Development of novel biocomposites based on the clean production of microbial cellulose from dairy waste (sour whey)

This work explores the production of kombucha-derived bacterial cellulose (KBC) from sour whey via the fermentation method using Komagatacibacter xylinus. The biosynthesis process was optimized by design of experiments and the results displayed highest KBC yield at 1000 ml/L sour whey waste, 87.39 g/L cane sugar, 6 g/L black tea, and 78.91 ml/L bacteria volume under 21 days culture period at 30°C. Optimum fermentation batch efficiency was achieved in large scale with cultured medium depths of 0.5 cm and low-residual bacteria suspension volume of 72.31 ± 8.74 ml. The obtained KBC membranes were analyzed by SEM, FTIR, XRD, and TGA. The obtained results show no significant differences for all prepared KBC samples when compared to pristine bacterial cellulose from standard Hestrin and Schramm (HS) medium. In addition, the optimized KBC was investigated as a suitable bio-filler in the preparation of biocomposite materials. The prepared biocomposites as leather alternative were further characterized and their mechanical tensile strength and elongation at break determined in the range of 135.61 ± 9.15 to 154.89 ± 9.09 N/mm² and 31.06 ± 0.32 to 92.33 ± 6.91%, respectively. This model obtained depicts high-yield production of KBC and its potential in the preparation of biocomposites.     

Synergistic removal of Cu(II) and nitrazine yellow dye using an eco‐friendly chitosan‐montmorillonite hydrogel: Optimization by response surface methodology

A comprehensive feasibility study on adsorption of Cu(II) and a water‐soluble nitrazine yellow (NY) dye by chitosan‐montmorillonite (CS‐MMT) hydrogel as the biosorbent was investigated as a function of biosorbent dosage, initial concentration, pH, temperature, and the presence of salts. Box–Behnken methodology was applied to optimize the adsorption experiments. Maximum adsorption values were determined as 132.74 mg/g and 144.41 mg/g at pH = 5.0, for Cu(II) and NY dye, respectively. Equilibrium isotherms of Langmuir and Freundlich were analyzed by the non‐linear regression model. The equilibrium data were well described by Freundlich model and the adsorption process well fitted pseudo‐second order kinetics. The enthalpy change of adsorption (ΔH°) were calculated as ?3.78 kJ/mol and ?5.75 kJ/mol for Cu(II) and NY dye, respectively, indicating that the adsorption processes were exothermic. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43664.     

Nature-derived fibrous nanomaterial toward biomedicine and environmental remediation: Today's state and future prospects

Nanocellulose (NC) among all renewable biopolymers has proven to be one of the most applicable existing nanomaterials, attributed to its fascinating diverse range of physicochemical properties. Herein, this review presents elaborately updates on current research activities focused on developed materials with NC as bycomponent for application particularly in the field of biomedicine and wastewater remediation. A brief introduction on structural properties, production as well as surface features of NC is elucidated. Next, are highlights on usage of nanocellulosic polymeric materials in biomedicine including drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, wound dressing, medical implants and in addition, applications of NC as adsorbent in the field of environmental remediation are also outlined. This section will mainly focus on the consolidation of NC with other additives to develop flexible substrates via incorporation of new functional moieties. Finally, future perspectives as well as main challenges and impediments on working with nanocellulosic-based materials are explored in an effort to ameliorate the development and effective usage of this nanomaterial in biomedicine and water remediation. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47878.