Xiaozheng Sun^*, Qiang He, Yu Yang

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.4, pp. 447-460, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09671

Abstract Agricultural waste straw is the renewable resource with the highest annual yield in the world. In value-added applications of agricultural waste, dicarboxyl cellulose nanocrystals (DCCs) are prepared from rice, wheat, and corn straw by sequential periodate-chlorite oxidation. In this study, DCCs from rice, wheat, and corn straw were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The carboxyl content of the DCCs was also investigated. XRD results show that the crystallinity index decreased after sequential periodate-chlorite oxidation; however, the cellulose I structure was maintained. TEM results show that rod-shaped DCCs… More >

Mariia Stepanova¹, Ilia Averianov¹, Olga Solomakha¹, Natalia Zabolotnykh², Iosif Gofman¹, Mikhail Serdobintsev², Tatiana Vinogradova², Viktor Korzhikov-Vlakh^1,3, Evgenia Korzhikova-Vlakh^1,3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.4, pp. 383-395, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09206

Abstract The biocomposite films were prepared from poly(L-lactic acid) and cellulose nanocrystals. To improve interfacial compatibility of hydrophilic cellulose nanocrystals with hydrophobic matrix polymer as well as to provide the osteoconductive properties, cellulose was functionalized with poly(glutamic acid). The modified cellulose nanocrystals were better distributed and less aggregated within the matrix, which was testified by scanning electron, optical and polarized light microscopy. According to mechanical tests, composites filled with nanocrystals modified with PGlu demonstrated higher values of Young’s modulus, elongation at break and tensile strength. Incubation of composite materials in model buffer solutions for 30 weeks followed with staining of Ca²⁺… More >

Vikas S. Hakke¹, Uday D. Bagale¹, Sami Boufi², G. Uday Bhaskar Babu¹, Shirish H. Sonawane^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.3, pp. 239-250, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.08449

Abstract Starch nanocrystals (SNC) were prepared from maize starch using ultrasound assisted acid hydrolysis. The process takes less time for the generation of SNC, which is advantageous over conventional acid hydrolysis. The synthesized SNC were characterized using X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Particle size and TEM data show that the particles were near to 150 nm, with oval morphology. The SNC with higher surface charge are obtained with this innovative approach as compared to conventional acid hydrolysis. Because of high surface charge and oval like morphology, the SNC performed well in reinforcing a polyurethane… More >

Karima Ben Hamou^1,2,*, Amal Kadimi¹, Remo Merijs Meri³, Sergei Gaidukov³, Hamid Kaddami¹, Mustapha Raihane¹, Mouhamed Lahcini¹, Fouad Erchiqui²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.3, pp. 301-317, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.08141

Abstract This work reports a comprehensive study on poly (Ethylmethacrylateco-Acrylonitrile) Poly(EMA-AN) nanocomposites reinforced with a hybrid mixture of nanoreiforcements based on nanocrystals of cellulose (NCC) (1 or 5% wt) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) (1 or 5% wt). The morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of these nanocomposites were characterized. Homogeneous dispersion of the nanofillers has been shown by scanning electron microscopy. A significant increase of the rubbery modulus and glass transition temperature were obtained upon filler addition, due to the reduction of mobility of the matrix macromolecular chains. On the other hand, compared with the neat Poly(EMAAN), the storage modulus of the… More >

Brody A. Frost, E. Johan Foster^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.2, pp. 187-203, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.07940

Abstract As the world's population exponentially grows, so does the need for the production of food, with cereal production growing annually from an estimated 1.0 billion to 2.5 billion tons within the last few decades. This rapid growth in food production results in an ever increasing amount of agricultural wastes, of which already occupies nearly 50% of the total landfill area. For example, is the billions of dry tons of cellulose-containing spent coffee grounds disposed in landfills annually. This paper seeks to provide a method for isolating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from spent coffee grounds, in order to recycle and utilize the… More >

Maud Chemin, Céline Moreau, Bernard Cathala, Ana Villares^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.1, pp. 29-43, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.07850

Abstract In this work, we studied the adsorption of modified cellulose nanocrystals onto solid surfaces by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). Cellulose nanocrystals obtained from tunicate (CNC) were modified at reducing end by amidation reactions. Two different functionalities were investigated: a polyamine dendrimer (CNC-NH₂), which interacts with gold surface by the amine groups; and a biotin moiety (CNC-Biot), which has a strong affinity for the protein streptavidin (SAV). QCM-D results revealed different adsorption behaviors between modified and unmodified CNCs. Hence, unmodified CNCs covered almost all the surface forming a rigid and flat layer whereas reducing end modified CNCs remained… More >

Malika Talantikite^1,*, 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

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 >

M. Guagliano^1,2, S. Bagherifard², I. Fernandez Parienete³, R. Ghelichi²

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.6, No.1, pp. 31-42, 2010, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2010.006.031

Abstract Surface grain refinement is a relatively new process aimed to enhance mechanical material properties. In this study Al7075-T6 bars have been shot peened with parameters (shot speed and treatment duration) much stronger from those of conventional shot peening (SP). Residual stress state and microstructure gradient have been observed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nano indentation tester. Formation of a fine grained layer of material on top surface of the specimens was confirmed by TEM and also XRD measurements. XRD results show significant depth affected both in terms of residual stress and full width half… More >

Yan Wu^1,*, Xinyu Wu¹, Feng Yang^2,*, Li Xu¹, Meng Sun¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.11, pp. 1181-1195, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07493

Abstract The cellulose nanocrystals/graphene composite aerogel (CGA) and polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanocrystals/graphene composite aerogel (PCGA) were prepared by suspension titration, tert-butanol solution replacement and freeze-drying successively. The removal rates of methyl blue (MB) from water by CGA and PCGA were evaluated and the effects of additions, adsorption time, reaction temperature and pH value of CGA and PCGA on MB removal rate were discussed. It was found that the optimal concentrations of both CGA and PCGA were 2 g∙L-1 in the adsorption reaction process and the adsorption equilibrium was reached within 120 min. The higher the initial pH value of MB solution is,… More >

F. Namavar¹, J. D. Jackson², J. G. Sharp³, S. Varma¹, H. Haider¹, C. Feschuk¹, K. L. Garvin¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 171-172, 2006, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2006.003.171

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >