Open Access
REVIEW
Gregory Reimonn1, Taofeng Lu1, Neeti Gandhi2, Wan-Ting Chen1,*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1251-1268, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.08055
Abstract Microplastic pollution represents a side-effect stemming from a global
plastic waste mismanagement problem and includes degraded particles or mass
produced plastic particles less than 5 mm in largest dimension. The small nature
of microplastics gives this area of pollution different environmental concerns than
general plastic waste in the environment. The biological toxicity of particles, their
internal components, and their surface level changes all present opportunities for
these particles to adversely affect the environment around them. Thus, it is
necessary to review the current literature surrounding this topic and identify areas
where the study of microplastic can be pushed forward. Here… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Samsul Rizal1, Fizree, H. M.2, Chaturbhuj K. Saurabh3, Deepu A. Gopakumar2, N. A. Sri Aprilia4, D. Hermawan5, A. Banerjee6, Fazita M. R. M2, Haafiz M. K. M.2, Abdul Khalil H. P. S.2,*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1269-1278, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07227
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Recent Developments on Biobased Materials and Composites)
Abstract Oil palm ash (OPA) is an agro-industry waste and it has disposable
problems. In the present study, an effort was made for value addition to OPA by
incorporating it as a micro-filler in different concentration (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and
50%) and sizes (100, 200, and 300 mesh size particles) in the epoxy matrix.
Prepared micro OPA was having a crystallinity index of 65.4%, high inorganic
elements, and smooth surface morphology. Fabricated composites had higher
void content as compared to neat epoxy matrix. Mechanical properties of
fabricated composites had a maximum value at 30% loading of 300 mesh-size
filler… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Narsimha Pandi1, Shirish H. Sonawane1,*, Sarang P. Gumfekar2, Anand Kishore Kola1, Pramod H. Borse3, Swapnil B. Ambade4, Sripadh Guptha1, Muthupandian Ashokkumar5
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1279-1293, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07609
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Recent Developments on Biobased Materials and Composites)
Abstract The present study deals with the intensified synthesis of starchpolyaniline
(starch-PANI) nanocomposite using an ultrasound-assisted method.
Starch is a key component in this nanocomposite, which acts as a backbone of the
nucleation of PANI. The Electrochemical property of the nanocomposite arises due
to the addition of PANI. This is one of green approach for the synthesis of bio
nanocomposite using ultrasound. The crystallinity of the composite is evaluated
using the Scherrer Formula. The starch-PANI nanocomposite was characterized by
XRD, FT-IR, Raman, XPS and TEM. The composite nanoparticles show spherical
morphology. The elemental composition of starch-PANI showed O 1s peak at… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xizhi Wu1,2, Xueyou Huang3, Xianjun Li1,*, Yiqiang Wu1
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1295-1307, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07839
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Bio-composite Materials and Structures)
Abstract This study presents a new structure made up of bamboo scrimber and
carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) to address the low stiffness and strength
of bamboo scrimbers. Three-point bending test and finite element model were
conducted to study the failure mode, strain-displacement relationship,
load-displacement relationship and relationships between strain distribution,
contact pressure and deflection, and adhesive debonding. The results indicated
that the flexural modulus and static flexural strength of the composite beams were
effectively increased thanks to the CFRP sheets. The flexural modulus of the
composite specimens were 2.33-2.94 times that of bamboo scrimber beams, and
the flexural strength were… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Yongfang Zhang1,2, Wensheng Hou1, Hong Guo1, Sheng Shi1, Jinming Dai1,2,*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1309-1319, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07884
Abstract Carbon microspheres were prepared from waste cotton fibers by
hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) with the addition of copper sulphate in this
work. The important influence factors, temperature, concentration of copper
sulphate, resident time were explored here. The smooth and regular carbon
microspheres could be formed at 330°C with 0.15 wt% copper sulphate after 6 h
from waste cotton fibers. The crystal structures of cotton fibers were destructed in a
short resident time with 0.15 wt% copper sulphate from SEM images and XRD
patterns of solid products. This strategy provides a new, mild and efficient method
to prepare carbon microspheres from waste… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xiaoliang Zhao1,#, Yuting Wang1,#, Xiuying Pu1, Jianzhong Ma1, Feifan Leng1, Yonggang Wang1, Yanling Wang1, Shuhong Yang1, Fen Ran2, Weijie Zhang1,*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1321-1332, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07757
Abstract A series of the Guiqi polysaccharides/chitosan/alginate composite
hydrogel microspheres (GPcM) with different particle sizes were prepared with
Guiqi polysaccharides (GP), chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (Alg). The
optimum preparation process was also determined by single factor and
orthogonal experiment analysis. The GPcM were characterized by fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM),
drug loading efficiency test (LE), encapsulation efficiency test (EE) and in vitro
release study. The results showed that the Guiqi polysaccharides chitosan
hydrogel (GPCH) and sodium alginate hydrogel (SAH) formed a crossover
system in GPcM. The GPcM have a uniform particle size ranging from 395.1μm
to… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Jie Xu1,3, Jiayao Yang1, Peng Lin2, Xiaohuan Liu1,*, Jinjie Zhang1, Shenyuan Fu1,*, Yuxun Tang2,*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1333-1346, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07905
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Renewable Polymer Materials and Their Application)
Abstract It is essential to design economic and efficient tougheners to prepare
high-performance epoxy resin; however, this has remained a huge challenge.
Herein, an eco-friendly, low-cost, and facile-fabricated bio-based hyperbranched
toughener, carboxylic acid-functionalized tannic acid (CATA), was successfully
prepared and applicated to the preparation of solvent-free epoxy resins. The
mechanical performance, morphology, structural characterization, and thermal
characterization of toughened epoxy resin system were studied. The toughened
epoxy resin system with only 1.0wt% CATA reached the highest impact strength,
111% higher than the neat epoxy resin system. Notably, the tensile strength and
elongation at break of toughened epoxy resin systems increased moderately… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Maroua Ben Abdelkader1,2,*, Nedra Azizi1, Ayda Baffoun3, Yves Chevalier2, Mustapha Majdoub1
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1347-1362, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07926
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Recent Developments on Biobased Materials and Composites)
Abstract Microencapsulation of neroline inside microcapsules having a
polyurethane shell based on β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hexane diisocyanate was
performed by interfacial polycondensation. The polyol nature of β-CD caused tight
crosslinking of microcapsules wall. Microcapsules of neroline were characterized
for their chemical composition and structure of the polyurethane shell by FTIR
spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, optical and electron microscopy, light
scattering and electrophoresis measurements. Core content and encapsulation
yield were 15% and 60%, respectively. Spherical microcapsules of mean diameter
29 μm were slightly cationic with an isoelectric point of 6.3. Neroline-loaded
microcapsules were fixed on cotton fabric using an impregnation technique. The
functionalized… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xu Wang1,3, Jianhong Zhou1,2, Bo Pang1,2, Dawei Zhao1,2,*
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1363-1380, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.08218
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Nanocellulose and Nanocellulose-Derived Functional Materials)
Abstract Introduction of the strategy of anhydrous calcium carbonate
protection incorporated with the drop by drop reaction, high-purity
1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim] Cl) was prepared at reaction
temperature of 80°C for only 10 h. Cellulose samples from different biomass
sources (with different degree of polymerization characteristic) could be rapidly
(no more than 10 minutes) and completely dissolved in the [Bmim] Cl using a
microwave-assisted ionothermal route. Homogeneous cellulosic regenerates
with high degree of polymerization and thermal stability characteristics were
obtained through a coagulation process in water. Furthermore, the dissolved
celluloses were readily regenerated into solid products such as casting films and
spinning… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Malika Talantikite1,*, Antoine Gourlay1, Sophie Le Gall1, Bernard Cathala1
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1381-1390, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07838
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Recent Developments on Biobased Materials and Composites)
Abstract Plant components are an inexhaustible source for the construction of
bio-based materials. Here we report, for the first time, the elaboration of
biobased cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)/xyloglucan (XG) hydrogels. XG is a
hemicellulose displaying a great affinity for cellulose surface and can be thus
irreversibly adsorbed on CNC. Properties of the hydrogels were investigated by
varying the molar mass of XG either by enzymatic treatment with Endoglucanase
(EG2) or physical fractionation by ultrasound (US). Fractions were
characterised by high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and
their monosacchari decompositions were determined. Three fractions with high,
average and small molar mass, (800, 300 and… More >