The coffee industry generates a wide variety of by-products derived from green coffee processing (pulp, mucilage, parchment, and husk) and roasting (silverskin and spent coffee grounds). All these ...fractions are simply discarded, despite their high potential value. Given their polysaccharide-rich composition, along with a significant number of other active biomolecules, coffee by-products are being considered for use in the production of plastics, in line with the notion of the circular economy. This review highlights the chemical composition of coffee by-products and their fractionation, evaluating their potential for use either as polymeric matrices or additives for developing plastic materials. Coffee by-product-derived molecules can confer antioxidant and antimicrobial activities upon plastic materials, as well as surface hydrophobicity, gas impermeability, and increased mechanical resistance, suitable for the development of active food packaging. Overall, this review aims to identify sustainable and eco-friendly strategies for valorizing coffee by-products while offering suitable raw materials for biodegradable plastic formulations, emphasizing their application in the food packaging sector.
NDBs were fabricated from gum Arabic (GA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in different ratios using novel techniques (casting, dehydration, and peeling). The GA/PVA blends were cast with a novel ...vibration-free horizontal flow (VFHF) technique, producing membranes free of air bubble defects with a homogenous texture, smooth surface, and constant thickness. The casting process was achieved on a self-electrostatic template (SET) made of poly-(methyl methacrylate), which made peeling the final product membranes easy due to its non-stick behavior. After settling the casting of the membranous, while blind, the sheets were dried using nanometric dehydration under a mild vacuum stream using a novel stratified nano-dehydrator (SND) loaded with P
O
. After drying the NDB, the dry, smooth membranes were peeled easily without scratching defects. The physicochemical properties of the NDBs were investigated using FTIR, XRD, TGA, DTA, and AFM to ensure that the novel techniques did not distort the product quality. The NDBs retained their virgin characteristics, namely, their chemical functional groups (FTIR results), crystallinity index (XRD data), thermal stability (TGA and DTA), and ultrastructural features (surface roughness and permeability), as well as their microbial biodegradation ability. Adding PVA enhanced the membrane's properties except for mass loss, whereby increasing the GA allocation in the NDB blend reduces its mass loss at elevated temperatures. The produced bioplastic membranes showed suitable mechanical properties for food packaging applications and in the pharmaceutical industry for the controlled release of drugs. In comparison to control samples, the separated bacteria and fungi destroyed the bioplastic membranes.
spp. and
spp. were the two main strains of isolated bacteria, and
spp. was the main fungus. The nano-dehydration method gave the best solution for the prompt drying of water-based biopolymers free of manufacturing defects, with simple and easily acquired machinery required for the casting and peeling tasks, in addition to its wonderful biodegradation behavior when buried in wet soil.
Non‐degradability of conventional plastics, filling of landfill sites, raising water and land pollution and rapid depletion of fossil resources have raised the environmental issues and global ...concerns. The current demand and production of plastics is putting immense pressure on fossil resources, consuming about 6% of the global oil and is expected to grow up to 20%. The polyester‐based biodegradable plastics (BPs) are considered as a remedy to the issue of plastics waste in the environment. BPs appear to manage the overflow of plastics by providing new means of waste management system and help in securing the non‐renewable resources of nature. This review comprehensively presents the environmental burdens due to conventional plastics as well as production of polyester‐based BPs as an alternative to conventional commodity plastics. The diversity of micro‐organisms and their enzymes that degrade various polyester‐based BPs (PLA, PCL, PHB/PHBV and PET) has also been described in detail. Moreover, the impact of plastics degradation products on soil ecology and ecosystem functions has critically been discussed. The report ends with special focus on future recommendations for the development of sustainable waste management strategies to control pollution due to plastics waste.
Significance and Impact of the Study
Polyester‐based BPs considered as a solution to current plastic waste problem as well as leading polymers in terms of biodegradability and sustainability has been critically discussed. The role of microorganisms and their enzymes involved in the biodegradation of these polymers and ecotoxicological impact of degradation products of BPs on soil microbial community and biogeochemical cycles has also been described. This report will provide an insight on the key research areas to bridge the gap for development of simulated systems as an effective and emerging strategy to divert the overflow of plastic in the environment as well as for the greener solution to the plastic waste management problems.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Polyester‐based BPs considered as a solution to current plastic waste problem as well as leading polymers in terms of biodegradability and sustainability has been critically discussed. The role of microorganisms and their enzymes involved in the biodegradation of these polymers and ecotoxicological impact of degradation products of BPs on soil microbial community and biogeochemical cycles has also been described. This report will provide an insight on the key research areas to bridge the gap for development of simulated systems as an effective and emerging strategy to divert the overflow of plastic in the environment as well as for the greener solution to the plastic waste management problems.
The universality of plastic has an inescapable responsibility for the large-scale production of plastic wastes. Fossil-based plastics, which account for the majority of the market, are dazzling, and ...the global environmental pollution caused by them is also becoming more and more complicated. In addition to controlling the total amount at the source, people have also actively sought some emerging materials to replace existing conventional plastics so that they can be handled better and easier at the end. Biodegradable plastics (BPs) can theoretically shorten the life cycle of plastics and reduce environmental stress. However, in the natural environment, many factors are uncontrollable, and whether BPs can alleviate white pollution needs further certification. Due to the wide and complex physical and chemical conditions encountered in natural ecosystems, great care must be taken in trying to define this term. The current standards and test methods are insufficient to predict the biodegradability of BPs in the natural environment. Additionally, the existing standards and test methods for biodegradability of water environment do not involve toxicity tests, nor do they consider the potentially adverse ecological effects of BPs or micro BPs particles that may be produced by crushing. Therefore, this article mainly discusses whether BPs are green hope or greenwashing: 1) Degradability in the environment; 2) Impact of existing waste management; and 3) Recycling Impact of resources and impact on global carbon sequestration. Successfully solving these knowledge gaps is the key requirement of the new standard for the production of BPs.
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•Potential of Bps threat to the environment has been thoroughly discussed.•Existing standards for biodegradability of water environment has been point pout.•The impact of BPs on existing treatment processes was mentioned.•How to avoid the greenwashing behavior of BPs should be widely concerned.
The pressure on the apparel industry to make its products more sustainable is growing. Concrete measures have hardly been taken so far, also because they aim to avoid consumption which reduces ...profits. Studies mostly examine impacts on the environment, but not how the market volume can remain at a maximum for producers. To uncover direct market effects from sustainability approaches, this study asked 500 German consumers about their willingness-to-pay and preference order for three different measures, namely “slowing in consumption”, “recyclability of petrochemical clothing” or its “production from bioplastics”. An outdoor trekking jacket served as test object, and influences from sociodemographic and latent variables, as sportiness and environmental awareness, were measured. The results were mapped in a market model from which the output volume was derived. It was found that interest in the topic of plastics-containing outdoor clothing was rather determined by the application. This increased with the sportiness of the respondents (r = 0.13; p = 0.003), but not with their personal environmental awareness. Consent to bioplastics use did not depend on the level of experience, but older consumers appreciated this option more (p = 0.027). Only 20% of the respondents favoured slowing, 26% bioplastics, but 53% recycling of petroplastics. Therefore, research should investigate recyclability, policy should support this measure, and companies should practice take-back and reuse in new clothing. Consumers can maintain fast consumption and would even accept higher prices.
•Willingness-to-pay increases with recyclable petroplastic sportswear.•Acceptance of higher prices is lower for bioplastic usage.•Recycling of bioplastic textiles is seen as less effective.•Slowing in consumption is least accepted with less profit potential.•All technologies avoid environmental damage at different efficiency.
•All natural, non-expensive and biodegradable Pectin/Rosin films have been made.•Pine Rosin breaks into small droplets in the Pectin matrix instead of a homogeneous mixture.•Water resistance of ...pectin films is improved by addition of water repellant Pine Rosin.•Delayed water dissolution controlled by the amount of Rosin is potentially useful for controlled substance delivery.
Pectin films were prepared by addition of different quantities of Rosin in order to test the effects of this natural hydrophobic polymer in increasing the water resistance of Pectin films. Scanning Electron Microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, as well as thermogravimetric analysis suggest that Rosin disperses into the Pectin film forming small isolated drops, which allows it to exist as a separate phase. Water solubility tests clearly show an improvement of the water resistance in the Rosin containing films with respect to the pure Pectin films. These results provide evidence of the practical use of these films as all natural biodegradable vehicles for controlled substance delivery in aqueous environments.
Microalgae can rapidly sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) and convert it into various marketable products. Thus, these photosynthetic microorganisms have gained substantial attention as prospective ...biological platforms for the practical reduction of CO2 and establishing renewable and sustainable supply chains. However, conventional biomass applications to which attention has been directed, such as a feedstock for biodiesel production, are only achievable through cumbersome downstream processes, including extraction, fractionation, separation, and refinement. These stereotypical biomass utilization strategies have increased concerns regarding economic, energetic, and environmental viability. As a promising alternative, utilization of whole microalgal biomass as end-products has emerged because it can directly provide various beneficial commodities through a streamlined production route only consisting of harvesting and drying processes. The process review in this study clearly shows the energy and CO2 reduction efficiencies of this strategy compared with other traditional production routes. Despite the high potential, this application strategy has been overlooked because of the limited commercialized examples and the broad use of established methods. Recently, many applications have been suggested, and their practicality has been thoroughly verified according to the main biochemical constituents, namely carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Raw microalgal biomass produced by a potentially carbon-negative and net-energy-positive process can be employed as-is in an extensive range of fields that cover most human needs, including nutritious foods and feeds with bioactive functions, cosmetics, thermoplastic materials, and fuels for direct combustion. Thus, this comprehensive review aims to provide an opportunity to reconsider the potential and practicality of whole microalgal biomass utilization strategies.
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•The advantages of a whole microalgal biomass utilization strategy are discussed.•The strategy provides various products with energetic and environmental benefits.•Carbohydrate-rich microalgae can be used as foods, cosmetics, and materials.•Proteinaceous microalgae can be utilized as nutraceuticals, fodders, and bioplastics.•Oleaginous microalgae can be exploited as solid fuels, functional foods, and feeds.
Biodegradable, hydrophobic, and injectable liquid polymers are capable of achieving the minimally invasive, sustained, and local release of drugs. These hydrophobic injectable polymers also have ...potential in the area of regenerative medicine where the biomaterial should be stable for a certain period and then degrade to allow the growth of cells/tissues. This review presents exclusive coverage of biocompatible hydrophobic injectable pasty or liquid polymers that can be injected without the use of any solvent for drug delivery, tissue augmentation, and regenerative medicine application. The synthesis methodologies of several major types of hydrophobic pasty polymers used in the biomedical fields and their properties with the foremost criteria to serve as injectable biomaterial for localized drug delivery and regenerative medicine is described. The hydrophobic biodegradable injectable polymers discussed are aliphatic polyesters, polycarbonates and polyanhydrides, prepared from: lactic acid, glycolic acid, caprolactone, aliphatic diols and diacids, hydroxy fatty acids, and triglycerides such as castor oil.
Liquid hydrophobic polymers are efficient to release drugs locally and have the potential in regenerative medicine due to their simple and direct injection to the required site. This review summarizes the synthetic methodologies and desired properties of biocompatible, hydrophobic, and liquid polymers that can be injected directly for the application of localized drug delivery and regenerative medicine.
This study employs several approaches to enhance environmental sustainability: First, algal biomass (with 52.5% protein content) was converted into value-added products. Second, residual algal ...biomass from protein extraction and pigment extraction and raw algal biomass were used to manufacture bioplastics. Third, radiation shielding performance of bioplastics has been investigated. As an alternative to plastics originated from petroleum-based raw materials, environmentally friendly bioplastics were derived from residual algae biomass after extraction. The gamma-ray radiation shielding properties of the produced bioplastic have been investigated using WinXCOM theoretical calculation and GEANT4 Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. Fast neutron shielding performance of the considered materials also evaluated with help of theoretical calculation and the same MC simulation. The produced bioplastics are similar to ones with commercially available PLA polymer. Sample 1 was found to be better gamma-ray attenuator while Sample 2 has the highest value of the effective neutron removal cross section. Additionally, the boron addition has resulted in lower water absorption capacity in the prepared samples. Using algae to produce more than one product as a raw material source will be an effective step toward sustainable life, and they could be an alternative gamma-ray shielding material to existing commercial polymers.
•Bioplastics were produced from Algal Biomass.•Characterization of the produced bioplastics are performed.•Radiation shielding capacities were evaluated for the first time.•The obtained shielding results are similar to commercial PLA polymer.
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