The comparative toxicity of biobased, modified biobased, biodegradable, and petrochemical-based microplastics on the brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis.

The escalating production and improper disposal of petrochemical-based plastics have led to a global pollution issue with microplastics (MPs), which pose a significant ecological threat. Biobased and biodegradable plastics are believed to mitigate plastic pollution. However, their environmental fate and toxicity remain poorly understood.

Cellulose nanocrystals modification by grafting from ring opening polymerization of a cyclic carbonate.

Surface modification of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) by organocatalysed grafting from ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of trimethylene carbonate was investigated. Organocatalysts including an amidine (DBU), a guanidine (TBD), an amino-pyridine (DMAP) and a phosphazene (BEMP) were successfully assessed for this purpose, with performances in the order TBD > BEMP > DMAP, DBU. The grafting ratio can be tuned by varying the experimental parameters, with the highest grafting of 74 % by weight obtained under mild conditions, i.

Organocatalyzed ring opening polymerization of lactide from the surface of cellulose nanofibrils.

The surface initiated ring opening polymerization (SI-ROP) of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) with rac-Lactide under mild conditions using N,N-dimethyl aminopyridine (DMAP) was investigated. The influence of catalyst amount, monomer-to-initiator (cellulose surface -OH groups) ratio, temperature, and cellulose preconditioning (lyophilization vs solvent exchange) were studied to determine the best SI-ROP conditions, and to understand the effect of the parameters on grafting efficiency. The fibers modified after lyophilization had a PLA content comparable to those obtained with traditional metal catalysts (e.