Production and Characterization of Melt-Spun Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--4-hydroxybutyrate) Blend Monofilaments.

We investigated the melt-spinning potential of a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--4-hydroxybutyrate) blend using a piston spinning machine with two different spinneret diameters (0.2 and 0.5 mm).

Development and Characterisation of Composites Prepared from PHBV Compounded with Organic Waste Reinforcements, and Their Soil Biodegradation.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is a biobased and biodegradable polymer. This polymer is considered promising, but it is also rather expensive. The objective of this study was to compound PHBV with three different organic fillers considered waste: human hair waste (HHW), sawdust (SD) and chitin from shrimp shells.

Application of Immersed Membrane Bioreactor for Semi-Continuous Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates from Organic Waste-Based Volatile Fatty Acids.

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) appear to be an economical carbon feedstock for the cost-effective production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The use of VFAs, however, could impose a drawback of substrate inhibition at high concentrations, resulting in low microbial PHA productivity in batch cultivations. In this regard, retaining high cell density using immersed membrane bioreactor (iMBR) in a (semi-) continuous process could enhance production yields.

Application of Fungal Biomass for the Development of New Polylactic Acid-Based Biocomposites.

Fungal biomass (FB), a by-product of the fermentation processes produced in large volumes, is a promising biomaterial that can be incorporated into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to develop enhanced biocomposites that fully comply with the biobased circular economy concept. The PLA/FB composites, with the addition of triethyl citrate (TEC) as a biobased plasticizer, were fabricated by a microcompounder at 150 °C followed by injection molding. The effects of FB (10 and 20 wt %) and TEC (5, 10, and 15 wt %) contents on the mechanical, thermal and surface properties of the biocomposites were analyzed by several techniques.

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by using food waste acidogenic fermentation-derived volatile fatty acids.

High production costs still hamper fast expansion of commercial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). This problem is greatly related to the cultivation medium which accounts for up to 50% of the whole process costs. The aim of this research work was to evaluate the potential of using volatile fatty acids (VFAs), derived from acidogenic fermentation of food waste, as inexpensive carbon sources for the production of PHAs through bacterial cultivation.

Synthesis of Lactic Acid-Based Thermosetting Resins and Their Ageing and Biodegradability.

The present work is focused on the synthesis of bio-based thermoset polymers and their thermo-oxidative ageing and biodegradability. Toward this aim, bio-based thermoset resins with different chemical architectures were synthesized from lactic acid by direct condensation with ethylene glycol, glycerol and pentaerythritol. The resulting branched molecules with chain lengths (n) of three were then end-functionalized with methacrylic anhydride.

Hydrophobic Shape-Memory Biocomposites from Tung-Oil-Based Bioresin and Onion-Skin-Derived Nanocellulose Networks.

The fabrication of smart biocomposites from sustainable resources that could replace today's petroleum-derived polymer materials is a growing field of research. Here, we report preparation of novel biocomposites using nanocellulose networks extracted from food residue (onion skin) and a vegetable oil-based bioresin. The resin was synthesized via the Diels-Alder reaction between furfuryl methacrylate and tung oil at various ratios of the components.

Synthesis and Properties of Thermosets from Tung Oil and Furfuryl Methacrylate.

This work focuses on the development of cross-linked polymer from a highly unsaturated vegetable oil, tung oil (TO) and a bio-based acrylate, furfuryl methacrylate (FMA). The presence of a high degree of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonding in TO makes it a suitable precursor for polymer synthesis. Using this advantage of TO, in this work, we have synthesised a cross-linked polymer from TO and FMA through free radical polymerisation followed by Diels-Alder (DA) reaction.

Recycling strategies for polyhydroxyalkanoate-based waste materials: An overview.

The plastics market is dominated by fossil-based polymers, but their gradual replacement by bioplastics (e.g., polyhydroxyalkanoates) is occurring.

The Effect of Glycerol, Sugar, and Maleic Anhydride on Pectin-Cellulose Thin Films Prepared from Orange Waste.

This study was conducted to improve the properties of thin films prepared from orange waste by the solution casting method. The main focus was the elimination of holes in the film structure by establishing better cohesion between the major cellulosic and pectin fractions. For this, a previously developed method was improved first by the addition of sugar to promote pectin gelling, then by the addition of maleic anhydride.

Development of Bio-Based Films and 3D Objects from Apple Pomace.

Extensive quantities of apple pomace are generated annually but its disposal is still challenging. This study addresses this issue by introducing a new, environmentally-friendly approach for the production of sustainable biomaterials from apple pomace, containing 55.47% free sugars and a water insoluble fraction, containing 29.

Anaerobic degradation of bioplastics: A review.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), leading to renewable energy production in the form of methane, is a preferable method for dealing with the increasing amount of waste. Food waste is separated at the source in many countries for anaerobic digestion. However, the presence of plastic bags is a major challenge for such processes.