This article reports on the effect of lignin on the propertiesof films made from lignin (LN) grafted to either PCL, PLGA, or PLA.LN-PCL/PLGA/PLA polymers were synthesized by an acylation reaction,and lignin grafting was confirmed using FTIR and H NMR spectroscopy.Films were made from the grafted polymers with a solvent-casting technique.The thermal, mechanical, and functional properties of the films weremeasured using standard methods and compared against the propertiesof the polyester films without lignin. Thermal analysis of the filmsshowed glass transition temperatures of 55.9, 46.2, and 56 °Cfor LN-PCL, LN-PLGA, and LN-PLA, similar to those of the free polyesters.LN grafting reduced strain at break and yield strength, particularlywhen grafted to PLA, while having minimal impacts on PCL and PLGA.All LN-PCL/PLGA/PLA films presented an UV transmittance below 15%,an improvement over those of the polyesters measuring 60% and up,showing a high potential as a UV-shielding material. Contact angleanalysis indicated no effect on the wettability of the films fromincorporating lignin, with an average water contact angle of 82.71± 8.42°. While permeability was similar across polymers,ranging from 3.6 × 1012 to 8.5 × 10–12 g/Pa*s*m for PLGA and PCL films, that of LN-PLA was significantlyhigher (1.5 × 1011 ± 1.9 × 10–12g/Pa*s*m), but in the same range. In summary, the lignin films hadcomparable properties to those of the neat polyesters while havinghigher UV-shielding properties, indicating the potential of lignin-graftedmaterials as biodegradable alternatives for packaging UV-sensitiveproducts.

Diisocyanate-mediated covalent grafting of lignin onto chitosan enables hyperconjugation-driven dramatic enhancement in methylene blue adsorption.

The development of sustainable packaging materials with advanced functional properties is a key priority for the food industry. In this study, chitosan (CS)-based nanocomposite films incorporating titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), hybrid ZnO_TiO2 nanoparticles, lignin (LG), and nanolignin (nLG) were synthesized and comprehensively characterized. Structural analyses (FTIR, XRD, SEM) confirmed strong intermolecular interactions and homogeneous nanoparticle dispersion, particularly for TiO2 and low ZnO concentrations. Mechanical testing showed that TiO2 and ZnO significantly enhanced tensile strength (up to fourfold) and elongation at break. Among the prepared nanocomposite films, CS-TiO2 films at 2 wt% exhibited the best balance of mechanical performance and antioxidant activity. Subsequent incorporation of LG and especially nLG into the CS-TiO2 matrix further enhanced flexibility and toughness, antioxidant efficiency, and radical-scavenging activity above 90%, and improved UV-shielding capacity by reducing light transmittance. Moreover, antibacterial testing against Escherichia coli demonstrated that CS/TiO2/nLG films achieved the highest reduction (~46%), attributed to synergistic electrostatic, oxidative, and phenolic mechanisms. Overall, CS/TiO2/nLG nanocomposites emerge as multifunctional, biodegradable films with significant potential for next-generation active food packaging applications.

IntroductionSoil salinization is a key limiting factor for global agricultural production and plant growth. However, the salt tolerance response mechanism of the medicinal plant Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. has not been systematically investigated.MethodsFivemonthold seedlings of B. balsamifera were used as experimental materials, and five salt treatments were designed: control (CK), low salt (LS), moderate salt (MS), high salt (HS), and extremely high salt (EHS). Growth, photosynthetic, and physiological indices were measured. According to physiological changes, the HS and EHS groups at 12 d of treatment (when plants entered the core stress response stage) were selected for integrated multiomics analysis.ResultsWith increasing salt stress, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), and stomatal conductance (Gs) of B. balsamifera decreased continuously. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) increased first and then decreased, synergistically removing reactive oxygen species (ROS) with peroxidase (POD). Changes in osmotic adjustment substances and elevated lignin (LIG) content implied enhanced cell wall–related processes. Metabolomic analysis identified 677 and 692 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in HS vs CK and EHS vs CK, respectively, both enriched in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis. Transcriptomic analysis detected 30,213 and 13,644 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HS vs CK and EHS vs CK, respectively, both enriched in oxidative phosphorylation. Integrated analysis demonstrated that oxidative phosphorylation, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, and cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis were the core response pathways, which mediated salt tolerance by regulating key DAMs (e.g., fumaric acid, kaempferol3Orutinoside, luteolin) and DEGs (e.g., flavonoid 3’monooxygenase, peroxygenaselike isoform X2).DiscussionThis study systematically clarifies the salt tolerance mechanism of B. balsamifera, providing a theoretical basis for its salttolerant breeding and the utilization of medicinal plant resources in salinized regions.

Multi-perspective investigation of the effects and interaction mechanisms of three common dietary fiber on cassava starch properties.

This study investigates the development of biodegradable, scented bio-composite filaments incorporating industrial residues, specifically spent coffee grounds (SCG) and lignin (LI), into a PLA matrix for FDM 3D printing. Two fragrance additives, essential oil (EO) and microencapsulated fragrance powder (FP), were introduced (3%) to enhance sensory properties. The research investigates the effects of filler content (5%, 10%, and 15%) and fragrance additives on the surface chemistry (FTIR), thermal stability (TGA and DSC), mechanical properties (Tensile, flexural and impact), microstructure, and dimensional stability (Water absorption test and thickness swelling). Incorporating industrial residues and additives into PLA reduced the thermal stability, the degradation temperature and the glass transition temperature but increased the residual mass and the crystallinity. The effect of lignin was more pronounced than that of SCG, significantly influencing these thermal properties. Increasing the filler content of spent coffee grounds and lignin also led to a progressive decrease in tensile, flexural, and impact strength due to poor interfacial adhesion and increased void formation. However, lignin-based biocomposites exhibited enhanced stiffness at lower concentrations (≤10%), while biocomposites containing 15% SCG doubled their elongation at break compared to pure PLA. Adding fragrance reduced the mechanical strength but improved ductility due to plasticizer-like interactions. Microstructural analysis revealed heterogeneity in the biocomposites’ fracture surface characterized by the presence of pores, filler agglomeration, and delamination, indicating uneven filler dispersion and limited interfacial adhesion, particularly at high filler concentrations. The water absorption and dimensional stability of 3D-printed biocomposites increased progressively with the addition of residues. The presence of essential oil slightly improved water resistance by forming hydrogen bonds that limited moisture absorption. This article adds significant value by extending the potential applications of biocomposites beyond conventional engineering uses, making them particularly suitable for the fashion and design sectors, where multi-sensory and sustainable materials are increasingly sought after.

Modified acacia lignin-reinforced epoxy nanocomposites with PVA assistance for sustainable food packaging.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic and chemical fertilization on the production and nutritional composition of Toledo grass (Urochloa brizantha). Four treatments were evaluated: no fertilization (NF), Biol with water (FBW), Biol (FB) and chemical fertilization (CF), which were applied every 21, 28 and 35 days of regrowth. Biomass samples were taken to estimate dry matter production and determine the content of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin (LIG) and ash (CEN). The highest yields were observed in the FB and at 35 days of cutting with 2 407 and 2 624 kg ha-1 of DM, respectively. The nutritional content did not vary between the treatments or the ages evaluated, however, it was observed that average values in the FBW and FB were within the ranges required for cattle nutrition.

Abstract This study presents a comprehensive investigation of the catalytic effect using desulfurized fly ash (DFA) as a catalyst on the pyrolysis reaction mechanism of cotton stalk (CS) and its main components, cellulose (CE) and lignin (LG). The analysis is based on laboratory data. We obtained the relationship between the pyrolysis product yield of each pyrolysis combination and the mixing ratio of the corresponding pyrolysis combination. We identified differences in the yields of pyrolysis products and pyrolysis gas components for the two main biomass components. Based on this analysis, we constructed a reaction kinetic model. Finally, we proposed a novel quadratic regression prediction model, which demonstrated superior fitting for high-yield products through F-test validation.

ABSTRACTThe increasing demand for sustainable materials has led to the development of biodegradable polymer composites. This study examines polybutylene succinate (PBS) hybrid eco‐friendly composites reinforced with canabrava fiber (CANA), lignin (LIG), and sepiolite (SEP), with epoxidized soybean oil (ESB) as a compatibilizer and plasticizer, for potential applications in agricultural packaging, especially trays for plant seedling production and/or plant pots, whose recycling process is difficult due to the logistical gap, where controlled degradation and eco‐friendliness can be beneficial. Mechanical analysis reveals a significant increase in stiffness, with Young's modulus rising by up to 309%, while impact resistance decreases due to increased brittleness. The incorporation of SEP enhances flexural modulus and strength, while LIG contributes to improved melt flow properties. ESB improves the rheological behavior, although it fails to increase elongation and ductility. Thermal analysis indicates that SEP increases the crystallization temperature from 77.1°C (PBS) to 83.6°C (2PBS‐08), promoting improved crystallinity. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirms strong interactions between PBS and SEP, suggesting effective filler dispersion. Biodegradation tests show a 9.0% mass loss for the composite (2PBS‐09) after 90 days, compared to 4.8% for neat PBS, highlighting enhanced degradation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms good fiber–matrix adhesion and uniform filler dispersion. These results demonstrate the potential of PBS hybrid composites as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, offering a balance between cost, mechanical performance, biodegradability, and structural integrity.

Depolymerization and demethylation of lignin for sustainable coloration and functionalization of silk fabric.

In this study, a layer-by-layer deposition of poly(L-lysine) and hyaluronic acid (HA) as a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) film on polyacrylic acid (PAA) /HA/ lignin (LIG) disc shaped scaffolds is presented to increase the biological activity of the scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. These scaffolds are electrically conductive via the introduction poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):hyaluronic acid (PEDOT:HA) nanoparticles (NPs), with a diameter of 10 mm and thickness of 3–4 mm. The multilayer film formation was confirmed through contact angle measurements, fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. It was found that the PEM layers had the unexpected benefit of increased compression strength and decreased swelling as the layers tend to reinforce the struts of the scaffolds whilst possibly interfering with diffusion pathways. Importantly, results show statistically significant improved attachment and proliferation of L929 fibroblast cells on the surface of the scaffolds. Furthermore, the effect of varied PEDOT:HA NP addition was assessed and it was concluded that samples containing 1% (w/v) of nanoparticles exhibited a desirable balance between good mechanical characteristics, high conductivity, high cell adhesion and cell proliferation. These novel conductive PEM composite scaffolds offer future potential in biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, wound healing and biosensors.

Dibenzo-18-Crown-6 modified lignin as a sustainable adsorbent for removal of Lead and cadmium ions from aqueous solutions.

In the present work, the application of lignin (LIG) as a bioactive additive for the preparation of drug-loaded tablets by direct compression has been studied, and its influence on the release of chlorzoxazone (CLZ) from the hydrophilic matrices has been followed. In hydrophilic matrices, the excipients Kollidon® SR (KOL) and chitosan (CHT) have been used in various amounts and tested in the preparation of 500 mg tablets. They were used as matrix-forming agents, and their influence on the flow and the compressibility properties as well as their effect on the pharmaco-chemical characteristics of the matrix tablets have been studied. Based on the initial evaluation of the pharmaco-technical analysis, pharmaco-chemical characteristics, and in vitro release profile, three matrix tablet formulations (FLa, FLb, and FLc) were selected and further tested. They were evaluated through Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and in vitro dissolution tests. The three formulations were comparatively studied regarding the release kinetics of active substances using in vitro release testing. The in vitro kinetic study reveals a complex release mechanism occurring in two steps of drug release. The first one is a burst effect that occurs within the first 0-2 h, involving a rapid release of the majority of the drug in a short time, followed by the second step as a prolonged release of the drug, which is relatively constant with a fixed rate over the next 2-36 h. Two factors have been calculated to assess the release profile of chlorzoxazone: f1-the similarity factor and f2-the difference factor together with the correlation coefficient R2. Comparing their values, the three optimal formulations have been selected, containing 55 mg LIG (FLa), 60 mg LIG (FLb), or 65 mg LIG (FLc), confirming that LIG next to KOL and CHT influenced the release characteristics of the matrix tablets. Due to the presence of lignin in the matrix of the three formulations, FLa, FLb, and FLc tablets with CLZ, the antioxidant activity has improved. The antioxidant activity of FLc was found to be 21.36% ± 1.06 greater than that of FLa and FLb. The tablets FLa, FLb, and FLc also presented higher antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and colistin-resistant Klebsiella spp. The higher the concentration of LIG in the matrix (FLc), the higher the antimicrobial activity. By using LIG, the drug dose could be decreased. It can be concluded that lignin can be used as a multifunctional pharmaceutical bioactive additive/excipient for tablets. Its interesting properties have been proven, and its use as a pharmaceutical active additive should be exploited for different applications.

Preparation of chitosan/lignin nanoparticles-based nanocomposite films with high-performance and improved physicochemical properties for food packaging applications.

Lignin and black liquor based composite hydrogels for the enhanced adsorption of malachite green dye from aqueous solutions: Kinetics, rheology and isotherm studies.

Polymer-based herbicide nanocarriers have shown potential for increasing the herbicide efficacy and environmental safety. This study aimed to develop, characterize, and evaluate toxicity to target and nontarget organisms of natural-based polymeric nanosystems for glyphosate. Polymers such as chitosan (CS), zein (ZN), and lignin (LG) were used in the synthesis. Nanosystem size, surface charge, polydispersity index, encapsulation efficiency, toxicity to weed species (Amaranthus hybridus, Ipomoea grandifolia, and Eleusine indica), and Roundup Ready (RR) crops, soil respiration, and enzyme activity were evaluated. The most stable system was the combination of ZN with the cross-linker poloxamer (PL), with higher weed control efficacy (90-96%) for A. hybridus, compared to commercial glyphosate (40%). No improvement was observed for I. grandifolia and E. indica. No glyphosate toxicity was observed in RR crops, soil respiration, or soil enzymes, indicating no toxic effects of the nanoformulation in these models. ZN-PL systems can be a promising alternative for glyphosate delivery, using environmentally friendly materials, with improved efficiency for weed control in agriculture.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of plant-derived compounds, lignin (LIG) and proanthocyanidin (PAC), either alone or in combination with EDTA, as pre-treatments for intraradicular dentin to enhance the push-out bond strength (PBS) of glass fiber posts (GFP) cemented with self-adhesive resin cement. Forty-two healthy human single-rooted premolars were prepared for GFP cementation and divided into the following groups based on the dentin pre-treatment: 1) Control: no pre-treatment; 2) EDTA: 17% EDTA; 3) LIG: 2% LIG; 4) PAC: 2% PAC; 5) EDTA-LIG: 17% EDTA + 2% LIG; and 6) EDTA-PAC: 17% EDTA + 2% PAC. All solutions were applied for 60 seconds. The GFPs were subsequently cemented using the self-adhesive resin cement RelyX U200. The roots (n = 7 per group) were sectioned into 1-mm thick discs and subjected to PBS testing after 1 week and 6 months. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). After one week, the Control and EDTA-LIG groups (p = 0.092) exhibited similar and high bond strength values compared to the EDTA, LIG, and EDTA-PAC, while the PAC showed the lowest PBS. After six months, the EDTA-LIG maintained its bond strength values (p < 0.001), with no significant differences from the other groups, except for the PAC. In conclusion, the intraradicular dentin pre-treatments exhibited behavior comparable to untreated RelyX U200 cement in the bonding between the fiberglass post and intraradicular dentin, except proanthocyanidin.

Biodegradable films were synthesized from lignin(LN)-grafted-PLGA polymers, and their stability was tracked over 12 months.

The increasing global energy demand, coupled with the urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions, has intensified the search for renewable energy sources. Biogas, produced from agro-industrial biomass, presents a viable solution. In beer production, brewery’s spent grain (BSG), the largest by-product by volume, offers potential for bioenergy recovery. This study applied a biorefinery approach to BSG, extracting protein hydrolysates (PH) through mild alkaline hydrolysis and nanostructured lignin (LN) via the Ionic Liquid Method. The objective was to assess biogas production from the residual biorefinery biomass and evaluate the co-digestion of BSG with Olive Mill Wastewater (OMWW) and Olive Pomace (OP), by-products of the olive oil industry. Biogas was produced in lab-scale batch reactors and the quantity of biogas produced was measured via the volumetric method. Conversely, the amount of biomethane obtained was evaluated by introducing, in the production chain, an alkaline trap. Biogas yields were the highest for untreated BSG (1075.6 mL), co-digested BSG with OMWW (1130.1 mL), and BSG residue after PH extraction (814.9 mL). The concentration of biomethane obtained in the various samples ranged from 54.5 vol % (OMWW + BSG) to 76.59 vol % (BSG). An energy balance analysis considering both the theoretical energy consumed by a semi-continuous anaerobic digestion bioreactor and the energy produced as bio-CH4 revealed that BSG after PH extraction was the most energy-efficient treatment, producing a net energy gain of 5.36 kJ. For the scope, the energy consumption was calculated by considering a PEIO index equal to 33% of the energy produced during the day, showing the highest biogas production. In contrast, the co-digested BSG with OMWW yielded the lowest net energy gain of 1.96 kJ. This comprehensive analysis highlights the energy efficiency of different treatments, identifying which process should be improved.