Article
Polymer Science
Christopher Bascucci, Ivica Duretek, Sandro Lehner, Clemens Holzer, Sabyasachi Gaan, Rudolf Hufenus, Ali Gooneie
Summary: PET is widely used in packaging and fiber industries with the addition of flame retardants (FRs) for fire-safe applications. However, PET/FR products often degrade during thermomechanical recycling. Adding phosphorus FRs such as DP and AF can improve PET's performance and potentially enhance recyclability.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ulises R. Gracida-Alvarez, Hui Xu, Pahola Thathiana Benavides, Michael Wang, Troy R. Hawkins
Summary: This study developed a CE sustainability analysis framework to evaluate the life-cycle impacts and circularity metrics of different CE strategies in plastic packaging production. The joint implementation of these strategies reduced GHG emissions, virgin material use, and solid waste generation compared to the current practice.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Jonathan Hatt, Karl Englund, Hui Li
Summary: According to the 2018 data from the National Association of PET Container Resources, the recycling rate of PET bottles in the US is estimated at 29%. Only 20% of the recycled PET bottles are utilized for future applications. The relatively unchanged recycling rates over the previous decade can be attributed, in part, to the mechanical recycling process itself, which can degrade the properties of PET and limit its future utilization.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Katalin Bocz, Ferenc Ronkay, Kata Eniko Decsov, Bela Molnar, Gyorgy Marosi
Summary: The study found that using highly degraded recycled PET grades can significantly increase the impact strength of the product and achieve optimized mechanical properties. The reactive oligomeric rPET macromolecules form a Toughening Enhancer Interphase (TEI) around the dispersed particles, reducing the required terpolymer content significantly.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jialu Xu, Xiaolan Duan, Pengfei Zhang, Qiang Niu, Sheng Dai
Summary: This study developed a mechanochemical extrusion approach to convert PET waste into functional carbon materials, providing a sustainable solution to fight against plastic pollution.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qinan Chen, Shuyao Wu, Po Zhang, Xi-Ming Song, Zhining Song
Summary: In this study, a stable hot Pickering emulsion interfacial catalysis (HPEIC) system was constructed to improve the efficiency of catalytic depolymerization of PET. The HPEIC system achieved 100% depolymerization of PET within a short time and maintained a high depolymerization rate under low temperature reaction conditions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nobuhiro Takahashi, Yuto Miyanishi, Ryota Kato, Tomoko Amimoto, Yoko Iwamoto, Kazuhiko Takeda
Summary: The migration of terephthalate and low molecular weight organic compounds from PET scraps was studied in water and seawater. The concentrations of terephthalate exponentially increased with irradiation time, and higher concentrations were observed in seawater compared to water. Dark reactions also led to the production of terephthalate, and the half-life of the irradiated PET scraps in the dark was approximately 205 years. The continuous release of terephthalate and other compounds from PET bottles in marine environments was observed.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katarzyna E. Kosiorowska, Piotr Biniarz, Adam Dobrowolski, Karol Leluk, Aleksandra M. Mironczuk
Summary: This study presents a novel method for directly degrading PET using a modified yeast strain. The addition of supplements enhances the efficiency of PET degradation, resulting in an increase in the amount of degradation products over time.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tania Marina Palhano Zanela, Izabelli Fiuza Latczuk, Edvani Curti Muniz, Carlos Alberto Policiano Almeida
Summary: Bolaform surfactants were successfully prepared from recycled PET monomers through an efficient process, showing self-assembling properties and good stability with promising applications. The physicochemical properties of the surfactants were studied, including solubility, photo-sensitivity, zeta potential, hydrodynamic size, and thermogravimetric analyses. The results demonstrated the potential of using PET waste monomers in the development of surfactants for various applications.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rui Gao, Haojie Pan, Lei Kai, Kun Han, Jiazhang Lian
Summary: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a major plastic with wide applications, but its pollution poses threats to the environment and human health. The discovery of plastic-degrading microbes and enzymes provides new hope to tackle PET pollution. By using microbial cell factories combined with synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, PET waste can be converted into valuable compounds.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Nasrollah Hamidi, Mehrdad Yazdani-Pedram, Nurannahaar Abdussalam
Summary: Consumers of bottled water contribute to the increase of waste plastics, but a recycling method can reduce this burden and create new economic opportunities. The recovered purified PET has comparable thermal properties to pure PET, showing promise for sustainable recycling processes.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Kirill A. Kirshanov, Roman V. Toms, Mikhail S. Balashov, Sergey S. Golubkov, Pavel V. Melnikov, Alexander Yu. Gervald
Summary: Polymer composites with similar properties to PET-based polyester matrices can be obtained by purifying the products of PET glycolysis. A kinetic model of PET homogeneous glycolysis was proposed and verified by experimental data. The model can be used to predict optimal conditions for PET glycolysis and obtain composite materials with desired properties.
Article
Polymer Science
Tomasz M. Majka
Summary: The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of recycled fillers on the flammability of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and recycled PET. It is important to ensure that the recycled filler retains its original properties and acquires new ones. The flammability tests showed that it is possible to give specific functional properties to recycled fillers.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yanyan Li, Hongling Yi, Mengjuan Li, Mingqiao Ge, Donggang Yao
Summary: In this study, an effective method combining hydrolysis, reactive processing, and decolorization was developed to convert colored PET fabrics into high purity TPAca. By using various characterizations, the intermediates and products were identified and quantified. It was found that different structures of disperse dyes can be simultaneously decolorized with PET degradation under the joint effects of sublimation, pyrolysis, and hydrolysis, and CaTP acts as a medium to store and protect the synthesized TPAca. Overall, the method shows high yield and purity, making it suitable for industrial recycling and upcycling of complex colored PET wastes.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Sylwia Waskiewicz, Ewa Langer
Summary: Stable resins were synthesized by degrading waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) using specific oligoesterdiols, which can serve as binders in polyurethane coatings.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Hylenne Bojorges, Antonio Martinez-Abad, Marta Martinez-Sanz, Maria Dolores Rodrigo, Francisco Vilaplana, Amparo Lopez-Rubio, Maria Jose Fabra
Summary: The effects of high hydrostatic pressure pre-treatment on the extraction of alginate from different algae species vary, but it can significantly increase the yield of alginate. In addition, the pre-treatment can also affect the M/G values and gelling properties of the extracted alginate.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Evgeniy N. N. Donev, Marta Derba-Maceluch, Zakiya Yassin, Madhavi Latha Gandla, Sivan Pramod, Emilia Heinonen, Vikash Kumar, Gerhard Scheepers, Francisco Vilaplana, Ulf Johansson, Magnus Hertzberg, Bjoern Sundberg, Sandra Winestrand, Andreas Hoernberg, Bjoern Alriksson, Leif J. J. Joensson, Ewa J. J. Mellerowicz
Summary: Trees are a promising renewable resource for biorefinery, but their recalcitrance limits their practical use. Large-scale genetic engineering experiments were carried out to reduce recalcitrance in hybrid aspen, resulting in the identification of a construct with improved glucose yield. However, some constructs had negative effects on growth and wood properties. Different traits were associated with high glucose yields in saccharification with and without pretreatment. Genotypes with high glucose yields exhibited increased nanoporosity and altered chemical composition compared to wild-type trees. Pilot-scale pretreatment confirmed the superior sugar yields of the best-performing construct.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
B. Pascual-Jose, S. De la Flor, A. Serra, A. Ribes-Greus
Summary: The dielectric spectra of the poly(thiourethane) network, HDI-S3, were analyzed to understand the nature and cooperativity of each observed dielectric process. The Y1, Y2, and fi dielectric relaxations at low temperatures were attributed to noncooperative local motions in the glassy state, with apparent activation energies of 30, 36, and 60 kJ/mol, respectively. At higher temperatures, three dielectric relaxations were observed (alpha Tg, alpha*, p), with alpha Tg being attributed to the glass transition and overlapping with the alpha* relaxation. The molecular origin of the alpha* relaxation was associated with a bond exchange reaction, while the p relaxation was ascribed to sample heterogeneity, although its origin remained uncertain. The DC conductivity (sigma DC) was found to be a suitable variable for analyzing the bond exchange reaction, indicating a molecular exchange mechanism of dissociative nature in HDI-S3.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Muhammad Mujtaba, Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto, Mahyar Fazeli, Sritama Mukherjee, Susilaine Maira Savassa, Gerson Araujo de Medeiros, Anderson do Espirito Santo Pereira, Sandro Donnini Mancini, Juha Lipponen, Francisco Vilaplana
Summary: In response to the global warming crisis caused by uncontrolled greenhouse gas production, industries are striving to reduce their dependence on petrochemicals and petroleum-based industrial components and replace them with biobased, sustainable, and environmentally friendly alternatives. Agricultural waste, particularly lignocellulosic biomass, provides a significant resource for the development of various bio-products. Recent advancements in integrated biorefineries have improved the utilization of waste lignocellulose components to produce biofuels, platform chemicals, resins, bioplastics, additives, and other biobased materials for diverse applications.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Daiga Konrade, Sergejs Gaidukovs, Francisco Vilaplana, Pramod Sivan
Summary: Fruit and berry by-products, such as pomace, contain biologically active compounds, especially pectic polysaccharides, which can be extracted and used in various food and pharmaceutical products. This research aims to extract pectin from juice production by-products using a hot water extraction method with weak organic citric acid, minimizing the environmental impact and maximizing the content of bioactive components.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ramon Jimenez-Robles, Marta Izquierdo, Vicente Martinez-Soria, Laura Marti, Alicia Monleon, Jose David Badia
Summary: Superhydrophobic PVDF membranes with high water contact angles (WCA) were achieved through oxygen plasma activation and functionalization. The surface modifications led to morphological changes and a pillar-like structure with higher surface porosity. The plasma-treated membranes maintained their superhydrophobic performance even after long-term operations.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Reskandi C. Rudjito, Amparo Jimenez-Quero, Maria Del Carmen Casado Munoz, Teun Kuil, Lisbeth Olsson, Mary Ann Stringer, Kristian Bertel Romer Morkeberg Krogh, Jens Eklof, Francisco Vilaplana
Summary: The molecular structure of cereal arabinoxylans (AXs) from wheat and rye influences the activity of different xylanases, resulting in specific profiles of arabinoxylanoligosaccharides (AXOS). The accessibilities of xylanases are influenced by arabinose and ferulic acid substitutions.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Dongming Zhang, Reskandi C. Rudjito, Solja Pietiainen, Shu-Chieh Chang, Alexander Idstrom, Lars Evenas, Francisco Vilaplana, Amparo Jimenez-Quero
Summary: The intake of dietary fibers is important for human health. Two types of arabinoxylan fibers, one with ferulic acid linked and one without, were produced from wheat bran. The fibers were used in bread production and their interaction with other macromolecules in the bread was investigated. The non-digestability of the fibers was confirmed and they showed potential prebiotic effects during fermentation with probiotic bacteria.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shu-Chieh Chang, Mu-Rong Kao, Rebecka Karmakar Saldivar, Sara M. Diaz-Moreno, Xiaohui Xing, Valentina Furlanetto, Johannes Yayo, Christina Divne, Francisco Vilaplana, D. Wade Abbott, Yves S. Y. Hsieh
Summary: (1,3;1,4)-β-D-Glucans are widely distributed in various organisms, but little is known about the enzymes responsible for their synthesis outside the grasses. This study identifies and characterizes the (1,3;1,4)-β-D-glucan synthase RiGT2 in the Gram-positive bacterium Romboutsia ilealis, and demonstrates the production of (1,3;1,4)-β-D-glucans similar to those found in lichens.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Matthieu Bourdon, Jan J. Lyczakowski, Rosalie Cresswell, Sam Amsbury, Francisco Vilaplana, Marie-Joo Le Guen, Nadege Follain, Raymond Wightman, Chang Su, Fulgencio Alatorre-Cobos, Maximilian Ritter, Aleksandra Liszka, Oliver M. Terrett, Shri Ram Yadav, Anne Vaten, Kaisa Nieminen, Gugan Eswaran, Juan Alonso-Serra, Karin H. Mueller, Dinu Iuga, Pal Csaba Miskolczi, Lothar Kalmbach, Sofia Otero, Ari Pekka Mahonen, Rishikesh Bhalerao, Vincent Bulone, Shawn D. Mansfield, Stefan Hill, Ingo Burgert, Johnny Beaugrand, Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, Ray Dupree, Paul Dupree, Yka Helariutta
Summary: The introduction of callose through genetic engineering modifies the wood structure and decreases biomass recalcitrance, thus benefiting the economic and technological aspects of biorefinery processes.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Secil Yilmaz-Turan, Teodora Gal, Patricia Lopez-Sanchez, Mario M. Martinez, Carolin Menzel, Francisco Vilaplana
Summary: This study explores the cascade extraction of polyphenols and pectins from apple pomace and their potential application as food emulsifiers. The extraction of polyphenols was achieved by a simple method using ethanol and resulted in remarkable antioxidant activity. Pectic polysaccharides were sequentially extracted using subcritical water at different temperatures and pH conditions. Acidic pH combined with higher temperature resulted in higher pectin yields, while neutral conditions were less selective towards pectin. The methoxylation of pectin and the relative abundance of different pectic domains could be controlled by subcritical water extraction, which has important implications for the valorization of pectic-rich agricultural wastes into valuable food ingredients.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pramod Sivan, Emilia Heinonen, Madhavi Latha Gandla, Amparo Jimenez-Quero, Husamettin Deniz Ozeren, Leif J. Jonsson, Ewa J. Mellerowicz, Francisco Vilaplana
Summary: Fast growing hardwoods are important renewable resources for producing bio-based materials, platform chemicals, and biofuels. However, the complex molecular structure of the cell wall components hinders the industrial processing of lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, a hydrothermal step by sequential subcritical water (SW) was implemented to enhance biomass conversion in aspen wood. Subcritical water enabled extraction of non-cellulosic cell wall polysaccharides, improving saccharification yields and promoting the conversion of biomass into fermentable sugars and platform chemicals.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Monika Tolgo, Olav A. Hegnar, Johan Larsbrink, Francisco Vilaplana, Vincent G. H. Eijsink, Lisbeth Olsson
Summary: This study demonstrates that the xylanolytic activities of two LPMOs depend on the presence of xylan substitutions. The removal of arabinosyl and glucuronoxylan substitutions enhances LPMO activity. This research sheds new light on the activity and interplay of lignocellulolytic enzymes and is important for the development of biomaterials and enzyme cocktails.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alireza Zare, Ahmed Khatib Boukalfa, Adrianna Nogalska, Alberto Puga, Pierfrancesco Cerruti, Borja Pascual-Jose, Amparo Ribes-Greus, Marta Giamberini
Summary: This study reports the preparation and characterization of asymmetric membranes for direct air capture (DAC) in polysulfone membrane contactors. The addition of modified Lupasol G20 greatly improved the CO2 capture efficiency and robustness of the membranes.
JOURNAL OF CO2 UTILIZATION
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Borja Pascual-Jose, Alireza Zare, Marta Giamberini, Jose Antonio Reina, Amparo Ribes-Greus
Summary: The study investigates the effects of blending polysulfone membranes with two different hyperbranched polyethyleneimines on the process of CO2 capture. The results show that the additives introduce variations in molecular mobility and conductivity, which can affect the absorption capacity of the membranes.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
