Search Results (1,273)

Tung cake, a by-product of Vernicia fordii oil extraction, is an underutilized biomass residue rich in natural bioactive constituents and therefore shows potential for the development of sustainable protective formulations. In this study, tung cake-derived systems, including the aqueous extract, fermentation broth, and extract–ethanol mixtures with different ethanol volume fractions, were prepared and systematically evaluated as a unified protective system on two representative biological surfaces, namely rubberwood and fresh fruit. For rubberwood, the formulations were assessed in terms of uptake behavior, antifungal efficacy against Aspergillus niger, resistance to moisture swelling, and physicochemical characteristics using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). For fruit surfaces, preservation performance was evaluated through weight loss, decay rate, and color retention during storage. The results showed that formulation performance depended strongly on the preparation route and extract–ethanol mixture. In rubberwood, the 60–90% mixtures and the extract displayed showed better performance antifungal activity, with the 60%, 80%, and 90% mixtures reaching a control efficacy of 75.00% and the extract achieving 68.75%. The treatments also improved the dimensional stability of wood, and the water-saturated volumetric swelling rate decreased from 8.98% in the control to 5.63% in the extract-treated group. FTIR and XRD analyses indicated that the basic lignocellulosic chemical framework and cellulose-related diffraction features of rubberwood were largely retained after treatment, while treatment-dependent qualitative spectral and apparent diffraction differences were observed. SEM provided more direct evidence of surface-associated covering and reduced fungal attachment. A comparable protective tendency was also observed on fruit surfaces. In oranges, the 80% extract–ethanol mixture showed the most favorable preservation performance under the tested storage conditions, maintaining a decay rate of 0 throughout 10 days of storage, reducing weight loss to 17.76%, and preserving surface color more effectively than the control. Overall, the 80% ethanol mixture achieved the best balance between antimicrobial activity and barrier-related protection across both rubberwood and fruit surfaces. These findings demonstrate that tung cake waste can be converted into a bio-based protective system with potential mold-inhibiting and preservation functions across different biological substrates. Full article

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an emerging biopolymer for skin tissue regeneration; however, its functionalization with natural antimicrobial agents remains limited. This study reports the preclinical evaluation of a BC-based dressing for diabetic wounds. BC membranes were obtained from mango pulp agro-waste by Komagataeibacter xylinus cultivation (6.32 g/L) and functionalized with grapefruit seed oil (GSO) at three v/v ratios (1:100, 1:200 and 1:500). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed GSO incorporation into the BC matrix through physical interactions, with a dose-dependent loading. Antimicrobial activity of the BC/GSO dressings was screened against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans by agar diffusion, showing dose-dependent inhibition zones. Following the minimum effective dose principle, the BC/GSO 1:500 (v/v) formulation was selected for comprehensive biocompatibility evaluation (cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, pyrogenicity and sensitization) and for in vivo wound-healing testing in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rat model. Cell viability above 70% was achieved from membrane-extract dilution 1:100,000, while mutagenicity, pyrogenicity and sensitization assays confirmed the absence of adverse biological responses. In vivo, BC/GSO 1:500 (v/v) dressings supported wound closure comparable to nitrofurazone, with no clinical signs of infection. Overall, these results position BC/GSO dressings as a sustainable, biocompatible and antimicrobial candidate for early-stage diabetic wound regeneration and demonstrate the technical feasibility of valorizing mango pulp agro-waste into a high-value biomedical biopolymer. Full article

Rice straw is a highly produced agricultural waste with a high cellulose content, which can be used as a cellulose source. Nevertheless, more sustainable extraction and purification strategies are needed to reduce the consumption of chemicals during the production of cellulose-derived materials. In this way, an integrated method based on subcritical water extraction and bleaching with hydrogen peroxide was used for isolating cellulose from rice straw. The cellulose fibres obtained were converted into microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by applying acid hydrolysis with HCl 2N at 60 °C to reduce the fibre amorphous fraction. High cellulose purity (86%) and crystallinity (67%) were obtained in the isolated fibres. The influence of high-shear homogenisation (12,000 rpm) during hydrolysis was analysed, compared to mild stirring (350 rpm) at different times (30 and 60 min). High-shear homogenisation greatly accelerated the hydrolysis process of the amorphous fraction of the fibres, contributing to the reduction in particle size (to about 10 µm), defibration, increased crystallinity (70–72%), and shorter cellulose chains (92,400–61,600 g/mol) for a given treatment time. After 30–60 min of treatment, the resulting MCCs exhibited properties within the range reported for commercial AVICEL, with greater reinforcing performance in PHBV films. These MCCs resulted in lower water vapour permeability, while improved oxygen barrier properties were mainly observed for those obtained under high-shear hydrolysis conditions. Full article

Soil hydraulic functioning plays an important role in soil water management under increasingly variable climatic conditions. Total water storage alone, however, does not necessarily reflect the stability of retained water after drainage. This study evaluated the effects of waste paper cellulose and biochar, applied individually and in combination, on soil hydraulic behaviour across contrasting soil types. Water-holding capacity (WHC), maximum capillary water capacity (WMCC), water retention capacity after 24 h drainage (WRCC24), soil texture, and organic matter were determined in 64 soil and soil-related samples. Retention efficiency (RE = WRCC24/WMCC) was used as an indicator of water retention stability. WHC was strongly associated with soil organic matter, whereas RE was primarily related to soil texture and likely reflected differences in pore-system characteristics. Cellulose markedly increased WHC, particularly in soils with initially low hydraulic performance, but changes in WHC were not directly related to changes in RE, indicating partly independent hydraulic responses. Combined cellulose–biochar treatments showed complementary effects: cellulose primarily enhanced total water storage, while biochar improved retention stability. The results demonstrate that total water storage and retention stability may respond differently to soil amendments and should therefore be evaluated together when assessing amendment performance. The findings also highlight the potential of combined cellulose–biochar amendments for improving water retention stability under water-limited conditions. Full article

The development of sustainable, high-performance construction materials is essential for enhancing the resilience and economic efficiency of infrastructure in seismically active regions. Although nanomaterials can improve concrete performance, the combined influence of hybrid nanomaterial systems—particularly those sourced from agricultural and industrial waste streams—on early-age behavior, building-scale seismic response, and cost efficiency remains insufficiently quantified. This study presents an integrated experimental and numerical assessment of high early-strength concrete (HESC) incorporating nano-silica (NS), nano-clay (NCl), and cellulose nanofibers (NCels). Experimental results indicate that the optimized mixture (HESC-O) achieved a 3.15-fold increase in 28-day compressive strength, a 93.3% reduction in water penetration depth, and an 88.7% decrease in corrosion rate compared with conventional concrete. Finite element analyses of low-, mid-, and high-rise building models showed that HESC-O increased lateral stiffness and reduced story drift by up to 30% compared to normal concrete (NC); improvements over reference HESC (HESC-R) were of 5–10% and lateral displacement differed by 25–40%, with the most pronounced improvements observed in taller structures. Despite a higher unit material cost, the cost–benefit analysis demonstrated substantial net savings, particularly for high-rise buildings, primarily due to a 52% reduction in column cross-sectional areas and the associated increase in usable floor space. The findings support the performance-based selection of nano-engineered concrete that balances structural performance, economic value, and sustainability. Full article

This focused review examines fermentation and fermentation-integrated microbial platforms that convert two regionally relevant substrate classes, Latin American agro-industrial residues and concentrated CO₂ streams, into high-value bioproducts. The review is not intended as a complete survey of all biomass valorization routes in Latin America. Instead, it evaluates platform–feedstock–product combinations with clear translational relevance for regional biorefineries, with emphasis on literature from 2020–2025 and on earlier benchmark studies only when they define current technical performance limits. Latin America and the Caribbean combine high-volume sugarcane, agave, coffee, citrus, banana, cacao, and tuber-processing residues with biogenic CO₂ from ethanol fermentation and industrial point sources from cement, lime, and oil-and-gas operations. The technical opportunity is therefore not residue abundance alone, but the rational coupling of residue chemistry, CO₂-source quality, locally isolated microbial strains, and process architectures that can be scaled under regional constraints. We compare phototrophic CO₂-fixing modules based on cyanobacteria and microalgae, chemoautotrophic gas fermentation using Cupriavidus necator and related systems, heterotrophic yeast platforms including Rhodotorula spp. and Yarrowia lipolytica, and bacterial platforms for PHAs, bacterial cellulose, and organic acids. The core technical analysis focuses on substrate conditioning, hydrolysate inhibition, oxygen- and gas-transfer constraints, light delivery, C/N control, mixed-sugar utilization, metabolic engineering, reactor configuration, downstream processing, and quantitative reporting metrics. One fermentation-integrated laboratory case study—the Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803–Rhodotorula mucilaginosa UANL-001L CO₂-to-carotenoid relay—and one explicitly defined non-fermentative boundary case on peel-extract-derived coating films are used to illustrate two different aspects of regional biorefinery design: dual-feedstock microbial conversion and low-CapEx product-fit decisions for agro-industrial residues. We conclude that Latin America’s strongest near-term position is in technically disciplined, product-specific biorefineries that integrate local feedstock chemistry with engineered or locally adapted chassis, rather than in generic biomass-to-product claims. Full article

This study investigates the ternary co-pyrolysis of Soma lignite (SL), a low-rank Turkish coal with high ash content, with two agricultural residues: pectin-rich sugar beet pulp (SBP) and lignin-rich peanut shell (PS). The primary objective is to clarify how biomass structure and blend composition control synergistic interactions, and how co-pyrolysis can upgrade the fuel properties of a low-quality coal while valorizing agro-industrial waste. Four SL:SBP:PS blends (80:10:10, 60:20:20, 40:30:30, and 20:40:40 wt.%) were tested by non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis at 10 °C min⁻¹ under nitrogen. Differential thermogravimetric curves were deconvolved into four pseudo-components representing pectin/hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin/early coal, and main coal/mineral fractions. Mass-based deviation indices ($\mathrm{\Delta }W$) and rate-based deviations ($\mathrm{\Psi }$) from the additive prediction were calculated in three temperature regions to detect synergy and antagonism. The results demonstrate that interactions are strongly composition-dependent. The 40:30:30 blend exhibits the most pronounced synergistic enhancement, with average $\mathrm{\Delta }W$ values of approximately −0.94 wt.% and −1.05 wt.% in the 350–500 °C and 500–650 °C ranges, respectively, while the 60:20:20 blend shows antagonistic behavior across all regions. For the 40:30:30 blend, the calculated higher heating value increases from 11.21 to 14.74 MJkg⁻¹, reflecting a gradual upgrading of the feed-mixture composition by biomass loading. Overall, the findings indicate that combining a pectin-rich, fast-devolatilising biomass with a lignin-rich, slower-decomposing biomass at an intermediate coal loading can shift mass loss to lower temperatures. This combination also produces measurable non-additive behaviour within the experimental noise level. In addition, it improves several feed-mixture indicators that are relevant to sustainable energy recovery from lignite-dominated regions. Full article

This review evaluates pretreatment strategies for blending the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) with agricultural residues to recover fermentable sugars. Three mechanistic benefits have been hypothesized for such blends: ash-mineral pH buffering, endogenous protein reduction of non-productive cellulase–lignin binding, and inhibitor dilution. These mechanisms are inferred from analogous lignocellulosic systems rather than measured directly in OFMSW–agricultural residue combinations, and their translation into saccharification gains remains substrate- and pretreatment-specific. A synergy index framework with a four-tier classification (true synergy, additive, substitution, and process complementarity) is applied to reclassify the available evidence, alongside an assessment of pretreatment chemistry, enzymatic hydrolysis outcomes, and techno-economic feasibility. Integrated sequential pretreatment, particularly acid-catalyzed steam explosion and deacetylation with mechanical refining, proved most robust for heterogeneous feeds. The strongest Tier I synergy is found for SO₂-catalyzed steam explosion of hybrid poplar–wheat straw (SI 1.29–1.33; 22% monomeric sugar gain). OFMSW combined with organosolv beechwood cellulose at 35–45% OFMSW reached 58–68% saccharification (44–46 g sugar L⁻¹), a Tier III–IV outcome. Matched-control saccharification data for OFMSW–agricultural residue blends specifically have not been reported. Co-processing corn stover with wet organic waste reduced CO₂ mitigation cost from $236 to $67 per ton CO₂-eq under bio-CNG upgrading. Formal synergy quantification, blend-specific inhibitor profiling, and high-solids process intensification are the central prerequisites for commercial translation. Full article

This review synthesizes current advances in the biocatalytic upcycling of plastic waste through microbial and enzymatic systems, emphasizing the transformation of recalcitrant polymers into high-value products. A narrative review methodology was adopted to integrate interdisciplinary findings across microbiology, enzymology, biotechnology, and waste management. Significant progress has been achieved in the depolymerization of plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane, and polyolefins into intermediates, including terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. These intermediates are subsequently valorized into products such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), lipids, terpenoids, organic acids, aromatic compounds, and bacterial cellulose. Quantitative performance metrics demonstrate the potential of these systems. Notably, PHA production from PET-derived substrates has reached up to 1.10 g L⁻¹ (22.7% cell dry weight) and as high as 46% intracellular accumulation, while bacterial cellulose production from PET hydrolysates has achieved ~3.0 g L⁻¹. High conversion efficiencies have been reported in several pathways, including ~90–99% conversion of PET-derived intermediates to catechol, ~91.6% yield of glycolic acid from ethylene glycol (up to 31.4 g L⁻¹), and ~71–79% molar conversion of terephthalic acid to vanillin. Despite these advances, critical limitations persist, including low volumetric productivity in some systems, metabolic imbalances, substrate toxicity, feedstock heterogeneity, and challenges in process integration and scale-up. Future research should prioritize enhancing metabolic flux, improving enzyme efficiency, optimizing microbial consortia, and developing integrated, low-energy depolymerization–bioconversion systems. Full article

This study explores the possibility of making cardboard and molded egg carton packaging from corn residues and common reed as alternatives to wood-based pulp. Six formulations were made: corn husks (CHs), corn leaves (CLs), corn leaves (35%) plus corn husks (30%) and a corn blend (15%) of wollastonite (CaSiO₃) (CH + CL + W), a corn blend (CH + CL: husks 60%, leaves 40%), mixed corn waste (MCW) and shredded common reed (SR). Optical microscopy was used to evaluate the fiber morphology, including the calculation of the flexibility coefficient, the cell wall rigidity and the Runkel ratio, for raw materials and fiber after alkaline hydrolysis and casting of egg cartons in silicone molds. The grammage, burst strength and index, folding endurance, thickness and moisture content were measured in the cardboard samples, while warping, compressive deformation, moisture and ink absorption were measured in the egg cartons. The flexibility coefficient of the common reed fibers (64.5%) was better than that of the corn fibers (23.6%), and so was the Runkel ratio (0.86 vs. 1.2). In the case of cardboard formulations, the maximum burst strength (462.4 kPa) and the maximum burst index (3.0 kPa·g/m²) values were obtained with the MCW formulation, and the highest folding endurance (42 and 38 double folds) was obtained with the CH and SR formulations, respectively. The addition of wollastonite improved folding endurance to 28 double folds and reduced moisture content to 4.1%, whereas the moisture content was reduced but burst strength decreased to 250.5 kPa. Egg cartons made from corn were found to satisfy all the requirements tested for good packaging, while the reed-based cartons were found to have inadequate ink absorbency time (20 min), making them less printable. Overall, mixed corn residues seem to be the most promising raw materials for sustainable packaging, and wollastonite can be used to adjust the flexibility–strength balance. Full article

The presented study aimed to fully characterise berry powders derived from raspberry, blackberry and strawberry (RB, BB, SB) as well as raspberry and blackberry seed powders (RBS, BBS) in terms of proximate composition, the individual profile of minerals, sugars, organic and fatty acids, and phenolic and volatile compounds. Additionally, testing of powders’ colour and antioxidant activity, as well as spectroscopic analysis, were also performed. Higher total and individual sugars, organic and phenolic acids, flavonols and anthocyanins content distinguished berry powders from the seed powders. Individually, RB contained significant amounts of citric and chlorogenic acids, BB was superior in cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside content, while SB was characterised by high sucrose, fructose, omega-3, and mineral (Ca, Mg, Fe) content. Berry seed powders exhibited remarkable TDF content, beneficial PUFA/SFA ratio, lighter colour, higher individual flavan-3-ols quantity, TPC and DPPH activity compared to berry powders. Mentioned discrepancies between berry and berry seed powders on a compositional level were also visible on ATR-FTIR spectra across all detected regions reflecting bonds attributed to cellulose, lipids, phenols and sugars. Pleasant, predominantly green, fruity and floral aromas were associated with berry powders, whilst additional herbal notes were characteristic of berry seed powders, all derived from the alcohols, aldehydes, esters and ketones as paramount volatile compounds. All examined powders can bear a nutritional claim of “high in” fibre (20.47–65.33%) and Mg (114.52–128.70 mg/100 g), enabling the design of food products packed with nutrients and bioactives while simultaneously reducing fresh fruit and fruit-processing waste. Full article

This study investigates the effect of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) concentration on the mechanical, interfacial, and fracture behavior of epoxy/microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) composites derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). GPTMS was incorporated at 1, 3, and 5 Phr to improve compatibility between hydrophilic MFC and the hydrophobic epoxy matrix. Mechanical testing revealed that GPTMS concentration significantly influenced composite performance in a concentration-dependent manner, with 1 Phr GPTMS providing the most balanced reinforcement. At this concentration, tensile strength increased by 14.5% from 32.88 ± 3.61 MPa to 37.65 ± 1.42 MPa, while flexural strength improved by 5.55% from 70.24 ± 5.30 MPa to 74.14 ± 4.10 MPa compared with the unmodified composite. Tensile modulus also increased from 2.07 ± 0.06 GPa to 2.21 ± 0.16 GPa, accompanied by improved flexural modulus from 2.39 ± 0.12 GPa to 2.47 ± 0.21 GPa. SEM analysis revealed that the optimized formulation promoted more uniform MFC dispersion, improved interfacial integrity, reduced void formation, and enhanced fracture resistance through tortuous crack propagation, localized radial crack branching, and matrix tearing. In contrast, higher GPTMS concentrations (3 and 5 Phr) reduced mechanical efficiency, with flexural strength declining to 65.27 ± 5.33 MPa and 66.16 ± 4.23 MPa, respectively, due to increased fiber pull-out, interfacial heterogeneity, and more continuous crack propagation. FTIR analysis suggested possible silane-related interfacial modifications consistent with GPTMS incorporation, although these findings are interpreted as supportive rather than definitive evidence of grafting. Overall, the results demonstrate that moderate GPTMS incorporation (1 Phr) is the optimum strategy for enhancing epoxy/MFC composite performance, offering a practical pathway for developing sustainable lightweight bio-based composites with balanced strength, stiffness, and fracture resistance. This research contributes to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting sustainable utilization of oil palm biomass waste for advanced engineering materials. Full article

Cellulose is the most abundant renewable biopolymer, with bacterial cellulose (BC) emerging as a high-purity, sustainable alternative to plant-derived cellulose. While sharing the same chemical formula, BC possesses unique morphological characteristics, including a 3D nanofibrillar network, high crystallinity (>95%), and superior water-holding capacity (>60%), and is free of lignin and hemicellulose impurities. This review systematically explains the production, morphology, and properties of microbial cellulose produced by strains such as Komagataeibacter. We examine the influence of substrate composition, environmental growth conditions, and post-treatment protocols on the macro- and nanoscopic properties of the final pellicle. Furthermore, we discuss the high-performance applications of BC in medicine and health promotion, focusing on its efficacy as a wound dressing, artificial skin, and drug-delivery vehicle. Finally, current challenges in large-scale production and future strategies for tailoring BC properties are addressed. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural inputs has driven interest in biodegradable polymers from agro-industrial residues. Pineapple crown biomass (PCB), a widely available lignocellulosic waste, represents a promising feedstock for producing carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). However, the optimal pulping and bleaching conditions for CMC synthesis from this residue remain underexplored. Nevertheless, the combination of CMC derived from PCB with Bacillus subtilis as a seed coating agent for the bean cultivar has not yet been investigated. Here, we produced cellulosic pulps from PCB using a bioreactor, varying NaOH concentration (1–3%), pulping time (1.5–2.5 h), bleaching volume (55–75 mL) and time (60–120 min). The selected pulping condition (2% NaOH, 1.5 h) yielded pulp with high purity (83.9%) and crystallinity (76.35%). After bleaching (65 mL, 90 min), the material was suitable for CMC synthesis under two conditions: CMC1 and CMC2. CMC2 showed a higher degree of substitution (1.010) than CMC1 (0.620) but led to reduced seed germination (77.67%) due to excessive water retention and fungal growth. In contrast, CMC1, with or without B. subtilis, maintained high germination (91%) and significantly increased seedling length (21.30 cm). We conclude that PCB is a viable feedstock for CMC production, and CMC1 exhibits strong potential as an effective seed coating agent for sustainable agriculture. Full article

The increasing complexity of textile waste, particularly blended fibers, represents a major challenge for conventional recycling approaches. This study proposes a selective valorization strategy for mixed textile waste streams by applying tailored chemical recycling routes to individual fiber type. Preliminary tests identified suitable methodologies for each fiber type: dissolution–precipitation for acrylic (poly(acrylonitrile)—PAN), acidolysis for nylon, glycolysis for polyester (PeS) and acetylation for cotton. Structural characterization confirmed that the incorporation of recycled products did not significantly change the chemical structure or crystallinity of the resulting materials. Furthermore, thermal analysis revealed comparable or slightly improved thermal stability in most recycled systems. Additionally, mechanical performance was observed to vary depending on the polymer type. Recycled acrylic and cellulose acetate showed reduced ductility, while nylon exhibited increased stiffness due to possible recrystallization effects. In contrast, PeS displayed enhanced elongation at break, suggesting increased chain mobility or plasticization effects. Overall, the results demonstrate that selective chemical valorization is a promising route for the efficient recycling of complex textile waste, enabling the recovery of high-quality materials with retained functional properties. Full article