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Environmentally Benign Sustainable Materials
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Environmentally Benign Sustainable Materials

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 9932

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lokendra Pal

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA
Interests: sustainable and functional bioproduct; nanomaterials; barrier coatings and composites; digital printing; 3D printing; printed electronics; smart manufacturing
Dr. Preeti Tyagi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Global Packaging Development (R&D), Mars Wrigley, Chicago, USA
Interests: barrier coatings; nanocellulose; sustainable packaging; alternate fibers, biopolymers
Prof. Dr. Lucian Lucia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departments of Forest Biomaterials, Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Interests: green chemistry; smart biopolymeric materials; self-healing phenomena; drug delivery approaches; tissue engineering scaffolds; hydrogels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing global demand for sustainable, ecologically compatible materials as replacements for petroleum-derived materials in packaging, hygiene and other applications is of the highest importance. Current non-biobased systems generate significant land and ocean pollution; this undergirds the need for environmentally benign, sustainable materials within a new construct, i.e., the circular economy. Although materials obtained from different biobased resources are receiving significant attention from the research community, they have not made great inroads at the industrial scale due to the lack of economic feasibility and contradictory life cycle assessment reports, compared to synthetic polymers. However, mandates for sustainability and recent changes in national governmental policies and regulations include banning single-use plastic products, as observed in sweeping reforms in Europe, Asia, and several US States, are forcing industries and consumers to find alternative, sustainable solutions.

One of the most significant repercussions of the recent COVID-19 pandemic was the generation of significant amounts of waste due to an immense increase in online delivery numbers, especially in the food industry, which caused a proportionate increase in materials waste to the landfills. Biobased materials such as cellulose derivatives, starch, (poly)hydroxyalkenoates, proteins, etc. can derive huge ecological benefits and solve end-of-life issues associated with petroleum-derived compounds. This Special Issue aims to capture both sides of the coins of various biobased materials and their impact on the industry and society. This Special Issue seeks original contributions on the development of sustainable materials and their impact on the environment and circularity. Potential topics include but are not limited to recent developments in biobased materials for applications such as various grades of packaging, composites, coatings, hygiene, and flexible electronics.

Dr. Lokendra Pal
Dr. Preeti Tyagi
Prof. Dr. Lucian Lucia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Sustainability 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 2400 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

  • biobased materials
  • sustainable materials
  • environment and circularity
  • packaging
  • composites
  • coatings
  • hygiene
  • flexible electronics

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 6133 KiB  
Article
The Thermophysical Aspects of the Transformation of Porous Structures in Versatile Nanostructured Materials
by Hanna Koshlak, Borys Basok, Anatoliy Pavlenko, Tatiana Hrabova and Vitalii Opryshko
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2673; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072673 - 25 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1003
Abstract
The technology of obtaining porous nanostructures is based on ecological organosilicon materials and their uses in some spheres of human life, for example, for medical preparations, for thermal insulation of building structures and industrial equipment, and for cleaning. The purpose of this study [...] Read more.
The technology of obtaining porous nanostructures is based on ecological organosilicon materials and their uses in some spheres of human life, for example, for medical preparations, for thermal insulation of building structures and industrial equipment, and for cleaning. The purpose of this study was to establish correlations between various experimental parameters (shear stress, speed pulsations, temperature, viscosity, and processing time) and the rheological characteristics of suspensions obtained by the method of liquid-phase dispersion; it was a study of hydrodynamic effects and the processes of heat and mass exchange in liquid systems during the liquid-phase dispersion of hydrogel monoliths by means of discrete-pulse activation in a special rotary apparatus. The dehydration of hydrogels was carried out by two methods: convective drying in a layer and spraying in the coolant flow. Experiments have shown that the key parameters for obtaining stable homogeneous suspensions are a synergistic combination of concentration factors and processing time. To obtain adsorbents in the form of pastes with specified adsorption properties and a monolith size of up to 300 μm, the optimal parameters were a hydrogel concentration of 70% and a processing time in the double-recirculation mode. Xerogels obtained by convective drying are a polydisperse mixture of strong monoliths and fragile aggregates. In contrast, xerogel monoliths obtained by spray drying show great homogeneity in terms of dispersion and strength characteristics. The rheological parameters of the hydrogel dispersions, which depend on the concentration and hydrodynamic treatment modes, are the dominant factors affecting the moisture extraction during drying. This study marks the first investigation into the resilience of porous organosilicon structures against the influence of intense turbulence fields and mechanical stresses experienced within the rotor apparatus during suspension production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Benign Sustainable Materials)
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14 pages, 5408 KiB  
Article
Understanding Binding of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds with Cellulose-Based Fibers and Wipes for Renewable and Sustainable Hygiene Options
by Monika Mali, Khandoker Samaher Salem, Roman Sarder, Sachin Agate, Kavita Mathur and Lokendra Pal
Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1586; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041586 - 14 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1866
Abstract
Cellulose-based fibers are desirable materials for nonwoven wipes for their good absorbency, strength, cleaning, and biodegradable properties. However, quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), being cationic in nature, show electrostatic interactions with anionic cellulosic fibers, reducing the available QACs to efficiently clean surfaces. This research [...] Read more.
Cellulose-based fibers are desirable materials for nonwoven wipes for their good absorbency, strength, cleaning, and biodegradable properties. However, quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), being cationic in nature, show electrostatic interactions with anionic cellulosic fibers, reducing the available QACs to efficiently clean surfaces. This research presents sustainable alternative fibers that show better controlled exhaustion than commercial wipes and textile fibers. Textile and lignocellulosic fibers were prepared, soaked in QAC, and a UV–vis spectrophotometer was used to measure their exhaustion percentages. Factors such as immersion time and concentration of the disinfectant were also investigated, which affect the rate of exhaustion of the disinfectant from the fibers. A higher immersion time resulted in better exhaustion, whereas the total exhaustion decreased with an increase in the initial concentration of the disinfectant. The exhaustion of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) from the commercial wipes was also investigated at different immersion times and BAC concentrations. It was found that the wood and non-wood fibers showed more controlled exhaustion than the textile fibers and commercial wipes, and could be considered an alternative option for renewable and sustainable wipes and hygiene products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Benign Sustainable Materials)
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Review

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20 pages, 3775 KiB  
Review
Shellac: From Isolation to Modification and Its Untapped Potential in the Packaging Application
by Arihant Ahuja and Vibhore Kumar Rastogi
Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3110; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043110 - 8 Feb 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5873
Abstract
Recently, terms such as sustainable, bio-based, biodegradable, non-toxic, or environment-benign are being found in the literature, suggesting an increase in green materials for various applications in the future, particularly in the packaging application. The unavoidable shift from conventional polymers to green materials is [...] Read more.
Recently, terms such as sustainable, bio-based, biodegradable, non-toxic, or environment-benign are being found in the literature, suggesting an increase in green materials for various applications in the future, particularly in the packaging application. The unavoidable shift from conventional polymers to green materials is difficult, as most bio-sourced materials are not water-resistant. Nonetheless, Shellac, a water-resistant resin secreted by a lac insect, used as a varnish coat, has been underutilized for packaging applications. Here, we review Shellac’s potential in the packaging application to replace conventional polymers and biopolymers. We also discuss Shellac’s isolation, starting from the lac insect and its conversion to Sticklac, Seedlac, and Shellac. Further, the chemistry of shellac resin, the chemical structure, and its properties are examined in detail. One disadvantage of Shellac is that it becomes stiff over time. To enable the usage of Shellac for an extended time in the packaging application, a modification of Shellac via physical and chemical means is conferred. Furthermore, the usage of Shellac in other polymer matrices and its effect are reviewed. Lastly, the non-toxic and biodegradable nature of Shellac and its potential in packaging are explored by comparing it with traditional crude-based polymers and conventional bio-based materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Benign Sustainable Materials)
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