Leendert W. Schwab, Wouter M. J. Kloosterman, Jakob Konieczny, Katja Loos^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.1, pp. 73-78, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2012.634102

Abstract The papain catalyzed enzymatic synthesis of amido amines catalyzed from aromatic diamines and N-carbobenzyloxy (Z) protected amino acids (Gly, L-Leu, L-Phe) is described. The amides precipitate (yield 19–47 % depending on the amino acid used) from the reaction mixture after one amide bond is formed thus preventing the formation of diamides in all cases. Papain retains its activity in buffers with a higher pH (9 and 12) observable by the amide bond formation between 1,3-phenylene diamine and Z-L-Gly and Z-L-Phe. Aliphatic diamines (1,4-butanediamine and 1,6-hexanediamine) were used as well but amide formation could not be observed in buffers of pH… More >

Daan S. van Es

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.1, pp. 61-72, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2012.634108

Abstract In this perspectives paper we will look at the state-of-the-art in rigid renewable building blocks for biobased materials, with a focus on two types of carbohydrate-based difunctional monomers, i.e.,isohexides and furan- 2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). More >

Sebastián Muñoz-Guerra^*, Montserrat García-Alvarez, José A. Portilla-Arias

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.1, pp. 42-60, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2012.634105

Abstract Poly(γ-glutamic acid) (PGGA) is an edible polypeptide excreted by certain bacteria that is presently accessible on a semi-industrial scale. Chemically, it is a nylon 4 derivative bearing a carboxylic side group attached to the fourth carbon of the repeating unit. Although this biopolymer is being exploited in the food, agriculture and cosmetic sectors, its use in massive applications as packaging or coating is still unknown mainly due to its instability in wet environments and unsuitability to be processed by common techniques. Chemical modifi cation of PGGA involving esterifi cation or amidation of the carboxylic group is the approach explored the… More >

Eliane Trovatti^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.1, pp. 28-41, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2012.634104

Abstract Biobased polymers have been gaining the attention of society and industry because of concerns about the depletion of fossil fuels and growing environmental problems. Cellulose fi bers are one of the most promising biopolymers to be explored as a component of composite materials with emergent properties for new applications. Bacterial Cellulose (BC), a special kind of cellulose produced by microorganisms, is endowed with unique properties. In this context, this perspective offers an overview about the properties of BC that would enable it to become a commodity. This includes an appraisal of the current BC market, as compared with other available… More >

Ying Xia¹, Rafael L. Quirino², Richard C. Larock^3,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.1, pp. 3-27, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2012.634103

Abstract Vegetable oils are promising renewable resources for polymers, due to their low cost, ready availability, and versatile applications. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to vegetable oil-based polymeric materials due to both economic and environmental concerns. This review focuses on the latest developments in vegetable oil-based thermosets prepared by a variety of polymerization methods. The thermosets obtained exhibit a wide range of thermomechanical properties from soft and fl exible rubbers to rigid and hard plastics. Some of the thermosets have properties comparable to petroleum-based analogs and show promise as replacements, providing possible solutions to environmental and energy concerns. More >

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.1, pp. 1-2, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2012.634110

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Sinto Jacob¹, Manjusri Misra^1,2, Amar Mohanty^1,2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.2, pp. 154-165, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2012.634107

Abstract This study investigated the use of potassium persulfate (KPS) as an initiator for the grafting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto softwood kraft lignin. Ammonium iron (II) sulfate hexahydrate was used as a catalyst to overcome the inherent inhibition of lignin to free radical grafting and to make lignin copolymer under mild conditions using an aqueous medium. The infl uence of temperature, initiator concentration, time of reaction and monomer concentration on percentage of grafting were studied. A maximum of 31% grafting was achieved at 55ο C. Graft copolymer was identifi ed from the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum by the new… More >

Thomas J. Nelson, Lindsey Bultema, Neal Eidenschink, Dean C. Webster^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.2, pp. 141-153, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2013.634113

Abstract Bio-based polyols with high functionality were successfully synthesized by ring-opening epoxidized sucrose esters of soybean oil with methanol under acidic conditions, and were subsequently formulated with blocked isocyanates to form one package polyurethanes (1KPU). The bio-based polyols were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR) spectroscopy, and Brookfi eld viscosity. Bio-based coatings were prepared by formulating the polyols with blocked polyisocyanates based on isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Two types of bio-based polyols were synthesized and the ratio of NCO:OH functional groups was varied to explore the effect… 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 for further reaction by… More >

Hyoe Hatakeyama^1,*, Tatsuko Hatakeyama²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.1, No.2, pp. 113-123, 2013, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2012.634111

Abstract Lignin and saccharides are two major components of plants. Huge amounts of plant residues are obtained as by-products of large-scale industries, such as pulp and paper, bio-fuel and the food industry. In this paper, preparation of polyurethane (PU) foam directly from various kinds of industrial lignin and molasses, which have scarcely been utilized, is summarized based on our results obtained by recent investigation. A onestep reaction using hydroxyl groups of plant materials as an active site makes it possible to produce a wide variety of PU, such as foams, sheets, gels and composite matrix. In this paper, PU foams receive… More >