Solid dispersions as effective curcumin vehicles to obtain k-carrageenan functional films for olive oil preservation.

Synthetic packaging materials offer cost efficiency and performance but pose environmental risks. This study explores sustainable alternatives by developing k-carrageenan (KC) films functionalized with curcumin, using solid dispersions (SDs) to improve curcumin's compatibility, addressing the challenge of incorporating hydrophobic functionalities into hydrophilic film matrices. Films with varying curcumin content (1-20 wt%; KC1-KC20) were compared to a base film without curcumin (KC0) regarding water solubility, vapor permeability, water contact angle, and tensile properties.

Geographical discrimination of olive oils from Cv. 'Galega Vulgar'.

Olive oils from seven Portuguese regions were selected to study the effect of the geographical origin on the oils' composition. Quality parameters, fatty acids, tocopherols, hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol derivatives, and oxidative stability were evaluated. All olive oils could be classified as extra virgin, and the geographical origin significantly affected the oils chemical composition.

Production of chitosan-based biodegradable active films using bio-waste enriched with polyphenol propolis extract envisaging food packaging applications.

Developing biodegradable active films has been a promising green approach to overcoming global concerns over the environmental pollution and human health caused by plastic utilization. This study aimed to develop active films based on chitosan (CS), produced from waste crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) shells enriched with bioactive extract (5-20%) of propolis (PS) and to characterize its properties, envisaging food packaging applications. The chromatographic profile of PS extract confirmed its richness, with 41 phenolic compounds.

Pickering Emulsions Stabilized with Curcumin-Based Solid Dispersion Particles as Mayonnaise-like Food Sauce Alternatives.

Pickering emulsions, which are emulsions stabilized by colloidal particles, are being increasingly positioned as novel strategies to develop innovative food product solutions. In this context, the present work aims to develop Pickering emulsions stabilized by natural-based curcumin-loaded particles produced by the solid dispersion technique as promising mayonnaise-like food sauce alternatives. Two particle formulations (KC1 and KC2) were produced using k-carrageenan as the matrix material and different curcumin contents, then employed in the preparation of three Pickering emulsion formulations comprising different oil fractions (φ) and particle concentrations (KC1 φ 0.

Development of Chitosan Microspheres through a Green Dual Crosslinking Strategy Based on Tripolyphosphate and Vanillin.

Microencapsulation procedures have recently focused attention on designing novel microspheres via green synthesis strategies. The use of chitosan (CS) as an encapsulating material has increased interest due to its unique bioactive properties and the various crosslinking possibilities offered by their functional groups. The consolidation of the microspheres by physical crosslinking using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) combined with chemical crosslinking using vanillin (VA) open new opportunities in the framework of green dual crosslinking strategies.

Chemical recycling of plastic waste: Bitumen, solvents, and polystyrene from pyrolysis oil.

As an alternative to conventional plastic-waste treatments, herein, we report a pyrolytic plastic-recovery process in which diverse compounds and materials are recovered from the pyrolysis oil obtained from the plastic waste. Distillation of the pyrolysis oil led to a bitumen and a distilled fraction. The composition of the bitumen, as determined by saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltene (S.

Development of Water-in-Oil Emulsions as Delivery Vehicles and Testing with a Natural Antimicrobial Extract.

Water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions have high potential for several industrial areas as delivery systems of hydrophilic compounds. In general, they are less studied than oil-in-water (O/W) systems, namely in what concerns the so-called fluid systems, partly due to problems of instability. In this context, this work aimed to produce stable W/O emulsions from a natural oil, sweet almond oil, to be further tested as vehicles of natural hydrophilic extracts, here exemplified with an aqueous cinnamon extract.

Formulation and Optimization of Nanoemulsions Using the Natural Surfactant Saponin from Bark.

Replacing synthetic surfactants by natural alternatives when formulating nanoemulsions has gained attention as a sustainable approach. In this context, nanoemulsions based on sweet almond oil and stabilized by saponin from bark with glycerol as cosurfactant were prepared by the high-pressure homogenization method. The effects of oil/water (O/W) ratio, total surfactant amount, and saponin/glycerol ratio on their stability were analyzed.

Modification of Pea Starch and Dextrin Polymers with Isocyanate Functional Groups.

Pea starch and dextrin polymers were modified through the unequal reactivity of isocyanate groups in isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) monomer. The presence of both urethane and isocyanate functionalities in starch and dextrin after modification were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and C nuclear magnetic resonance (C NMR). The degree of substitution (DS) was calculated using elemental analysis data and showed higher DS values in modified dextrin than modified starch.

Starch/graphene hydrogels via click chemistry with relevant electrical and antibacterial properties.

Starch-based hydrogels were performed by Diels-Alder cross-linking reactions between furan-modified starch and a water soluble bismaleimide, with improving conducting properties by using graphene layers as active nanofillers. The characterization results demonstrated that the Diels-Alder reaction and the corresponding conditions for the hydrogel formation were appropriate. The effect of increasing the furan/maleimide ratio on the architecture of the hydrogels and on the morphological, rheological and swelling properties were thoroughly evaluated.

The role of cellulose nanocrystals incorporation route in waterborne polyurethane for preparation of electrospun nanocomposites mats.

Electrospinning offers the possibility of obtaining fibers mats from polymer solutions. The use of environmentally-friendly waterborne polyurethane (WBPU) allows obtaining electrospun polyurethane mats in water medium. Furthermore, the incorporation of water dispersible nanoentities, like renewable cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), is facilitated.

Cellulose nanocrystals reinforced environmentally-friendly waterborne polyurethane nanocomposites.

Focusing on eco-friendly materials, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) have gained attention as nanoreinforcement due to their exceptional properties conferred by the elevated length/diameter aspect ratio and high specific mechanical properties. Furthermore, their water dispersibility makes them suitable nanoreinforcements for their incorporation in waterborne polyurethanes (WBPU). The possibility of tailoring the properties by varying the composition and nature of the reagents, opens the opportunity for a wide range of applications.

Synthesis of waterborne polyurethane-urea dispersions with chain extension step in homogeneous and heterogeneous media.

Hypothesis: The possibility of tailoring the final properties of environmentally friendly waterborne polyurethane and polyurethane-urea dispersions and the films they produce makes them attractive for a wide range of applications. Both the reagents content and the synthesis route contribute to the observed final properties.

Experiments: A series of polyurethane-urea and polyurethane aqueous dispersions were synthesized using 1,2-ethanediamine and/or 1,4-butanediol as chain extenders.