhizome biomass. They were manufactured with a temperature of 110 °C, a pressure of 2.5 MPa and pressing times of 7 and 15 min, applying one or two pressing cycles. The results achieved for modulus of rupture (14.2 N/mm²), modulus of elasticity (2052.45 N/mm²) and internal bonding strength (1.12 N/mm²) show that the mechanical properties were improved by using a smaller rhizome particle size and two pressing cycles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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13 pages, 1756 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of Waste Jute Fibre Panels (Corchorus capsularis L.) Agglomerated with Portland Cement and Starch

by Maria Teresa Ferrandez-García, Clara Eugenia Ferrandez-Garcia, Teresa Garcia-Ortuño, Antonio Ferrandez-Garcia and Manuel Ferrandez-Villena

Polymers 2020, 12(3), 599; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030599 - 06 Mar 2020

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 2910

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental study on the bond behaviour of cement panels reinforced with plant fibres from the recycling of waste jute bags, using starch as a plasticiser. During processing, different proportions of jute (5 wt %, 10 wt %, 15 wt %, and 20 wt %) were used with respect to the weight of cement, and the mixture was exposed to a pressure of 2.6 MPa and a temperature of 100 °C. The density, swelling thickness, internal bonding, flexural strength, and thermal conductivity were studied. Mechanical tests indicated that the values of the modulus of rupture (MOR) and the modulus of elasticity (MOE) increased over time; thus, the jute particles appeared to be protected by the plasticised starch and no degradation was observed. At 28 days, the particleboard with 5% starch had an MOR of 12.82 MPa and an MOE of 3.43 GPa; these values decreased when the jute proportion was higher. The thermal conductivity varied from 0.068 to 0.085 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹. The main conclusion is that jute-cement-starch composite panels can be manufactured with physical, mechanical, and thermal properties that meet the European standards for use in the construction of buildings as partitions, interior divisions, and thermal insulators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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12 pages, 2546 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Furfuryl Alcohol and Lactic Acid Blends: Homo- or Co-Polymerization?

by Lukas Sommerauer, Jakub Grzybek, Michael S. Elsaesser, Artur Benisek, Thomas Sepperer, Edgar Dachs, Nicola Hüsing, Alexander Petutschnigg and Gianluca Tondi

Polymers 2019, 11(10), 1533; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11101533 - 20 Sep 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3537

Abstract

Furfuryl alcohol (FA) and lactic acid (LA) are two of the most interesting biomolecules, easily obtainable from sugars and hence extremely attractive for green chemistry solutions. These substances undergo homopolymerization and they have been rarely considered for copolymerization. Typically, FA homopolymerizes exothermically in an acid environment producing inhomogeneous porous materials, but recent studies have shown that this reaction can be controlled and therefore we have implemented this process to trigger the copolymerization with LA. The mechanical tests have shown that the blend containing small amount of FA were rigid and the fracture showed patterns more similar to the one of neat polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA). This LA-rich blend exhibited higher chloroform and water resistances, while thermal analyses (TG and DSC) also indicated a higher furanic character than expected. These observations suggested an intimate interconnection between precursors which was highlighted by the presence of a small band in the ester region of the solid state ¹³C–NMR, even if the FT-IR did not evidence any new signal. These studies show that these bioplastics are basically constituted of PLA and PFA homopolymers with some small portion of covalent bonds between the two moieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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Review

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17 pages, 2455 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Wood Biomass-Based Fatty Acids and Rosin Acids Use in Polymeric Materials

by Laima Vevere, Anda Fridrihsone, Mikelis Kirpluks and Ugis Cabulis

Polymers 2020, 12(11), 2706; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12112706 - 16 Nov 2020

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 4585

Abstract

In recent decades, vegetable oils as a potential replacement for petrochemical materials have been extensively studied. Tall oil (crude tall oil, distilled tall oil, tall oil fatty acids, and rosin acids) is a good source to be turned into polymeric materials. Unlike vegetable oils, tall oil is considered as lignocellulosic plant biomass waste and is considered to be the second-generation raw material, thus it is not competing with the food and feed chain. The main purpose of this review article is to identify in what kind of polymeric materials wood biomass-based fatty acids and rosin acids have been applied and their impact on the properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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14 pages, 1317 KiB

Open AccessReview

Hemicellulose-Based Film: Potential Green Films for Food Packaging

by Yuelong Zhao, Hui Sun, Biao Yang and Yunxuan Weng

Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1775; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12081775 - 07 Aug 2020

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 8389

Abstract

Globally increasing environmental awareness and the possibility of increasing price and dwindling supply of traditional petroleum-based plastics have led to a breadth of research currently addressing environmentally friendly bioplastics as an alternative solution. In this context, hemicellulose, as the second richest polysaccharide, has attracted extensive attention due to its combination of such advantages as abundance, biodegradability, and renewability. Herein, in this review, the latest research progress in development of hemicellulose film with regard to application in the field of food packaging is presented with particular emphasis on various physical and chemical modification approaches aimed at performance improvement, primarily for enhancement of mechanical, barrier properties, and hydrophobicity that are essential to food packing materials. The development highlights of hemicellulose film substrate are outlined and research prospects in the field are described. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymers from Biomass)

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