Use Of Bio-based Materials Research Articles

Sandwich structures in bio-composite material for sustainable acoustic solutions

The use of bio-based materials in acoustic applications has gained a lot of attention recently as a functional and environmentally friendly alternative for synthetic materials. This is because conventional synthetic fibers have a significant impact on the environment and the health risks of people. The focus is now on developing composite systems that minimize environmental harm by using energy and materials more efficiently, and by substituting synthetic or petroleum-based materials with more sustainable options, such as natural fibers. These natural fibers are favoured for their biodegradability, sustainability, and widespread availability, earning them the label of "green materials." Thus, this paper aims to investigate the soundproofing capabilities of a novel sandwich structure composed of hemp fibers and bio-epoxy resin, aiming to broaden the application field of natural fiber composite materials.

Unveiling bisphenol A toxicity: human health impacts and sustainable treatment strategies

Abstract Introduction The widespread presence of bisphenol-A (BPA) in consumer goods like water bottles and eyeglass frames raises serious concerns about the chemical’s ability to accumulate in human tissues. Molecular filtration and activated carbon adsorption are two of the many BPA treatment technologies that have emerged in response to these issues; both are essential in the removal or degradation of BPA from water sources and industrial effluents. Content To secure the long-term health and environmental advantages of BPA treatment approaches, sustainable development is essential. Both the efficient elimination or destruction of BPA and the reduction of the treatment operations’ impact on the environment are important components of a sustainable approach. Different search engines like Pub-Med, MEDLINE, Google Scholar and Scopus are used for these systematic reviews and analyzed accordingly. This can be accomplished by making treatment facilities more energy efficient and using environmentally friendly materials. Greener ways to deal with BPA pollution are on the horizon, thanks to innovative techniques like bioremediation and improved oxidation processes. Reducing dependence on conventional, resource-intensive procedures can be achieved by investigating the use of bio-based materials and natural adsorbents in treatment processes. Summary and Outlook This review article tackling the health and environmental concerns raised by BPA calls for an integrated strategy that incorporates sustainable development principles and technology progress. We can reduce the negative impacts of BPA contamination, improve environmental stewardship in the long run, and ensure human health by combining cutting-edge treatment technologies with sustainable behaviours.

Elastic properties identification of a bio-based material in tertiary packaging: Tools and methods development

This study focuses on the use of bio-based materials for structural purposes in the packaging field, which requires the identification of their mechanical properties at a representative scale. The mechanical properties of bio-based materials are more variable than those of traditional composite materials. In a standard characterization approach using elemental coupons under uniaxial loading, the variability depends on the chosen representative elementary volume (REV), free edges, boundary conditions, etc. for elastic properties that are not identified for representative working conditions; this could lead to the ineligibility of these bio-based materials as structural materials. This paper contributes to the debate on how to study the response of bio-based materials within a structure, here a packaging structure as a logistic unit (LU) subjected to a compressive load simulating storage and stacking conditions. In the set of tools and methods for the design of packaging materials made of bio-based materials, an elastic nonlinear geometric finite element model (FEM) and an experimental approach are presented. The FEM allows the numerical identification of zones of interest within the LU. Inevitably, the FEM classically requires input data which are elastic properties of the equivalent homogeneous material. The design of the FEM is based on a calculation-test approach using an existing reference LU and it can be summarized in two main steps. The first step concerns the development of a FEM able to restore the experimental conditions of vertical compression imposed by transport standards for packaging. The second step is based on updating the input properties of the FEM by reverse identification, to achieve the representative working condition properties, using experimental results obtained on the existing reference LU. For the reverse identification a multi-scale investigation is mandatory. For this purpose, the linear elastic part of the load/vertical displacement curves (at the LU stiffness scale) and the displacement and strain fields measured (at the local LU scale) by 3D digital image correlation (3D DIC) are evaluated. Then, FEM property updating is carried out by reducing the deviation of displacement/strain fields between FEM and experimentally measured results (3D DIC). Finally, we explain how FEM and 3D DIC help in decision-making by allowing the recognition of zones of interest in a phase of design of new LUs with the concept of Multi-Instrumented Technological Evaluator (MITE).

Product Ecodesign: An Application of Bio-Based Materials in the Personal Care Packaging Industry

AbstractThe increasing amount of plastic materials produced and their persistence in the natural environment after the use stage makes them highly critical from the environmental viewpoint and human health and much efforts are being made to find valid alternatives worldwide. This is particularly true for the packaging industry where the use of plastics is more intense and products often have a very short useful life. Ecodesign is a recognized approach capable of proposing effective solutions to reduce the impact of plastic materials, including their replacement with alternative ones. In this view, bioplastics have been recognized as a new generation of materials characterized by a potential lower environmental burden, along their life cycle, including the end-of-life phase. The same cannot yet be said for their technological and production performance, both at an industrial level and the use phase, especially for durable products.This article refers to the personal care industry and aims at exploring, in the Circular Economy framework, the Ecodesign of a personal care plastic dispenser. In this specific sector, the use of bio-based materials is still very limited and in an early stage, differently, from other industries (e.g. agri-food) where, instead, the applications are much more widespread. In particular, a material substitution solution drew on bio-based materials has been adopted in respect of conventional polypropylene and polyethylene. The technological performances of such bio-based materials have been evaluated through laboratory, production and use tests; the results obtained highlight that they are reaching levels comparable to conventional plastics. The regulatory, environmental and economic implications of their potential use at an industrial level are also discussed.

Facile Fabrication of Highly Efficient Chitosan-Based Multifunctional Coating for Cotton Fabrics with Excellent Flame-Retardant and Antibacterial Properties.

Interest in the development of eco-friendly, sustainable, and convenient bio-based coatings to enhance flame retardancy and antibacterial properties in cotton fabrics is growing. In this work, chitosan was protonated at its amino groups using a method with a high atom economy using an equimolar amount of amino trimethylene phosphonic acid (ATMP), resulting in the fabrication of a single-component chitosan-based multifunctional coating (ATMP-CS), thereby avoiding any additional neutralization or purification steps. Cotton fabrics coated with various loads of ATMP-CS were prepared through a padding-drying-curing process. The morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties, antibacterial properties, flame-retardant behavior, and flame-retardant mechanism of these fabrics were investigated. The coating exhibited excellent film-forming properties, and it imparted a uniform protective layer onto the surfaces of the cotton fabrics. When the load capacity reached 11.5%, the coated fabrics achieved a limiting oxygen index of 29.7% and successfully passed the VFT test. Moreover, the ATMP-CS coating demonstrated antibacterial rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reaching 95.1% and 99.9%, respectively. This work presents a straightforward and gentle approach to fabricating colorless, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient fabric coatings that have potential applications in promoting the use of bio-based materials.

Development of recyclable bio-based epoxy/acrylate blends for liquid crystal display 3D printing

AbstractBio-based epoxy resins are widely utilized in various application fields such as adhesives, coatings, composites, and electrical components, offering comparable performance characteristics to conventional epoxy resins, including high strength, durability, and chemical resistance. The use of bio-based materials in 3D printing has been receiving increasing attention as a means of reducing the environmental impact of this technology, because most formulations available for stereolithography and digital light processing are generally non-renewable. This study aimed to explore the potential of blending a bio-based epoxy resin with a commercial daylight-curable resin at various msss percentages to enhance the thermomechanical properties of 3D-printed parts while adhering to the working principle of liquid crystal display (LCD) printers. The prepared formulations were initially characterized in terms of their thermo-mechanical properties both before and after post-treatments like photo- and thermal-curing. This procedure facilitated a comparison of the various blends based on their mechanical strength, glass transition temperature, and other pertinent properties. Upon identifying the optimal formulation, 3D-printed samples were produced using LCD printing technology. Calorimetric and morphological tests were then carried out to evaluate the thermal stability and microstructure of the printed parts. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that blending recyclable bio-based epoxy resins with commercial ones can lead to enhanced properties in additive manufactured parts. This approach has the potential to promote sustainability in 3D printing by reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources, while still meeting the standard performance required for numerous applications.

Optimization of extraction conditions for cellulose from jackfruit peel using RSM, its characterization and comparative studies to commercial cellulose

A high level of research effort is now being focused on the use of bio-based materials to address the 21st century's developing problems. Thus, the search for new possible source of cellulose has been explored in this scientific work. In jackfruit, the pulp accounts for 30 % and 70–80 % of jackfruit components are non-edible; about 60 % of them are the outer rind, perianth, and central core, which are usually discarded. So, in order to utilize this underutilized fruit, jackfruit peel has been taken into consideration as a source for cellulose (C6H10O5) n extraction. Cellulose extraction was improved using the response surface methodology (RSM) approach by optimizing the extraction parameters viz. concentration of sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite respectively. The results showed that the best conditions for the highest production of 64–65 % of cellulose were 5 % of sodium hydroxide and 2 % of sodium hypochlorite. The presence of α -cellulose and the absence of hemicellulose and lignin were detected using FTIR frequencies. According to the results of the thermogravimetric investigation, the maximum decomposition occurred between 200 ºC and 300 ºC. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that jackfruit peel cellulose displayed 44 % carbon as compared to 3 % carbon in commercial cellulose, indicating a higher purity. Compared to commercial cellulose, jackfruit peel cellulose shows better water binding capacity and oil holding capacity. The findings imply that jackfruit peel has a considerable amount of cellulose and has the potential to be used in various industries such as food, paper, paints etc.

Functionalizing chitosan-based film with highly sensitive fire response and commendable flame retardancy for intelligent fire-alarm system

Recently, the extensive use of combustible materials has amplified building fire damage, making it essential to incorporate fire-detection devices and flame-retardant materials in building. Herein, the chitosan/gelatin (CG) film and KH2PO4-modified CG (KCG) films were fabricated via an eco-friendly water evaporation method. Impressively, KCG films demonstrate swift response times: 0.5 s at 100 °C and 1.5 s under flame, facilitating prompt alarms during fire incidents. Compared to CG, KCG achieve a 70.4% and 46.2% reduction in peak heat release rate and total heat release respectively. They also offer flexibility, transparency, repeated fire-warning efficacy and superior char formation. With these properties, KCG hold promise for innovative building fire safety solutions like smart fire-alarm wallpaper. Besides, a tailored wireless-based fire-alarm system for KCG further decreases building fire damage. This work mitigates damages arising from building fires work, marking significant leap forward in the use of bio-based materials for fire prevention in architecture.

Studies on Tamarind Seed Kernel-Based Bio Composites for Fire Performance and Degradability to Enhance Shelf Life, Under the Influence of Additives

Natural fibre reinforced composites have received a lot of interest in recent years as prospective building components for low-cost applications. Natural fibers offer good opportunity as composite reinforcement, as they are strong, light, cheap and renewable. Numerous experiments have been conducted to emphasize the use of bio-based materials for various applications. Considering environmental aspects, the current research is concentrated on bio-based binder and reinforcement. The objective here is to conduct various experiments for fire behaviour to justify its insulation property, fungal behaviour for degradability, moisture absorption and mechanical properties in order to tabulate results and to quantify the variations. Justify optimal composition and parameter responsible for variation by DOE-Taguchi technique. Experimental results presented reduction in burning rate with increase in Tamarind Seed Kernel Gum (TSG), attaining lowest of 8.29 mm/min at 60% Paper Cellulose (PC) and 40% TSG falling within the class of UL94HB for horizontal testing, 26.92 mm/min for vertical testing. The PC in combination with TSG influenced development of ‘Mucore’ category fungus resulting in rapid degradation, this is addressed by additives namely ‘Boric Acid’ and ‘Turmeric Powder’. Poor performance observed in terms of moisture behaviour hampering the sustainability of composites.

APPLICATION OF GEO-NATURAL FIBERS AND SUBGRADE CONSTRUCTION

The use of geo-natural fibres in subbase and subgrade construction is a new and environmentally friendly way to improve the mechanical qualities and durability of road and pavement infrastructure. The inclusion of various geo-natural fibres, such as jute, coconut, and sabai grass, into the subbase and subgrade layers of road building is investigated in this study. These natural fibres are environmentally friendly and locally available, making them an appealing alternative to typical building materials. The study looks at how these fibres affect the engineering properties of subbase and subgrade layers, such as tensile strength, load-bearing capacity, and resistance to soil erosion. The findings show that using geo-natural fibres improves soil stabilization, reduces settlement, and increases resilience to moisture-induced damage. This study highlights the importance of sustainable construction techniques by encouraging the use of bio-based materials that lower the environmental imprint of infrastructure development. The findings have significance for low-cost, ecologically friendly road construction technologies, particularly in areas where natural fibres are abundant. Keywords:Geo-natural fibers, jute, coconut, sabai grass, subbase, subgrade construction, soil stabilization, sustainability, eco-friendly materials, road infrastructure, mechanical properties, load- bearing capacity

Healthcare Environmental Footprint: Proposal to Deliver Sustainability through an Innovative Value Stream Using a Circular Economy Approach

Abstract Over the last 10 years, the most recent innovations in the field of organic chemistry have been significantly driven by both industry needs and environmental concerns. On the former, industrial applications and production processes have evolved to reduce carbon footprint and to reduce the reliance on oil-based organic material precursors. On the latter, increasing concerns around accelerated global warming, have kindled the search for solutions, including lower carbon footprint, recyclability, and upcycling of novel materials. To 2015, the healthcare industry accounted for about 5.7% of the carbon emission with a severe impact in carbon, SO2, Nitrogen and particulate matter. Specifically, what relates to greenhouses, the global contribution accounts to 24 Gton of CO2, which has largely increased due the immense use of disposable devices during the pandemic. Current evidence points towards a substantial interest in the reduction of carbon footprint in the healthcare settings, yet with limited success across the largest health care providers. This study approaches the topic from a literature review and an empirical approach based on previous and ongoing research on the field of additive manufacturing and the use of bio-based materials for medical devices applications, which has been conducted utilizing mechanical, economic and microbiological assessments to address the research question of how to better address the carbon footprint of the healthcare industry, limited to some surgical procedures. This research points towards the direction that the implementation of an on-site solution may help to address some of the sustainability challenges healthcare facilities face while enhancing their circular economy approach. This research is intended to pave the way for further research including specific research to enhance the understanding of the solutions and how these may fit the current regulatory landscape.

Emission and Mechanical Properties of Glass and Cellulose Fiber Reinforced Bio-Polyamide Composites.

Climate change, access, and monopolies to raw material sources as well as politically motivated trade barriers are among the factors responsible for a shortage of raw materials. In the plastics industry, resource conservation can be achieved by substituting commercially available petrochemical-based plastics with components made from renewable raw materials. Innovation potentials are often not used due to a lack of information on the use of bio-based materials, efficient processing methods, and product technologies or because the costs for new developments are too high. In this context, the use of renewable resources such as fiber-reinforced polymeric composites based on plants has become an important criterion for the development and production of components and products in all industrial sectors. Bio-based engineering thermoplastics with cellulose fibers can be used as substitutes because of their higher strength and heat resistance, but the processing of this composite is still challenging. In this study, composites were prepared and investigated using bio-based polyamide (PA) as a polymer matrix in combination with a cellulosic fiber and, for comparison purposes, a glass fiber. A co-rotating twin-screw extruder was used to produce the composites with different fiber contents. For the mechanical properties, tensile tests and charpy impact tests were performed. Compared to glass fiber, reinforced PA 6.10 and PA 10.10, a significantly higher elongation at break with regenerated cellulose fibers, can be achieved. PA 6.10 and PA 10.10 achieve significantly higher impact strengths with the regenerated cellulose fibers than the composites with glass fibers. In the future, bio-based products will also be used in indoor applications. For characterization, the VOC emission GC-MS analysis and odor evaluation methods were used. The VOC emissions (quantitative) were at a low level but the results of the odor tests of selected samples showed values mostly above the required limit values.

Biobased composite powders from PHA, waxes and lignocellulosic biomasses for powder-based additive manufacturing processes

Reducing our impact on the environment requires the use of biobased materials and their composites, which can be sourced from biomass feedstocks. However, due to technological limitations, these materials are not easily integrated into current Additive Manufacturing technologies like Selective Laser Sintering.The focus of the present study is to develop a new, environmentally friendly process that can prepare composite biobased powders for SLS. These powders are made from polyhydroxyalkanoate, waxes, and lignocellulosic fillers. The process is based on emulsification and dissolution/precipitation in eutectic solvents and has the potential to be utilized with a wide range of biobased materials.

Opportunities and Limitations in Recycling Fossil Polymers from Textiles

The recovery and recycling of textile waste is becoming urgent since textiles are generating more and more waste. In one year, about 92 million tons of textile waste are produced and the fashion industry accounts for 58 million tons of plastic waste per year. Several different synthetic fibres are used in textiles, thanks to their excellent processability and mechanical properties, but on the other hand, the difficulties linked to their end of life and the release of microplastics from them during washing is currently a cause of great concern. In this context, policy actions have been aimed at promoting recycling of waste and replacing fossil-based fibres with biobased fibres. The current review, considering both scientific papers published on international journals and web sources, considers the sorting of textiles and the possible recycling of polyesters, polyamides and acrylics. Nevertheless, the contamination and presence of mixed fibres in fabrics is another issue to face for recycling. Methodologies to solve the issue linked to the presence of elastane, present in the stretch fabrics, as well as the possibility of recycling textiles in the non-woven and composite sector are investigated. Moreover, chemical recycling and enzymatic recycling of fossil polymers are also considered. Thanks to the comprehensive scheme of this review, it is possible to deduce that, while the use of biobased materials should rapidly increase in textile applications, the perspective of recycling materials obtained from waste textile into durable and/or high-performance products seems the most promising.

Viscoelastic behavior of pressure-sensitive adhesive based on block copolymer and kraft lignin

ABSTRACT Practical adhesion of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) is strongly dependent on their viscoelastic properties. The use of biobased materials emerged as an effective approach to modify the rheological, mechanical, and adhesive properties of PSAs. The biopolymer kraft lignin (KL), a by-product of pulp and paper manufacturing, appeared as a potential candidate for modifying the adhesive behavior of PSAs. In this study, we developed a block copolymer-based PSA by incorporating a hydrocarbon resin (HCR) and kraft lignin into the block copolymer polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS). “Viscoelastic windows”, which describe the potential application of a PSA based on its viscoelastic behavior, were constructed for PSAs with the addition of KL. These results demonstrate the potential for application as a high-shear PSA due to the increased energy dissipation of the samples. Practical adhesion was evaluated using probe tack tests and lap shear strength measurements, which effectively demonstrated an increase in the cohesive strength of the PSA with an optimized concentration of 5 wt% KL.

Study of the Sedimentation Parameters of an Iron Ore Tailing from Fundão Dam Using a Tannin-Based Coagulant

From the rupture of the Fundão dam in Mariana–MG, there are tailings still present at the bottom of the plant that must be recovered. The flocculation followed by sedimentation operation can be applied as a unit operation in this recovering process. Instead of using conventional inorganic coagulants, bio-based coagulants offer some advantages, due to their low toxicity and biodegradability. Nonetheless, the use of bio-based coagulants in the mining industry is not established yet, due to the complex parameters that must be taken in consideration. This study analyzes the influence of the pH and flocculant concentration, which are the variables of the 22 full factorial design. The pH value for the batch sedimentation process was defined ranging from 5 to 9. Tanfloc, a tannin-based coagulant, was used as a coagulant agent. The results indicate a strong dependence on the coagulant concentration, and a recommended 15 g/L dosage with pH varying from 6 to 8. From batch sedimentation, it was possible to determine an exponential model for the sedimentation with an excellent fitting (R2 = 0.997). The sedimentation efficiency calculated is 65.6%. These results confirm the potential use of bio-based materials in mining tailing treatments. In addition, they can be used in equipment sizing and simulations of the sedimentation operation.

Additive Technologies and Their Applications in Furniture Design and Manufacturing

This paper deals with an overview of additive manufacturing and its segment - 3D printing, which is today rapidly and widely used (Agashe et al., 2020) for personal and high-capacity production. The paper discusses the possible positive factors such as small and personalized production series, cheaper design and production process, complex geometry, bionic structures (whose surfaces are complicated to make, and are copy of biological organisms) and negative factors such as lack of educated specialists and trainings. Those facts are affecting the implementation of these technologies in different segments of the design, product development and furniture production. The impacts of new technologies on the design and production of rapid prototypes and finished products in furniture industry are analyzed. The positive results of using additive manufacturing indicate that, in spite of minor obstacles and problems with connecting different production processes, additive production will have a significant place in the future of furniture design and production. The most important advantages of 3D printing is fast prototyping, one piece production, free form designing and the use of bio-based materials and their possibility of recycling.

RETRACTED: Mechanical and thermal characterization of bio-sourced mortars made from agricultural and industrial by-products

In the last decades, the environmental sector has occupied an essential place in the world. The main objective of this concern is to preserve the environment and to reduce the use of non-renewable raw materials as much as possible. Thus, the construction sector can contribute to environmental conservation by the use of bio-based materials. Bio-building materials are composed, at least in part, of components made from biomass derived from plants or animals. Today, these materials are used in a variety of produces and for a variety of purposes, including insulation, mortar and concrete, panels, plastic composites, and construction chemistry. In the first step of this study, the Physico-chemical (bulk density, absolute density, water absorption, relative humidity) and thermal (thermal conductivity and thermal resistivity) properties of wood ash, and vegetable aggregates (sunflower plant bark and pith) have been studied and compared with results from the literature review. Afterward, different mixes were prepared based on ashes and adding a certain percentage of cement used as a binding material (0%, 10%, and 20%) to improve their mechanical behavior. Then, concrete with wood ash and vegetable aggregates (pith or sunflower bark) was prepared in order to optimize the mixture that has the best thermal and mechanical performance. The growth of the compressive and flexural strength was evaluated at 7, 14, 28, and 90 days. Because of the excellent ability of wood ash to maintain cohesion, the obtained results demonstrated the possibility of producing mortar with less cement. In terms of thermal performance, increasing fiber content while decreasing the volume density can reduce thermal conductivity of mortars.

Toward a low‐carbon and circular building sector: Building strategies and urbanization pathways for the Netherlands

AbstractBuildings are an important part of society's environmental impacts, both in the construction and in the use phase. As the energy performance of buildings improve, construction materials become more important as a cause of environmental impact. Less attention has been given to those materials. We explore, as an alternative for conventional buildings, the use of biobased materials and circular building practices. In addition to building design, we analyze the effect of urbanization. We assess the potential to close material cycles together with the material related impact, between 2018 and 2050 in the Netherlands. Our results show a limited potential to close material cycles until 2050, as a result of slow stock turnover and growth of the building stock. At present, end‐of‐life recycling rates are low, further limiting circularity. Primary material demand can be lowered when shifting toward biobased or circular construction. This shift also reduces material related carbon emissions. Large‐scale implementation of biobased construction, however, drastically increases land area required for wood production. Material demand differs strongly spatially and depends on the degree of urbanization. Urbanization results in higher building replacement rates, but constructed dwellings are generally small compared to scenarios with more rural developments. The approach presented in this work can be used to analyze strategies aimed at closing material cycles in the building sector and lowering buildings' embodied environmental impact, at different spatial scales.

Synthesis, characterization and crystallization kinetics of a bio-based, heat-resistance nylon 5T/10T.

The rapid consumption of fossil resources and its adverse impact on the environment require the use of bio-based materials to replace petrochemical products. In this study, we present a bio-based, heat-resistant engineering plastic, poly(pentamethylene terephthalamide) (nylon 5T). To address the issues of the narrow processing window and difficulty in melting processing of nylon 5T, we introduced more flexible decamethylene terephthalamide (10T) units to create a copolymer, nylon 5T/10T. The chemical structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR). We investigated the influence of 10T units on the thermal performance, crystallization kinetics, crystallization activation energy, and crystal structures of the copolymers. Our results demonstrate that the crystal growth mode of nylon 5T is a two-dimensional discoid growth pattern, while nylon 5T/10T exhibits a two-dimensional discoid or three-dimensional spherical growth pattern. The melting temperature, crystallization temperature, and crystallization rate first decrease and then increase, and crystal activation energy first increases and then decreases as a function of 10T units. These effects are attributed to the combined impact of molecular chain structure and polymer crystalline region. Bio-based nylon 5T/10T shows excellent heat resistance (melting temperature > 280 °C) and a wider processing window than nylon 5T and 10T, which is a promising heat-resistant engineering plastic.