3.6 Betulin epoxide polymer for coatings
The growing demand for sustainable alternatives to petrochemical-based epoxy resins has led to the development of bio-based systems. This study introduces a new synthesis method using betulin from birch bark to produce high-value polymeric resins. A novel betulin-derived epoxide (BOE) was synthesized and combined with epoxidized rapeseed oil (ERO), then thermally cured with seven anhydrides […]
3.2 Enzymatic grafting of ferulic acid to cellulose fibers for the production of bioactive functional foams
With more and more prominence on the green transition, it is becoming increasingly important to find holistic resource efficient processes to replace traditional fossil-based systems. One such industry is the polymer foam industry which today relies heavily on polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene etc. which are synthesized from petroleum. Naturally, these foams are non-biodegradable and derived from […]
5.2 Nacre-inspired Composite Films Based on Cellulose Nanofibrils
The cellulose is the most abundant natural based polymer materials, has the advantages of renewable and biodegradable. The extraction process of cellulose into nanocellulose via up-bottom design strategy could afford high-performance to the materials. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are flexible, high-strength fibrils disintegrated from chemical wood pulp fibers, with typical diameters in the 3-10 nm range […]
4.3 Hierarchical wood structures for smart and functional materials
Wood is a hierarchically structural material with highly porous characteristics. However, it has not targeted on structural design in precise nanostructured control of the wood cell wall, which could extend the multiple functionalities range. Recently, emerging nanotechnologies have been explored the great potentials of wood to smart and functional materials. Wood nanotechnologies and cell wall […]
6.2 Production of M-NFC from poplar wood chips: impact of a mechano-enzymatic pre-treatment on M-NFC fiber quality
NFC production is a well-known process that is more and more used to produce high added-value products for many applications such as food packaging, rheology agents or composites. However, production requires a lot of energy such as electricity or water. Starting from industrial poplar wood chips, we propose to combine an enzymatic treatment with a […]
3.3 Development of biobased terpenoid-acrylic copolymers incorporating lignin-based UV blockers for wood protection
One of the main resources for renewable materials has been wood waste. In this sense, terpenes, which are extracted from coniferous trees as well as citrus fruits, are an exploitable category of biomass.The objective of this study is to develop innovative wood coatings using renewable bio-based polyacrylates from terpenoids, a subclass of terpenes used on […]
5.4 Multifunctional Cellulosic Films: Sustainable Engineering and Modification Strategies
This work presents innovative strategies for engineering cellulose-based films with tailored functionalities, integrating physical structuring, chemical modification, and waste valorization to maximize resource efficiency. We introduce three key approaches: (1) Micropatterning via dewatering grids, enabling precise three-dimensional structuring of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films. This method allows for tunable wettability, optical modulation, and enhanced tactile properties, […]
3.4 Suberin-based aqueous dispersions for barrier packaging applications
Barriers and coatings are commonly used as protective layers of consumables such as food and liquid packages1,2, however, currently harnessed conventional barrier layers are predominantly made from fossil-based polymers, with increasing global consumption causing concerns related to climate change. Therefore, bio-based barriers and coatings are urgently needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our dependency […]
6.1 Oxidation of phenolic lignin model dimers by new fungal polyphenol oxidases
A newly recognized class of single-domain polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) in ascomycetes, termed short PPOs, can sequentially hydroxylate and oxidize guaiacyl- and, in some cases, syringyl-type compounds, leading to oxidative demethoxylation of the latter [1]. Their activity on lignin-derived compounds is novel among PPOs and the catalyzed reaction differs from canonical lignin-active oxidoreductases like laccases and […]
5.6 High-performance biodegradable nanocellulose-based packaging produced by Roll-to-Roll
A biodegradable and transparent flexible food packaging material using a nanocellulose-based biocomposite was developed. The formulation consists of nanocellulose (NC), chitosan (CS), gelatin (Gel), citrate ester (CE), and glycerol (GL), carefully designed to enhance mechanical properties, flexibility, and barrier performance while maintaining full biodegradability and transparency. Nanocellulose provides structural integrity and an ultra-low oxygen transmission […]