S. Najmeh Aboutorabi¹, Majid Nasiriboroum,^2,*, Pourya Mohammadi¹, Hassan Sheibani^1,*, Hossein Barani³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.8, pp. 787-794, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.06438

Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by a bio-reduction method using an aqueous extract of mullein leaves (Verbascum thapsus L.) functioning as reducing as well as a stabilizing agent. Various synthesis parameters such as reaction time, temperature and concentration of the extract were also studied for the synthesis of AgNPs. The so prepared AgNPs were characterized by various techniques including UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (equipped with energy dispersive analysis of X-rays), and transmission electron microscopy. The electron microscopy images suggest the formation of polydispersed spherical AgNPs with average particle size of about 20 nm. The kinetic analysis revealed… More >

Nantharat Phruksaphithak^1,*, Chalermkiet Kaewnun², Sompong O-Thong²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.5, pp. 493-504, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00020

Abstract A new biocomposite was preformed between bacterial cellulose (BC) pellicle and polyethylene glycol (PEG) at different concentrations (0%, 5, 10%, 15% and 20%) and different molecular weight (600, 1000 and 2000). The structure and mechanical properties of BC/PEG biocomposite were investigated. The results indicated that the properties of the BC were improved by the addition of PEG. The morphology of the BC and BC/PEG blend was examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). These showed that PEG was coated with a large pore size fibril on the BC and the BC/PEG was dense with an even and smooth surface. All… More >

Nasir Javaid, Rida Batool, Nazia Jamil*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.5, pp. 463-476, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00023

Abstract A total of 5 biochemically characterized lipase positive bacterial strains were screened for Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production by Nile blue staining and confirmation was done by Sudan Black B. PHA production ability for all strains was optimized followed by time profiling calculation and comparison via using glucose and two plant oils i.e., canola and mustard oil. Quantitative analysis showed that glucose can serve as a carbon source for maximum biomass (2.5 g/L CDW for strain 5) and PHA production (70.3% for strain 2). PHA produced by strain 2 was further analyzed for its chemical composition and type via Fourier Transform Infrared… More >

Sawsan Dacrory^1*, Hussein Abou-Yousef¹, Ragab E. Abou-Zeid¹, Samir Kamel¹, Mohamed S. Abdel-Aziz², Mohamed Elbadry³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.5, pp. 536-547, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634190

Abstract Carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels were developed through crosslinking process using eco-friendly crosslinkers such as maleic, succinic, and citric acids. Carboxymethyl cellulose was prepared from the cellulosic fraction of olive industry residues. A series of hydrogels with varying crosslinker acid concentrations, reaction times, and reaction temperatures was produced to study the swelling capacities and gel fraction of the obtained hydrogels. Additional study pertains to the preparation of antimicrobial nanocomposite hydrogels through in-situ incorporation of the silver nanoparticles during the crosslinking reaction. Silver nanoparticles were prepared by reduction of AgNO3with leaves of Ricinus communis. The particle size of prepared silver nanoparticles was detected… More >

Hilary Ureña-Saborío^1*, Sergio Madrigal-Carballo¹, Jorge Sandoval², José R. Vega-Baudrit³, Alejandro Rodríguez-Morales²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.3-4, pp. 290-299, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634119

Abstract Currently there is a trend towards reducing the use of agrochemicals in developing countries. However, they are still being applied intensively in tropical countries. Thus, there is a trend towards developing new products based on natural chemicals for pest control, leading to second-generation pesticides incorporating nano- and biotechnologies. Costa Rica is one of the largest producers of bananas in the world. One of the most important pests of banana and plantain crops is the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis (Cobb) Thorne. Highly toxic chemical compounds have traditionally been used to control this specific pest in banana plants, which can have dangerous… More >

Itxaso Algar¹, Clara Garcia-Astrain¹, Alba Gonzalez², Loli Martin³, Nagore Gabilondo¹, Aloña Retegi^1*, Arantxa Eceiza^1*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.1, pp. 57-65, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634124

Abstract Bacterial cellulose/montmorillonite (BCMMT) hybrid bionanocomposite membranes were prepared by in-situ assembling or one-step biosynthesis process. The presence of MMT in BC membranes was confi rmed by thermogravimetric analysis and quantifi ed by mass spectrometry, resulting in bionanocomposites with MMT contents between 7–13 wt%. The incorporation of MMT during BC biosynthesis modifi ed BC morphology and led to lower porosity, even though higher water holding capacity was achieved. Bionanocomposites showed improved thermal stability and water vapor and oxygen gas barrier properties up to 70 and 80% with respect to neat BC membranes. This improvement was related to the tortuous path of… More >

Xiaoying Zhuang^1,2,*, Shuai Zhou^3,4

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.59, No.1, pp. 57-77, 2019, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2019.04589

Abstract Advances in machine learning (ML) methods are important in industrial engineering and attract great attention in recent years. However, a comprehensive comparative study of the most advanced ML algorithms is lacking. Six integrated ML approaches for the crack repairing capacity of the bacteria-based self-healing concrete are proposed and compared. Six ML algorithms, including the Support Vector Regression (SVR), Decision Tree Regression (DTR), Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Bayesian Ridge Regression (BRR) and Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR), are adopted for the relationship modeling to predict crack closure percentage (CCP). Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is used for the hyper-parameters… More >

Ying Hu^1,2, Qinfei Ke¹, Zhe Li², Wanli Han³, Zhiyong Yan^2,*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.56, No.3, pp. 517-527, 2018, DOI: 10.3970/cmc.2018.03608

Abstract Cellulose nanofibers were synthesized by acetobacter xylinum (xylinum 1.1812). The cellulose nanofibers with 30-90 nm width constructed three-dimension network gel, which could be used as a wound dressing since it can provide moist environment to a wound. However, cellulose nanofibers have no antimicrobial activity to prevent wound infection. To achieve antimicrobial activity, the cellulose nanofibers can load cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) particles on the surface. The cuprous oxide is a kind of safe antibacterial material. The copper ions can be reduced into cuprous oxides by reducing agents such as glucose, N₂H₄ and sodium hypophosphite. The cellulose nanofibers network gel was soaked… More >

Sunil Kr. Jha¹, Zulfiqar Ahmad²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.113, No.4, pp. 443-459, 2017, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2017.113.443

Abstract Microbial population and enzyme activities are the significant indicators of soil strength. Soil microbial dynamics characterize microbial population and enzyme activities. The present study explores the development of efficient predictive modeling systems for the estimation of specific soil microbial dynamics, like rock phosphate solubilization, bacterial population, and ACC-deaminase activity. More specifically, optimized subtractive clustering (SC) and Wang and Mendel's (WM) fuzzy inference systems (FIS) have been implemented with the objective to achieve the best estimation accuracy of microbial dynamics. Experimental measurements were performed using controlled pot experiment using minimal salt media with rock phosphate as sole carbon source inoculated with… More >