Search Results (3,416)

Biomineralized self-healing concrete is a type of concrete that, during its service life, induces the generation of calcium carbonate through the participation of microorganisms or active enzymes, thereby achieving self-repair of cracks at different times. Self-healing concrete based on biomineralization can achieve sustainable crack repair and could enhance the strength and extend the service life of buildings. This article comprehensively analyzes the latest progress in bio-self-healing concrete, including microbial-based self-healing, enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP), microcapsule-loaded microbial in situ remediation, and bio-inorganic mineral synergist self-healing technology. The maximum repairable width of the crack is 2.0 mm, and concrete strength can be increased by 135%. These methods offer new insights and strategies for the repair of concrete cracks, providing fundamental knowledge for the later application of intelligent engineering of bio-self-healing concrete and the analysis of micro-interface mechanisms. At the same time, they clarify the practical possibility of microbial technology in building materials science and engineering and offer key theoretical support for the long-term development of China’s construction industry. Full article

This work investigates the effect of a bio-based plasticizer derived from used sunflower oil on the crystallization behavior of poly (lactic acid) (PLA), comparing it with that of the conventional plasticizer tributyrin. This study aims to explore biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based materials and to evaluate their potential in modulating PLA crystallization kinetics without altering the crystalline structure of the resulting sustainable material solutions with tailored performance. PLA-based films containing 5%, 10%, and 15% plasticizer were prepared and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). DSC analysis showed a decrease in the glass transition temperatures upon plasticization, with tributyrin producing a more pronounced effect than the recycled sunflower oil plasticizer. XRD patterns confirmed that the crystalline form of PLA remained unchanged regardless of plasticizer type or content. POM revealed that both plasticizers influenced crystallization kinetics, with the bio-plasticizer promoting larger and more sparsely distributed spherulites than tributyrin, indicating differences in nucleation efficiency and crystal growth. Crystallization kinetics were further analyzed using the Avrami model, the Lauritzen-Hoffman theory, and the isoconversional method. Avrami analysis indicated that nucleation mechanisms were largely unaffected, although the overall crystallization rate increased upon plasticization. Lauritzen-Hoffman analysis confirmed crystallization in Regime III, controlled by nucleation, while isoconversional analysis showed reduced activation energy in plasticized PLA. These findings highlight the ability of bio-derived plasticizers to modulate PLA crystallization, promoting the valorization of a food industry residue as a sustainable plasticizer. This study hopes to contribute relevant knowledge to emerging areas of polymer processing, such as 3D printing, to develop sustainable and high-performance PLA-based materials. Full article

Biocatalysis is fundamental to biological processes and sustainable chemical productions. Over time, the biocatalysis strategy has been widely researched. Initially, biomanufacturing and catalysis of high-value chemicals were carried out through direct immobilization and application of biocatalysts, including natural enzymes and living cells. With the evolution of green chemistry and environmental concern, hybrid photoelectro-biocatalysis (HPEB) platforms are seen as a new approach to enhance biocatalysis. This strategy greatly expands the domain of natural biocatalysis, especially for bio-based components. The selective valorization of renewable furan derivatives, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural, is central to advancing biomass-based chemical production. Biocatalysis offers high chemo-, regio-, and stereo-selectivity under mild conditions compared with traditional chemical catalysis, yet it is often constrained by the costly and inefficient regeneration of redox cofactors like NAD(P)H. Photoelectrocatalysis provides a sustainable means to supply reducing equivalents using solar or electrical energy. In recent years, hybrid systems that integrate biocatalysis with photoelectrocatalysis have emerged as a promising strategy to overcome this limitation. This review focuses on recent advances in such systems, where photoelectrochemical platforms enable in situ cofactor regeneration to drive enzymatic transformations of furan-based substrates. We critically analyze representative coupling strategies, materials and device configurations, and reaction engineering approaches. Finally, we outline future directions for developing efficient, robust, and industrially viable hybrid catalytic platforms for green biomass valorization. Full article

The design of sustainable nanomaterials for catalysis is a key challenge in green chemistry. Herein, we report the synthesis of halloysite nanotube (Hal)-based nanomaterials selectively functionalized with a bio-inspired polydopamine (PDA) coating, which enables the controlled anchoring of palladium and copper nanoparticles (PdNPs and CuNPs). This mild and ecofriendly strategy yields highly dispersed and ultrasmall (<5 nm) metal nanoparticles without the need for surfactants or harsh reagents. The resulting materials, Hal@PDA/PdNPs and Hal@PDA/CuNPs, were evaluated in two well-established model reactions commonly employed to probe catalytic performance: cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation and 4-nitrophenol reduction. Hal@PDA/PdNPs displayed complete conversion and >90% selectivity toward hydrocinnamaldehyde at low Pd loading (0.8 wt%) and maintained its efficiency over six catalytic cycles (TOF up to 0.1 s⁻¹), while Hal@PDA/CuNPs retained high activity through eight consecutive runs in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. Hal@PDA/CuNPs proved to be an excellent recyclable catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, retaining high activity through eight consecutive runs. Overall, this study introduces a robust and modular approach to fabricating halloysite-based nanocatalysts, demonstrating their potential as green platforms for metal nanoparticle-mediated transformation. Full article

The Special Issue “Unlocking the Potential of Agri-Food Waste for Innovative Applications and Bio-Based Materials” brings together recent advances and emerging strategies for the valorization of agri-food residues. This Editorial provides an overview of the contributions included in the Special Issue, highlighting innovative approaches that convert waste streams into valuable bio-based materials, chemicals, and products. The collected works demonstrate how hydrodynamic, chemical, biological, and catalytic processes can be integrated to achieve sustainable waste management and circular resource recovery. By summarizing the main findings and perspectives, this Editorial emphasizes the growing relevance of agri-food waste valorization within the framework of the circular bioeconomy and encourages further interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate the transition toward sustainable production systems. Full article

Thermal energy storage (TES) plays a vital role in advancing energy efficiency and sustainability, with phase change materials (PCMs) receiving significant attention due to their high latent heat storage capacity. Nevertheless, conventional PCMs face critical challenges such as leakage, phase separation, and low thermal conductivity, which hinder large-scale applications. Encapsulation strategies have been developed to address these issues, and bio-based composite materials are increasingly recognised as sustainable alternatives. Materials such as lignin, nanocellulose, and biochar, as well as hybrid formulations with graphene and aerogels, show promise in improving thermal conductivity, mechanical integrity, and environmental performance. This review evaluates bio-based encapsulation approaches for PCMs, examining their effectiveness in enhancing heat transfer, durability under thermal cycling, and scalability. Applications in solar energy systems, building insulation, and electronic thermal regulation are highlighted, as are emerging AI-driven modelling tools for optimising encapsulation performance. Although bio-based PCM composites outperform conventional systems in terms of thermal stability and multifunctionality, they still face persistent challenges in terms of cost-effectiveness, scalability, and long-term reliability. Future research on smart, multifunctional PCMs and advanced bio-nanocomposites is essential for realising next-generation TES solutions that combine sustainability, efficiency, and durability. Full article

The growing dependence on plastics is driving a sharp increase in environmental pollution, posing serious risks to human health. This issue necessitates immediate attention and proactive measures to mitigate its impact on both individuals and the broader ecosystem. From this viewpoint, biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, both synthetic and natural, have emerged as vital materials for applications in biomedicine, packaging, and environmental sustainability. The main advantages of biodegradable polymer materials lie in conserving fossil fuel resources, utilizing inedible biomass, and enabling environmentally friendly production processes. In this context, this review thoroughly discusses the categorization of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers into natural and synthetic types, detailing their structural characteristics, mechanisms of biodegradation, and compatibility matrices appropriate for biomedical, environmental, and industrial uses. It also addresses recent advancements in polymer synthesis technology, highlighting significant progress in polymer functionalization, responsiveness to stimuli, and environmentally friendly biobased synthesis methods. Additionally, it identifies challenges such as mechanical constraints, control over degradation, and expense, while also discussing future opportunities in the field of polymer science. Full article

The heavy environmental impact of the construction industry—responsible for 39% of world CO₂ emissions and consuming over 40% of natural resources—supports the need for evidence-based decision-making tools for sustainable material selection balancing environmental, economic, and social considerations. This research develops and evaluates an integrated decision support system that couples cradle-to-grave lifecycle assessment (LCA) with various multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to optimize climate-resilient material selection for schools. The methodology is an integration of hybrid Analytic Hierarchy Process–Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (AHP-TOPSIS) and VIKOR techniques validated with eight case studies in hot-arid, hot-humid, and temperate climates. Environmental, economic, social, and technical performance indices were evaluated from primary experimental data and with the input from 22 international experts with climate change assessment expertise. Ten material options were examined, from traditional, recycled, and bio-based to advanced composite systems throughout full building lifecycles. The results indicate geopolymer–biofiber composite systems achieve 42% reduced lifecycle carbon emissions, 28% lower cost of ownership, and 35% improved overall sustainability performance compared to traditional equivalents. Three MCDM techniques’ cross-validation demonstrated a satisfactory ranking correlation (Kendall’s τ = 0.87), while Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis ensured framework stability across 95% confidence ranges. Climate-adaptive weighting detected dramatic regional optimization contrasts: thermal performance maximization in tropical climates and embodied impact emphasis in temperate climates. Three case studies on educational building projects demonstrated 95.8% accuracy in validation of environmental performance and economic payback periods between 4.2 and 6.8 years in real-world practice. Full article

Thermally activated building systems (TABS) rely on high thermal mass materials, such as concrete, which perform well thermally but have a high carbon footprint. This study systematically investigates the thermal behavior of bio-based materials—spruce, pine, beech, and oak—in TABS using numerical simulations, comparing them with conventional and hybrid materials like concrete and clay. A total of 120 variants were simulated with different pipe diameters, spacing, embedment depths, and inlet temperatures. Thermal properties, particularly thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity, significantly influenced component activation efficiency. Concrete exhibited a characteristic cooling time of 71 h at an inlet temperature of 26 °C (pipe diameter 16 mm), while pine reached 80 h under the same conditions. The use of capillary tube mats extended the cooling times to 75 h for concrete and 92 h for pine. Although concrete provides the best thermal performance, certain bio-based materials achieve comparable results under optimized conditions. Hybrid systems with mineral components offer additional potential for improvement. These findings demonstrate that ecologically sustainable component activation using bio-based materials is feasible with only moderate efficiency losses compared to mineral-based systems, provided system parameters are appropriately adapted. Full article

The photoinitiation properties of two porphyrins were evaluated for the free-radical photopolymerization (FRP) of a bio-based acrylated monomer, i.e., soybean oil acrylate (SOA). Their combination with various co-initiators, such as a tertiary amine as electron donor (MDEA), an iodonium salt as electron acceptor (Iod), as well as two biosourced co-initiators used as H-donors (cysteamine and N-acetylcysteine), makes them highly efficient photoinitiating systems for FRP under visible light irradiation. Electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping (EPR ST) demonstrated the formation of highly reactive radical species, and fluorescence and laser flash photolysis highlighted the chemical pathways followed by the porphyrin-based systems under light irradiation. High acrylate conversions up to 96% were obtained with these different systems at different irradiation wavelengths (LEDs@385 nm, 405 nm, 455 nm, and 530 nm), in laminate or under air. The final crosslinked and bio-based porphyrin-based materials were used for the full photo-oxidation in water of an azo-dye (acid red 14) and under UV irradiation. These materials have been involved in three successive depollution cycles without any reduction in their efficiency. Full article

Bioplastics are plastics derived from natural resources like corn starch, biomass, sugarcane bagasse, and food waste. Unlike fossil-fuel-based plastics, they are entirely or partially bio-degradable. Cellulose- and starch-based bioplastics are already used for applications like packaging, cutlery, bowls, straws, and shopping bags. With the aim of developing eco-friendly biofilms for various applications, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were obtained by sulfuric acid hydrolysis of waste cellulose and functionalized by transesterification with exhausted oils. The resulting transesterified nanocellulose (TCNC) was used as a reinforced material of PLA at different concentrations to develop biofilms using the solvent casting method. The biofilms composed of PLA and TCNC were assessed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), mechanical properties, moisture barrier property (water vapor permeability rate—WVTR), and measurements of the water contact angle (WCA). A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the high compatibility of the PLA blended with TCNC at 1% and 3%. The inclusion of transesterified cellulose nanocrystals (TCNCs) to PLA increased the hydrophobicity, the film tensile strength, and the water vapor barrier properties of the final composite films. Full article

Bio-gels are a class of functional polymeric materials with three-dimensional network structures. Their exceptional biocompatibility, biodegradability, high specific surface area, and tunable physicochemical properties make them highly promising for environmental remediation. This article systematically reviews the classification of bio-gels based on source, cross-linking mechanisms, and functional attributes. It also elaborates on their fundamental properties such as porous structure, high water absorbency, stimuli-responsiveness, and mechanical stability and examines how these properties influence their environmental remediation efficiency. This review comprehensively analyze the mechanisms and efficacy of bio-gels in adsorbing heavy metal ions, removing organic dyes, improving soil water retention, and restoring ecosystems. Special attention is given to the interactions between surface functional groups and contaminants, the role of porous structures in mass transfer, and the ecological effects within soil–plant systems. Additionally, this review explores extended applications of bio-gels in medical tissue engineering, controlled release of drugs and fertilizers, and enhanced oil recovery, highlighting their versatility as multifunctional materials. Finally, based on current progress and challenges, this review outline key future research directions. These include elucidating microscopic interaction mechanisms, developing low-cost renewable feedstocks, designing multi-stimuli-responsive structures, improving long-term stability, and establishing full life-cycle environmental safety assessments. These efforts will help advance the efficient, precise, and sustainable use of bio-gels in environmental remediation, offering innovative solutions to complex environmental problems. Full article

Rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) are essential polymeric materials, prized for their low density, high mechanical strength, and superior thermal insulation, making them indispensable in construction, refrigeration, and transportation. Despite these advantages, their highly porous, carbon-rich structure renders them intrinsically flammable, promoting rapid flame spread, intense heat release, and the generation of toxic smoke. Traditional strategies to reduce flammability have primarily focused on incorporating additive or reactive flame retardants into the foam matrix, which can effectively suppress combustion but often compromise mechanical integrity, suffer from migration or compatibility issues, and involve complex synthesis routes. Despite recent progress, the long-term stability, scalability, and durability of surface flame-retardant coatings for RPUFs remain underexplored, limiting their practical application in industrial environments. Recent advances have emphasized the development of surface-engineered flame-retardant coatings, including intumescent systems, inorganic–organic hybrids, bio-inspired materials, and nanostructured composites. These coatings form protective interfaces that inhibit ignition, restrict heat and mass transfer, promote char formation, and suppress smoke without altering the intrinsic properties of RPUFs. Emerging deposition methods, such as layer-by-layer assembly, spray coating, ultraviolet (UV) curing, and brush application, enable precise control over thickness, uniformity, and adhesion, enhancing durability and multifunctionality. Integrating bio-based and hybrid approaches further offers environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions. Collectively, these developments demonstrate the potential of surface-engineered coatings to achieve high-efficiency flame retardancy while preserving thermal and mechanical performance, providing a pathway for safe, multifunctional, and industrially viable RPUFs. Full article

Periodontitis (PD) is a multifactorial, progressive inflammatory disease affecting the teeth-supporting tissues, characterized by an imbalance of the oral microbiota and the presence of bacterial biofilms leading to host response. Nowadays, reliable biochemical markers for early and objective diagnosis, and for predicting disease progression, are still lacking. Our previous proteomic investigations revealed the significant overexpression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in periodontal pocket tissue, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), and tooth-surface-collected material (TSCM) from PD patients in comparison to periodontally healthy controls, proposing it as a possible biomarker of PD. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of GAPDH in saliva, a more accessible, non-invasive, and clinically relevant oral sample. The whole saliva was analyzed by a preliminary mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach, identifying significantly increased levels of GAPDH also in salivary samples from periodontal-affected subjects. These data were further validated by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, protein–protein interaction networks were generated through the Human Protein Atlas database, using different datasets (OpenCell, IntAct, and BioGRID). Bioinformatic analysis provided noteworthy GAPDH-associated networks potentially relevant to periodontal pathology. The scientific significance of this study lies in the detection of salivary GAPDH as a novel strategy to advance periodontal clinical diagnostics from the perspective of a non-invasive screening test. In correlation with other protein markers, salivary GAPDH could constitute a promising set of distinctive and predictive targets to enhance early diagnosis of PD, disease monitoring, and treatment planning in periodontology. Full article

As an innovative advancement beyond cross-laminated timber (CLT), cross-laminated bamboo and timber (CLBT) combines sustainability with enhanced structural performance. This review critically assesses the current state of CLBT research, focusing on its failure mechanisms, mechanical properties, and predictive theoretical models. Key findings indicate that CLBT exhibits superior rolling shear strength, bending stiffness, and stability compared to conventional CLT, achieved through optimized hybrid layering and manufacturing techniques. The integration of bamboo not only improves mechanical performance but also promotes diversification of raw materials and more efficient use of regional biomass. This paper highlights the potential of CLBT as a high-performance, eco-friendly construction material and identifies key research gaps and future directions to facilitate its standardized application. Full article