Elham Azadeh¹, Antonio Pizzi^1,2,*, Christine Gerardin-Charbonnier^1,*, Philippe Gerardin¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.6, pp. 2823-2848, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.027651

Abstract Non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) foams from a commercial hydrolysable tannin extract, chestnut wood tannin extract, have been prepared to determine what chemical species and products are taking part in the reactions involved. This method is based on two main steps: the reaction with dimethyl carbonate and the formation of urethane bonds by further reaction of the carbonated tannin with a diamine-like hexamethylene diamine. The hydroxyl groups on the tannin polyphenols and on the carbohydrates intimately linked with it and part of a hydrolysable tannin are the groups involved in these reactions. The carbohydrate skeleton of the hydrolysable tannin is also able… More > Graphic Abstract

Shuang Zhao¹, Shenglan Chen², Shuan Ren¹, Gang Li³, Ke Song^1,4, Jie Guo^1,4, Shima Liu^1,4, Jian He^1,4, Xianwu Zhou^1,4,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.6, pp. 2531-2553, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026066

Abstract Petroleum-based materials, such as plastic, are characterized by adverse environmental pollution; as a result, researchers have sought alternative degradable plastics that are environmentally friendly, such as polylactic acid (PLA). PLA has shown great potential to replace petroleum-based plastics. In this study, seven different samples of unmodified Pueraria lobata root powder (PRP) with different contents (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt%) and three different modified PRPs (i.e., treated with NaOH, NaOH-KH-550, and Formic) were used to reinforce polylactic acid (PLA) via solution casting process. These prepared PRP/PLA composite films were characterized using SEM, FTIR, UV-visible spectra analysis,… More > Graphic Abstract

Qiushi Li^1,2,#, Ronggang Luo^1,2,#, Yu Chen³, Jinhui Xiong³, Bei Qiao¹, Xijuan Chai^1,2, Linkun Xie^1,2, Juan Wang³, Lianpeng Zhang^1,2,*, Siqun Wang⁴, Guanben Du^1,2, Kaimeng Xu^1,2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.6, pp. 2809-2822, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026184

Abstract To overcome the shortage of wood resources as well as to develop novel natural fibers materials, the Chimonobambusa quadrangularis (CQ) and Qiongzhuea tumidinoda (QT) planted in Southwest China were effectively isolated by the steam explosion (SE). The fine and uniform bamboo microfibers derived from CQ and QT were obtained, and their smallest average widths were 12.62 μm and 16.05 μm, respectively. The effects of steam explosion on the micro-morphology, chemical composition, thermal stability, crystallinity, surface wettability, and mechanical properties of bamboo microfibers were comprehensively investigated. The results showed that the relative content of cellulose in bamboo microfibers increased but the… More > Graphic Abstract

Yuhang He, Rongzhuo Zhang, Yifan Zhang, Zheng Wang^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.6, pp. 2729-2743, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.025867

Abstract In order to better meet the objective requirements of the use safety of the high-rise glulam building floor structure and the living comfort of the residents, the transient excitation, environmental excitation and frequency spectrum identification methods were used to carry out experimental modal test in-site on the three rooms numbered A, B and C of the same glulam structural building. The three rooms have different functions, different floor sizes and different floor supporting structures. The research results have shown that the first-order bending frequency of the floor structure of Room A is 27.50 Hz, the transverse second-order bending frequency is… More > Graphic Abstract

Saeed Kazemi Najafi¹, Farhood Najafi², Antonio Pizzi^3,*, Fatemeh Hassani Khorshidi^1,*, Rabi Behrooz¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.5, pp. 2171-2189, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.027835

Abstract Polyols are groups of organic compounds which contain carbon and are randomly linked to other atoms, especially carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen. These compounds are mainly used as reactants to make other polymers. Among biopolymers, lignin is regarded as the base of a new polymer in polyol construction. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of amine type (diethylenetriamine and ethylenediamine) on the modification of lignin-based polyols, so as to provide an alternative to petroleum polyols and, in turn, increase functional groups and reduce their harm to humans’ health and the environment. To this aim, first, lignin was extracted from raw… More > Graphic Abstract

Hamed Younesi-Kordkheili^1,*, Antonio Pizzi^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.5, pp. 2075-2083, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026706

Abstract The influence of nanolignin coupling bio-agent on some characteristics of polypropylene-wood flour composites was studied. Thus, nanolignin was prepared by the acidic method, and then different ratios of it (0, 1, 3 and 5 wt%) were added to a polypropylene-wood flour mixture. After mechanically mixing wood flour, nanolignin, and polypropylene, the mixture was injection molded. ASTM methods were used to measure the structural properties of nanolignin, and prepared composites’ water absorption, thickness swelling, bending modulus, and bending, tensile and impact strengths. Transforming the original lignin to nanolignin did not change the chemical bonds of the material. The addition of nanolignin… More >

N. A. Maidin^1,2, S. M. Sapuan^1,*, M. T. Mastura², M. Y. M. Zuhri¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.5, pp. 2381-2397, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026549

Abstract Natural fibre reinforced polymer composite (NFRPC) materials are gaining popularity in the modern world due to their eco-friendliness, lightweight nature, life-cycle superiority, biodegradability, low cost, and noble mechanical properties. Due to the wide variety of materials available that have comparable attributes and satisfy the requirements of the product design specification, material selection has become a crucial component of design for engineers. This paper discusses the study’s findings in choosing the suitable thermoplastic matrices of Natural Fibre Composites for Cyclist Helmet utilising the DMAIC, and GRA approaches. The results are based on integrating two decision methods implemented utilising two distinct decision-making… More >

Jiulong Wang¹, Yanqing Gao², Xiaoping Rao³, Zongde Wang¹, Shibin Shang⁴, Zhanqian Song⁴, Hongyan Si^1,*, Shengliang Liao^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.5, pp. 2367-2379, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026333

Abstract The preparation of bioactive derivatives from the renewable natural product pinene is a hot research topic in the deep processing and utilization of pinene. In this study, β-pinene was used to develop novel molecules as a promising new precursor of insecticide. A series of amide-containing derivatives of β-pinene were synthesized and characterized. The insecticidal activities of these derivatives against Mythimna separate and Semiaphis heraclei were tested. The structure characterization results showed that the characterization data of amide-containing derivatives were in full agreement with their proposed structures. The insecticidal activities evaluation results indicated that amide-containing derivatives exhibited weak insecticidal activity against… More >

Soumaya Zormati, Fadhel Aloulou^*, Habib Sammouda

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.5, pp. 2345-2365, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026170

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of using surfactant (CTAB) and cellulose nanofibers (NFC) as an admixture in cement mortars. We examined composite properties as porosity, compression energy, thermal conductivity and hydration. The results showed that with the addition of 0.7% by weight of NFC per emulsion in the presence of a cationic surfactant (CTAB). The new material produced presented a dry porosity between 4.7% and 4.4%, compressive strength between 9.8 and 22.9 MPa, and thermal conductivity between 0.95 and 2.25 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹. Thus we show better mechanical and thermal performance than that traditional Portland cement mortar… More > Graphic Abstract

Xue Huang^1,*, Zeyu Chen¹, Ruizhao Yang¹, Guangzhu Feng²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.5, pp. 2301-2319, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.025888

Abstract 1,3-Dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol (OPO) has been a hotspot of functional oils research in recent years, but due to the high cost of sn-1,3 specific lipase in enzymatic synthesis and the lack of biocatalyst stability, large-scale industrial application is difficult. In this study, the prepared magnetic ZnFe₂O₄ was functionalized with dopamine to obtain ZnFe₂O₄@PDA, and the nano-biocatalyst ZnFe₂O₄@PDA@RML was prepared by immobilizing sn-1,3 specific lipase of Rhizomucor miehei lipase (RML) via a cross-linking method. The existence of RML on ZnFe₂O₄@PDA was confirmed by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. This strategy proved to be simple and effective because the lipase immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles… More > Graphic Abstract