Daniela Godina^1,*, Guntis Sosins¹, Aigars Paze¹, Janis Rizikovs¹, Raimonds Makars¹, Andreas Treu²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 147-161, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.056822 - 20 January 2025

Abstract Instead of the traditional linear model of taking, making, and disposing, the circular bio-economy promotes a regenerative approach. Although there is potential to create valuable products like betulin, lupeol, and suberinic acids (SA) from outer birch bark, many industries, such as plywood and pulp, often choose to incinerate substantial amounts of leftover birch bark to meet their energy needs. This highlights the importance of obtaining valuable products from wood. The objective of this study was to examine various fractions of SA and assess their potential for wood impregnation. The fractions included SA potassium salts in… More > Graphic Abstract

Rūdolfs Bērziņš^*, Aigars Pāže, Guntis Sosins, Daniela Godiņa, Laima Vēvere, Jānis Rižikovs

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.12, pp. 2095-2113, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.056769 - 20 December 2024

Abstract Birch outer bark (BOB) from Betula pendula Roth. is a unique and valuable biomass feedstock that contains suberin. The biopolyester suberin is built from bifunctional fatty acids-suberinic acids (SA)-which can be obtained through a depolymerization process in an alkaline medium and used as a binder due to their adhesive properties. The aim of this study was to develop the SA-containing binder and identify suitable pressing conditions to produce plywood that meets the shear strength requirements of the EN 314-2 standard 3rd moisture resistance class for bonding quality, ensuring durability in unprotected exterior conditions (shear strength ≥… More > Graphic Abstract

Aleksandra Jeżo^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 1029-1042, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.051330 - 02 August 2024

Abstract Bark extracts are sustainable sources of biopolymers and hold great promise for replacing fossil fuel-based polymers, for example, in wood-based composites. In addition to primary and secondary metabolites, tree bark also contains suberin, which plays a major role in protecting the tree from environmental conditions. Suberin is a natural aliphatic-aromatic cross-linked polyester present in the cell walls of both normal and damaged external tissues, the main component of which are long-chain aliphatic acids. Its main role as a plant ingredient is to protect against microbiological factors and water loss. One of the most important suberin More >

Arne Rüdiger^1,2, Peter Hendil-Forssell³, Cecilia Hedfors³, Mats Martinelle³, Stacy Trey^4,5,*, Mats Johansson^1,4

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.2, pp. 124-140, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2012.634109

Abstract The present study describes the use of an epoxy functional fatty acid, 9,10-epoxy-18-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (EFA), extracted from birch (Betula pendula) outer bark to produce thermosets. The purifi ed epoxy fatty acid was polymerized by enzyme-catalyzed polycondensation utilizing Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) to form oligomers with targeted degrees of polymerization (DP) of 3, 6, and 9 and obtained DPs of 2.3, 5.9 and 7.3, respectively. It was determined that it is possible to fi rst enzymatically polymerize and aliphatically endcap the epoxy functional fatty acid resulting in controlled oligomer lengths while also maintaining the epoxy functionality… More >