Article
Engineering, Chemical
Fabio M. Lamberti, Andy Ingram, Joseph Wood
Summary: Plastic pollution is a global issue with production levels projected to increase significantly by 2050. Bioplastics and a circular production economy offer solutions, with the potential for chemically recycling bioplastics like polylactic acid (PLA) to address long-term biodegradation challenges and create value-added products. Synergistic effects between catalysts like zinc acetate dihydrate and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine could enable large-scale PLA recycling.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Aida Alejandra Perez-Fonseca, Martin Esteban Gonzalez-Lopez, Jorge Ramon Robledo-Ortiz
Summary: Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is widely used in the global market due to its biodegradability, but this process may cause environmental impact and residues genotoxicity. High cost also limits PLA's competitiveness with oil-based thermoplastics. This review explores reprocessing and recycling of PLA as economically viable end-of-life options. Mechanical recycling is highlighted for its low environmental impact, and the importance of specific additives in maintaining PLA properties is discussed. The effects of reprocessing and recycling on PLA's molecular structure, rheological properties, and thermo-mechanical properties are analyzed. The environmental impact of PLA recycling methods is compared to other end-of-life options using life cycle assessment (LCA).
JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Fabio M. Lamberti, Luis A. Roman-Ramirez, Andrew P. Dove, Joseph Wood
Summary: Polylactic acid (PLA) is a leading bioplastic with a predicted increase in market share. Chemical recycling via alcoholysis is a beneficial disposal route for PLA, generating value-added products alkyl lactates. The combination of certain catalysts can enhance the reactivity of PLA methanolysis.
Article
Polymer Science
Vojtech Jasek, Jan Fucik, Lucia Ivanova, Dominik Vesely, Silvestr Figalla, Ludmila Mravcova, Petr Sedlacek, Jozef Krajcovic, Radek Prikryl
Summary: This study investigated the kinetics of the depolymerization of polyesters poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) using methanol and ethanol. The results showed that methanol had a faster reaction rate with PLA, while ethanol had a slower reaction rate with PHB. The alkyl esters were modified into polymerizable molecules through methacrylation, and it was found that lactates had a faster methacrylation rate than 3-hydroxybutyrates.
Article
Polymer Science
Nicolas Candau, Oguzhan Oguz, Noel Leon Albiter, Gero Forster, Maria Lluisa Maspoch
Summary: By using Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a crosslinking agent, recycling waste tire rubber (GTR) with poly (lactic acid) (PLA) can improve the toughness and impact strength of the material. Grinding GTR can enhance the performance of the blend, with the finest GTR showing the best improvement in tensile strength, modulus, strain at break, energy at break, and impact strength compared to neat PLA.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Martin Fuchs, Marcel Walbeck, Eveline Jagla, Alexander Hoffmann, Sonja Herres-Pawlis
Summary: Our study investigated the alcoholysis of renewable polyesters and found that the activity of catalysts can be influenced by the substituents introduced at the ligand backbone. Electron density donating groups were found to enhance the catalyst activity, resulting in higher polyester conversion rates. The study also demonstrated the possibility of catalyst recycling, industrial applicability, and solvent-free alcoholysis with full degradation.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Neha Shukla, Shrey Agrawal, Nikhil Dhawan
Summary: A novel processing route involving microwave-assisted acid baking and water leaching was explored for recycling waste phosphor from end-of-life fluorescent lamps. Various parameters were optimized, and the process showed high efficiency in rare-earth dissolution. Additionally, cost estimations indicated economic viability with significant contribution from terbium.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Maria-Beatrice Coltelli, Laura Aliotta, Gianluca Fasano, Filip Miketa, Filip Brkic, Rafael Alonso, Marco Romei, Patrizia Cinelli, Ilaria Canesi, Vito Gigante, Andrea Lazzeri
Summary: Poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PLA/PBSA) blends are promising for film packaging due to their flexibility, resistance, and compostability. The blends were tested in terms of melt flow rate as a function of PBSA content, both through mini-extrusion and injection molding cycles. The results showed negligible variation in melt fluidity and thermo-mechanical properties for up to 3 injection molding cycles, with evident color changes in the blend.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Huan Xu, Liang Jiang, Lv Ke, Guiying Zhu, Zi-Lin Zhang, Xinyu Li, Daoyuan Tang, Donghui Huang, Shenghui Zhang, Xinjian He, Hao-Ran Yang, Jiefeng Gao
Summary: A microwave-assisted devulcanization approach was used to process waste latex rubber, resulting in highly devulcanized rubber that can be compounded with poly(lactic acid) to create composites with strong and resilient interfacial adhesion. This method offers a sustainable recycling solution for waste rubber and provides useful components for strengthening poly(lactic acid).
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Feiwen Yang, Xinliang Ye, Jing Zhong, Zhaowen Lin, Shangjing Wu, Yang Hu, Wenxu Zheng, Wuyi Zhou, Yen Wei, Xianming Dong
Summary: Researchers developed a novel biocomposite by combining waste crab shells and a poly (lactic acid) matrix using chemical treatment and 3D printing. The resulting crab shell powder (ISCSP) had a porous structure and high specific surface area. The ISCSP/PLA composites were successfully printed using a commercial 3D printer, and their morphology, mechanical properties, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility were assessed. The composites showed improved tensile strength, flexural strength, antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, and excellent biocompatibility. They have potential applications in 3D printing for bone tissue engineering and graft substitutes in surgery.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Qianjin Zhu, Kaixin Chang, Liyan Qi, Xinyi Li, Woming Gao, Qinwei Gao
Summary: In this study, PLLA films were surface-modified using different solutions, leading to changes in their structure and properties. The modification with PDLA weakened the crystal structure of the films, while modification with PDLAG increased the stereocomplex (SC) structure and decreased the homogeneous crystal (HC) structure.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ziyue Wang, Rulin Yang, Guangqiang Xu, Tao Liu, Qinggang Wang
Summary: Chemical recycling of plastic wastes offers a practical solution for the end-of-use issue of polymer materials and provides a closed-loop approach for predominantly fossil-based materials. This study proposes a strategy to upgrade BPA-PC plastic waste to high value-added chemicals and achieves sequential depolymerization of mixed BPA-PC and PET plastics.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rong Wang, Xiaojie Sun, Lanlan Chen, Wenbin Liang
Summary: In this study, biodegradable blends of PGA and PBAT with in situ compatibilization using MDI were prepared. The addition of PBAT was found to increase the complex viscosity and storage modulus of the blends, leading to improved compatibility and impact strength. The morphology of the dispersed phase evolved from spherical structure to in situ microfiber, enhancing interfacial adhesion and improving toughness.
Article
Polymer Science
Juan Jose Benvenuta-Tapia, Pascale Champagne, Jose Alfredo Tenorio-Lopez, Eduardo Vivaldo-Lima, Ramiro Guerrero-Santos
Summary: This study evaluates the use of P(S-co-GMA)-b-S copolymers synthesized by nitroxide mediated polymerization as chain extenders in the recycling of poly(lactic acid) biopolyester. The addition of such copolymers significantly increases the viscosity average molecular weight of modified polymeric materials and improves their performance to approach that of pristine PLA.
Article
Polymer Science
Freddys R. Beltran, Marina P. Arrieta, Eduardo Moreno, Gerald Gaspar, Luisa M. Muneta, Ruth Carrasco-Gallego, Susana Yanez, David Hidalgo-Carvajal, Maria U. de la Orden, Joaquin Martinez Urreaga
Summary: The study on recycling 3D printing PLA wastes into films showed that mechanical recycling increases crystallinity and decreases viscosity, while recycled materials degrade faster under composting conditions compared to the original filament. Additionally, solid-state polymerization process can improve intrinsic viscosity of recycled materials derived from a well-known reference grade.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wichean Khawdas, Yuji Aso, Tomonari Tanaka, Yoko Okahisa, Iori Kazama, Hitomi Ohara
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING OF JAPAN
(2020)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Kamthorn Intharapichai, Akari Oda, Yoko Okahisa, Hitomi Ohara, Hidekazu Yasunaga
JOURNAL OF FIBER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Mei Sano, Ryoki Yada, Yusuke Nomura, Takahiro Kusukawa, Hiroshi Ando, Keiji Matsumoto, Kazuhito Wada, Tomonari Tanaka, Hitomi Ohara, Yuji Aso
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mei Sano, Tomonari Tanaka, Hitomi Ohara, Yuji Aso
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Rintaro Sato, Tomonari Tanaka, Hitomi Ohara, Yuji Aso
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Y. Aso, Y. Nomura, M. Sano, R. Sato, T. Tanaka, H. Ohara, K. Matsumoto, K. Wada
Summary: The study aimed to enhance the production of alkylitaconic acids by Aspergillus niger S17-5 through the addition of caprylic acid as a precursor. Results showed that addition of caprylic acid improved the production efficiency of 9-HHIA and 10-HHIA, especially when added in the mid-growth phase.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
R. Sato, T. Tanaka, H. Ohara, Y. Aso
Summary: The disruption of the glpF gene in engineered Escherichia coli increases the intracellular concentration of glycerol, leading to higher 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) production. This disruption also results in a decrease in the by-product acetic acid and enhances the specific growth rate and 1,3-PDO yield from glucose compared to the non-disrupted strain.
LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Naoto Hirose, Iori Kazama, Rintaro Sato, Tomonari Tanaka, Yuji Aso, Hitomi Ohara
Summary: Escherichia coli JM109 (pGV3-SBA) can assimilate starch with the fusion of starch-digesting enzyme alpha-amylase and OprI' lipoprotein anchor on the cell membrane. This study demonstrates the development of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) using this recombinant E. coli and starch as fuel, achieving the highest performance with a 0.4 mM mediator solution in terms of current and power density.
JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rintaro Sato, Motoyuki Ikeda, Tomonari Tanaka, Hitomi Ohara, Yuji Aso
Summary: This study demonstrates the production of R- and S-1,2-propanediol using engineered Lactococcus lactis for the first time. The addition of mannitol and gluconate in the culture medium enhances 1,2-propanediol production, and a pH-stat approach is used to achieve high concentration of S-1,2-propanediol.
Article
Polymer Science
Sotaro Tsuji, Kazuma Kobayashi, Toshiki Fujii, Hiroaki Imoto, Kensuke Naka, Yuji Aso, Hitomi Ohara, Tomonari Tanaka
Summary: This study reports novel polymers bearing water-soluble tetrafluorobenzene sulfonic acid (sulfoTFB) activated ester groups. The stability of both the polymers and monomers is significantly improved by introducing an alkanediyl linker. The resulting sulfoTFB-bearing polymer is used to synthesize oligosaccharide-grafted glycopolymers with high binding affinity to lectin via post-polymerization modification in water.
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bui Hoang Dang Long, Kotaro Matsubara, Tomonari Tanaka, Hitomi Ohara, Yuji Aso
Summary: In this study, glycerate was produced from glucose using engineered Escherichia coli BW25113. Plasmids carrying genes encoding enzymes involved in glycerol metabolism were introduced into E. coli to enable the production of glycerate. Disruptions of specific genes were performed to enhance glycerate production. The results showed that E. coli carrying these plasmids could produce higher concentrations of glycerate from glucose, and additional modifications improved glycerate production further.
JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bui Hoang Dang Long, Masahiro Nishiyama, Rintaro Sato, Tomonari Tanaka, Hitomi Ohara, Yuji Aso
Summary: In this study, a novel method for producing glyoxylate from glucose using engineered Escherichia coli BW25113 was proposed. By disrupting certain genes and reinforcing the glyoxylate shunt pathway, a glyoxylate titer of 0.93 ± 0.17 g/L was achieved in flask cultivation. Further overexpression of certain genes resulted in an improvement in glyoxylate production to 1.15 ± 0.02 g/L. Additionally, by expressing a heterologous gene, pyc, the production of glyoxylate was increased to 2.42 ± 0.00 g/L, the highest reported titer and specific productivity of glyoxylate in E. coli to date.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Iori Kazama, Naoto Hirose, Yuji Aso, Tomonari Tanaka, Hitomi Ohara
Summary: In this study, a bipolar membrane microbial fuel cell (bMFC) was used to generate electricity using cellulose as fuel. The experiment elucidated the mechanism of H+ and OH- reaction in the bipolar membrane, with the dihydrogen phosphate's counter cation serving as the final electron acceptor. The bMFC continuously generated electricity for 20 days.
BIOTECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tomonari Tanaka, Ayane Matsuura, Yuji Aso, Hitomi Ohara
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Polymer Science
Sotaro Tsuji, Yuji Aso, Hitomi Ohara, Tomonari Tanaka
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Polymer Science
Tetsu Sato, Mariko Takahashi, Takeshi Saito, Masahito Toyonaga, Itsuo Tanuma, Rie Yamada, Satoru Hosoda
Summary: An automatic evaluation system for photooxidation has been developed and successfully applied to assess the photo-OIT of LDPE samples containing photooxidation stabilizers. The system allows independent setting of various measurement conditions and provides detailed information on the photooxidation process.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Zongzheng Zuo, Shuxue Zhou
Summary: In this study, three fluoroalkyl trimethoxysilane (FATMS) additives with different chain lengths were incorporated into a two-component polyurethane clearcoat to improve its hydrophobic durability. The coatings modified with FATMS maintained their surface hydrophobicity under various conditions, but quickly lost it when exposed to both UV irradiation and/or high temperature with water. The results suggest that the FATMS route is more suitable for indoor applications at room temperature.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Song Li, Feng Zhao, Xueya Wang, Zhihua Liu, Jingze Guo, Yutong Li, Shuangmei Tan, Zhenxiang Xin, Shuai Zhao, Lin Li
Summary: Green flame retardants have garnered attention for their environmental friendliness, but current options fall short in achieving high flame retardancy for flammable polymers and maintaining environmental protection. This study takes a two-pronged approach to address flame retardants and the flame-retardant process. An eco-friendly bio-based synergistic flame retardant (PAU), synthesized using phytic acid (PA) and urea (U), is used to create a flame retardant coating that can be directly applied to any surface shape using polydopamine as an adhesive. The resulting EPS-PAU exhibits excellent flame retardancy, smoke suppression, and light weight while only slightly increasing the density.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2024)
