Meifeng Wang^1,2, Wubliker Dessie², Hui Li^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.12, pp. 2119-2128, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016811

Abstract Lignin is the most abundant heteropolymer based on aromatic subunits in nature. Large quantities of lignin are annually produced from pulping processes and biorefinery industries. Its unclearly defined structure and difficult biodegradation mainly limit its utilization. This work focused on the effect of hydroxylation of lignin on its microbial degradation. Butyloxy carbonyl-modified lignin, and hydroxylated-lignin were synthesized with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, using lignin as raw material. The degradation of the modifiedlignins both by P. chrysosporium and B. subtilis were analyzed using UV-vis spectroscopy. Results revealed that the lignin degradation velocity raises with the increase hydroxylation level of… More > Graphic Abstract

Xiaohua Gu^1,*, Shiwei Lyu¹, Siwen Liu²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.11, pp. 1913-1926, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015400

Abstract A bi-component alcoholysis agent containing propylene glycol (PG) and ethanolamine (ETA) was used to catalyst the degradation of the waste polyurethane rigid foam. The oligomer polyols obtained through degradation were used as raw materials to produce recycled polyurethane rigid foam composites with lignin as reinforcing filler. The effect of alcoholysis mass ratio on degradation was investigated by analyzing the viscosity, hydroxyl content and chemical structure of the degradation products. The effect of lignin addition on the properties of regenerated polyurethane rigid foam were investigated by analyzing water absorption rate, compressive strength, porosity, thermal stability, thermal conductivity coefficient, morphology and thermal… More >

Danaé Samara Sánchez-Sandoval^#, Omar González-Ortega^#, Mara Fernanda Navarro-Martínez, Juan Marcos Castro-Tapia, Ramón Fernando García de la Cruz, Ruth Elena Soria-Guerra^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.90, No.5, pp. 1519-1533, 2021, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2021.015087

Abstract The emerging contaminants (ECs) are organic compounds including pharmaceuticals. These products are consumed in large quantities, favoring their continuous entrance to the environment and affecting the health of living beings. Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic properties of prolonged release. It is the commonest postoperative analgesic, and it is highly consumed without prescription. In recent years, the capability of microalgae to remove pharmaceuticals in water has been tested as a promising tool. In this work, the removal efficiency of diclofenac (16 µg/mL) by the microalga Nannochloropsis oculata CCAP 186/7 was evaluated. The major nutrient concentrations in Bold’s Basal… More >

Sudhakar Muniyasamy^1,2,*, Asis Patnaik^3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.10, pp. 1661-1671, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.014904

Abstract Present study deals with the biodegradable behavior of individual components and their preforms of nonwoven biocomposites developed from waste wool fibers including coring wool (CW), dorper wool (DW) and recycled polyester fibers (RPET). A respirometric technique was employed to estimate the production of CO₂ during the biodegradation experiments under soil and aqueous media conditions. Functional groups of test samples before and after biodegradation were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Leaching chemicals such as formaldehyde (hydrolyzed) and Chromium VI (Cr VI) was also measured. The CO₂ emission in wool fibers CW and DW indicated 90% and 60% biodegradation in… More >

Xingran Kou^1,2, Qixuan Zhao², Wenwen Xu², Zuobing Xiao², Yunwei Niu², Kai Wang^3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1189-1211, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015268

Abstract Several important drugs and nutritional supplements are limited by their lack of bioavailability. Nanomaterials display unique beneficial properties that might help improve the bioavailability of drugs and nutritional supplements. Unfortunately, nanomaterials produced from synthetic polymers and metals may have similar difficulties with bioavailability and toxicity. Naturally occurring biopolymers are biodegradable and non-toxic and are adaptable to the synthesis of nanoparticles. Drugs and other substances can be encapsulated or embedded in such particles with an increase in bioavailability. The search for biodegradable nanomaterials is an active research field. This review summarizes the research on nanocrystalline cellulose, starch, lignin, and other biological… More >

JUN ZHANG, YEHONG HUANG, WENZHUO LIU, LULU LI, LIMING CHEN^*

BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.4, pp. 591-595, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.011642

Abstract Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα/ESR1) is overexpressed in over half of all breast cancers and is considered a valuable therapeutic target in ERα positive breast cancer. Here, we designed a membrane-permeant Chaperonemediated Autophagy Targeting Chimeras (CMATAC) peptide to knockdown endogenous ERα protein through chaperone-mediated autophagy. The peptide contains a cell membrane-penetrating peptide (TAT) that allows the peptide to by-pass the plasma membrane, an αI peptide as a protein-binding peptide (PBD) that binds specifically to ERα, and CMA-targeting peptide (CTM) that targeting chaperone-mediated autophagy. We validated that ERα targeting peptide was able to target and degrade ERα to reduce the viability of… More >

Tabrej Khan¹, Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan^1,2,3,*, Mohammad Jawaid², Syafiqah Nur Azrie Safri², Ain Umaira Md Shah², Mohd Shukry Abdul Majid^4,5,*, Nik Noriman Zulkepli⁶, Haliza Jaya⁶

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.1, pp. 73-84, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.011385

Abstract This research focused on the dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of woven mat jute/kenaf/jute (J/K/J) and kenaf/jute/kenaf (K/J/K) hybrid composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and Thermo-gravimetric Analysis (TGA) were used to study the effect of layering sequence on the thermal properties of kenaf/jute hybrid composites. The DMA results; it was found that the differences in the stacking sequence between the kenaf/jute composites do not affect their storage modulus, loss modulus and damping factor. From the TGA and DMA results, it has been shown that stacking sequence has given positive effect to the kenaf/jute hybrid composite compared to pure epoxy composite.… More >

Wendong Feng^1,2, Jian Li², Hongxiang An², Yunhai Wang^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.10, pp. 1283-1293, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.011000

Abstract Spent IERs are released during the operation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. The safe and efficient treatment of spent IERs is an emergent problem in nuclear industry. IRN77 is a typical ion exchange resin widely used in many nuclear power plants. Fenton process can degrade organic resins and reduce the radioactive residues volume and the disposal cost significantly. In this work, the IRN77 resin was selected as a model ion exchange resin and its treatment via Fenton process was investigated. The influencing factors for resin degradation, including catalyst dosage, reaction time, initial pH, temperature and oxidant dosage were investigated and… More >

Zinta Zimele^1,*, Ilze Irbe², Juris Grinins², Oskars Bikovens², Anrijs Verovkins², Diana Bajare¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.9, pp. 1067-1076, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09646

Abstract Novel mycelium-based biocomposites (MBB) were obtained from local agricultural (hemp shives) and forestry (wood chips) by-products which were bounded together with natural growth of fungal mycelium. As a result, hemp mycocomposites (HMC) and wood mycocomposites (WMC) were manufactured. Mechanical, water absorption and biodegradation properties of MBB were investigated. MBB were characterized also by ash content and elemental composition. The results of MBB were compared with the reference materials such as the commercial MBB material manufactured by Ecovative^® Design (EV), hemp magnesium oxychloride concrete (HC) and cemented wood wool panel (CW), manufactured by CEWOOD^®. The mechanical properties of HMC and WMC… More >

Jiangbo Li^1,2, Lielin Wang^1,2,*, Hua Xie^1,2, Xiaoyu Li^1,2, Zhiqiang Feng^1,2, Wenxiu Zhang^1,2

Energy Engineering, Vol.117, No.3, pp. 129-142, 2020, DOI:10.32604/EE.2020.010336

Abstract This study introduced a significantly effective approach called the microwave-enhanced Fenton method to degrade spent radioactive cation exchange resin. Compared with the Fenton (99% after 180 min) and photo-Fenton (90% after 198 min) reactions, this unique microwave-enhanced Fenton reaction has the highest degradation rate for spent radioactive cation exchange resin degradation (98.55% after 60 min). Carbon dioxide, sulfate and small molecular compounds were produced in the degradation of cation exchange resin, as determined by XRD and FT-IR. A model for the microwave-enhanced Fenton degradation mechanism of cation exchange resin was constructed. Microwaves were implemented to boost the concentration of hydroxyl… More >