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Polymers
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Sustainable Biochemicals and Biopolymers from Bioresources
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Sustainable Biochemicals and Biopolymers from Bioresources

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2023) | Viewed by 20529

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shengbo Ge

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: biocomposites; bioenergy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Wanxi Peng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-Added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Interests: biochemicals; biocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yequan Sheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
Interests: biochemicals; biotechnology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioresources are extremely common and widespread in nature. They play crucial roles in a huge number of research areas: health, biopharma, food, cosmetics, chemicals, bioplastics, biopackaging, biotechnology, building, fuels, etc.

For these reasons, the research in new methods for producing valuable biochemicals or biocomposites from natural bioresources with novel properties and applications is a hot topic that is rapidly evolving in organic polymer sciences. Biochemicals are obtained from bioresources through physical or chemical conversion. Common pyrolysis or catalytic conversion methods are promising technologies for converting bioresources into valuable bioproducts. Biocomposites are formed by two or more phases, usually derived from organic polymers as the matrix and fibers as the reinforcement. Generally, the strength and stiffness of the fiber materials are much higher than those of the polymer matrix materials, and thus the fibers are the major load-bearing component in polymer composites.

Although there are many relevant research works at present, a great deal of in-depth study on biochemicals or biocomposites produced from natural bioresources remains to be conducted. 

With a focus on Sustainable Biochemicals and Biocomposites from Natural Bioresources, potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

  • Bioresources;
  • Sustainability;
  • Biochemicals;
  • Biocomposites;
  • Physical conversion;
  • Chemical conversion.

Dr. Shengbo Ge
Prof. Dr. Wanxi Peng
Dr. Yequan Sheng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bioresources
  • sustainability
  • biochemicals
  • biocomposites
  • physical conversion
  • chemical conversion

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 8446 KiB  
Article
Cleaner Leather Tanning and Post-Tanning Processes Using Oxidized Alginate as Biodegradable Tanning Agent and Nano-Hydroxyapatite as Potential Flame Retardant
by Ilaria Quaratesi, Maria Cristina Micu, Erica Rebba, Cristina Carsote, Noemi Proietti, Valeria Di Tullio, Rita Porcaro and Elena Badea
Polymers 2023, 15(24), 4676; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15244676 - 11 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2226
Abstract
In this study, sodium alginate (SA) was oxidized with potassium periodate to produce an alginate-based tanning agent. Using OSA as a biodegradable tanning agent and a nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HAp) low concentration suspension to give flame retardancy to leather, eco-design concepts were applied to establish [...] Read more.
In this study, sodium alginate (SA) was oxidized with potassium periodate to produce an alginate-based tanning agent. Using OSA as a biodegradable tanning agent and a nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HAp) low concentration suspension to give flame retardancy to leather, eco-design concepts were applied to establish a chrome-, aldehyde-, and phenol-free tanning process. Micro-DSC, 1H unilateral nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), attenuated total reflection mode Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were used to investigate the complex matrix collagen-OSA-nano-HAp. Micro-differential scanning calorimetry (micro-DSC) was used to assess OSA’s ability to interact with collagen and stabilize the collagen-OSA matrix, while 1H unilateral (NMR) was used to investigate the aqueous environment and its limitations around collagen molecules caused by their association with OSA and nano-HAp. Industrial standard tests were used to assess the mechanical properties and fire resistance of the new leather prototype. The findings reported here indicate that both OSA and nano-HAp are suitable alternatives for cleaner tanning technologies and more sustainable leather. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biochemicals and Biopolymers from Bioresources)
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12 pages, 4481 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Yield of Large-Sized Ti3C2Tx MXene Polymers Nanosheets via Cyclic Ultrasonic-Centrifugal Separation
by Kun Hou, Yafeng Yang, Hu Zhou, Xiangmeng Chen and Shengbo Ge
Polymers 2023, 15(6), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061330 - 7 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2139
Abstract
Water pollution has spurred the development of membrane separation technology as a potential means of solving the issue. In contrast to the irregular and asymmetric holes that are easily made during the fabrication of organic polymer membranes, forming regular transport channels is essential. [...] Read more.
Water pollution has spurred the development of membrane separation technology as a potential means of solving the issue. In contrast to the irregular and asymmetric holes that are easily made during the fabrication of organic polymer membranes, forming regular transport channels is essential. This necessitates the use of large-size, two-dimensional materials that can enhance membrane separation performance. However, some limitations regarding yield are associated with preparing large-sized MXene polymer-based nanosheets, which restrict their large-scale application. Here, we propose a combination of wet etching and cyclic ultrasonic-centrifugal separation to meet the needs of the large-scale production of MXene polymers nanosheets. It was found that the yield of large-sized Ti3C2Tx MXene polymers nanosheets reached 71.37%, which was 2.14 times and 1.77 times higher than that prepared with continuous ultrasonication for 10 min and 60 min, respectively. The size of the Ti3C2Tx MXene polymers nanosheets was maintained at the micron level with the help of the cyclic ultrasonic-centrifugal separation technology. In addition, certain advantages of water purification were evident due to the possibility of attaining the pure water flux of 36.5 kg m−2 h−1 bar−1 for the Ti3C2Tx MXene membrane prepared with cyclic ultrasonic-centrifugal separation. This simple method provided a convenient way for the scale-up production of Ti3C2Tx MXene polymers nanosheets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biochemicals and Biopolymers from Bioresources)
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11 pages, 2094 KiB  
Article
Components Interaction of Cotton Stalk under Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Conversion: A Bio-Oil Pyrolysis Behavior Perspective Analysis
by Xiao Yang, Naihao Chen, Shengbo Ge, Yequan Sheng, Kun Yang, Pengmusen Lin, Xuqiang Guo, Su Shiung Lam, Hui Ming and Libo Zhang
Polymers 2022, 14(20), 4307; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14204307 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1837
Abstract
The conversion of agricultural and forestry waste biomass materials into bio-oil by mild hydro-thermal technology has a positive effect on extending the agricultural industry chain and alleviating the world energy crisis. The interaction investigation of biomass components during bio-oil formation can be significant [...] Read more.
The conversion of agricultural and forestry waste biomass materials into bio-oil by mild hydro-thermal technology has a positive effect on extending the agricultural industry chain and alleviating the world energy crisis. The interaction investigation of biomass components during bio-oil formation can be significant for the efficient conversion of lignocellulose when different raw materials are fed together. In this paper, a bio-oil pyrolysis behavior (thermogravimetric analysis, TG) perspective component interaction investigation of cotton stalks under low-temperature hydro-thermal conversion (220 °C) was studied. Cellulose, hemi-cellulose, lignin, and protein were used as lignocellulose model components, by their simple binary blending and multi-variate blending and combined with thermo-gravimetric analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) characterization and analysis. The interaction of different model components and real biomass raw material components in the hydro-thermal process was explored. Results showed that the components of hydro-thermal bio-oil from cotton stalks were highly correlated with the interactions between cellulose, hemi-cellulose, lignin, and protein. During the hydro-thermal process, cellulose and hemi-cellulose inhibit each other, which reduces the content of ketones, aldehydes, ethers, and alcohols in bio-oil. Interaction between cellulose and lignin was obvious, which promotes the formation of oligomers, such as ketones, aldehydes, esters, phenols, and aliphatic, while inhibiting the production of aromatic and multi-hybrid compounds. Otherwise, there was no obvious interaction effect between hemi-cellulose and lignin or between lignin and protein. This research will guide the industrialization of lignocellulose, especially the possible co-feed hydro-thermal conversion technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biochemicals and Biopolymers from Bioresources)
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15 pages, 2825 KiB  
Article
Hemicellulose Films from Curaua Fibers (Ananas erectifolius): Extraction and Thermal and Mechanical Characterization
by Mariana Roldi-Oliveira, Layse M. Diniz, Anastasia L. Elias and Sandra M. Luz
Polymers 2022, 14(15), 2999; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14152999 - 25 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2311
Abstract
With growing environmental concerns over synthetic polymers, natural polymeric materials, such as hemicellulose, are considered a good sustainable alternative. Curaua fibers could be an excellent source of biopolymer as they have a relatively high hemicellulose content (15 wt%) and only a small amount [...] Read more.
With growing environmental concerns over synthetic polymers, natural polymeric materials, such as hemicellulose, are considered a good sustainable alternative. Curaua fibers could be an excellent source of biopolymer as they have a relatively high hemicellulose content (15 wt%) and only a small amount of lignin (7 wt%). In this work, hemicellulose was extracted by an alkaline medium using KOH and the influence of the alkali concentration, temperature, and time was studied. A hemicellulose film was produced by water casting and its mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties were characterized. The results show that the best method, which resulted in the highest hemicellulose yield and lowest contamination from lignin, was using 10% (w/v) KOH concentration, 25 °C, and time of 3 h. The hemicellulose film exhibited better thermal stability and elongation at break than other polymeric films. It also exhibited lower rigidity and higher flexibility than other biodegradable polymers, including polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biochemicals and Biopolymers from Bioresources)
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13 pages, 2037 KiB  
Article
Functionality of Yeast β-Glucan Recovered from Kluyveromyces marxianus by Alkaline and Enzymatic Processes
by Pilanee Vaithanomsat, Nutthamon Boonlum, Chanaporn Trakunjae, Waraporn Apiwatanapiwat, Phornphimon Janchai, Antika Boondaeng, Kanokwan Phalinphattharakit, Hataitip Nimitkeatkai and Amnat Jarerat
Polymers 2022, 14(8), 1582; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14081582 - 13 Apr 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2643
Abstract
β-Glucan (BG), one of the most abundant polysaccharides containing glucose monomers linked by β-glycosidic linkages, is prevalent in yeast biomass that needs to be recovered to obtain this valuable polymer. This study aimed to apply alkaline and enzymatic processes for the recovery of [...] Read more.
β-Glucan (BG), one of the most abundant polysaccharides containing glucose monomers linked by β-glycosidic linkages, is prevalent in yeast biomass that needs to be recovered to obtain this valuable polymer. This study aimed to apply alkaline and enzymatic processes for the recovery of BG from the yeast strain Kluyveromyces marxianus TISTR 5925. For this purpose, the yeast was cultivated to produce the maximum yield of raw material (yeast cells). The effective recovery of BG was then established using either an alkaline or an enzymatic process. BG recovery of 35.45% was obtained by using 1 M NaOH at 90 °C for 1 h, and of 81.15% from 1% (w/v) hydrolytic protease enzyme at 55 °C for 5 h. However, BG recovered by the alkaline process was purer than that obtained by the enzymatic process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed the purity, the functional groups, and the linkages of BG obtained from different recovery systems and different raw materials. The results of this study suggest that an alkaline process could be an effective approach for the solubilization and recovery of considerable purity of BG from the yeast cells. In addition, the obtained BG had comparable functional properties with commercially available BG. This study reveals the effectiveness of both chemical and biological recovery of BG obtained from yeast as a potential polymeric material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biochemicals and Biopolymers from Bioresources)
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Review

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20 pages, 1954 KiB  
Review
Sustainable Applications of Animal Waste Proteins
by Svetlana Timorshina, Elizaveta Popova and Alexander Osmolovskiy
Polymers 2022, 14(8), 1601; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14081601 - 14 Apr 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4592
Abstract
Currently, the growth of the global population leads to an increase in demand for agricultural products. Expanding the obtaining and consumption of food products results in a scale up in the amount of by-products formed, the development of processing methods for which is [...] Read more.
Currently, the growth of the global population leads to an increase in demand for agricultural products. Expanding the obtaining and consumption of food products results in a scale up in the amount of by-products formed, the development of processing methods for which is becoming an urgent task of modern science. Collagen and keratin make up a significant part of the animal origin protein waste, and the potential for their biotechnological application is almost inexhaustible. The specific fibrillar structure allows collagen and keratin to be in demand in bioengineering in various forms and formats, as a basis for obtaining hydrogels, nanoparticles and scaffolds for regenerative medicine and targeted drug delivery, films for the development of biodegradable packaging materials, etc. This review describes the variety of sustainable sources of collagen and keratin and the beneficial application multiformity of these proteins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biochemicals and Biopolymers from Bioresources)
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31 pages, 4293 KiB  
Review
A Critical Review on the Economically Feasible and Sustainable Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Production from Alkyl Alcohols
by Hau Seung Jeremy Wong, Kesaven Bhubalan and Al-Ashraf Abdullah Amirul
Polymers 2022, 14(4), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14040670 - 10 Feb 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3045
Abstract
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (P(3HB-co-3HV)) is the most studied short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with high application importance in various fields. The domination of high-cost propionate and valerate over other 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) precursors owing to their wide preference among PHA-producing bacteria has hindered the [...] Read more.
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (P(3HB-co-3HV)) is the most studied short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with high application importance in various fields. The domination of high-cost propionate and valerate over other 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) precursors owing to their wide preference among PHA-producing bacteria has hindered the development of diverse production processes. As alkyl alcohols are mainly produced from inexpensive starting materials through oxo synthesis, they contribute a cost-effective advantage over propionate and valerate. Moreover, alkyl alcohols can be biosynthesized from natural substrates and organic wastes. Despite their great potential, their toxicity to most PHA-producing bacteria has been the major drawback for their wide implementation as 3HV precursors for decades. Although the standard PHA-producing bacteria Cupriavidus necator showed promising alcohol tolerance, the 3HV yield was discouraging. Continuous discovery of alkyl alcohols-utilizing PHA-producing bacteria has enabled broader choices in 3HV precursor selection for diverse P(3HB-co-3HV) production processes with higher economic feasibility. Besides continuous effort in searching for promising wild-type strains, genetic engineering to construct promising recombinant strains based on the understanding of the mechanisms involved in alkyl alcohols toxicity and tolerance is an alternative approach. However, more studies are required for techno-economic assessment to analyze the economic performance of alkyl alcohol-based production compared to that of organic acids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biochemicals and Biopolymers from Bioresources)
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