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In Morocco, large quantities of agricultural residues such as date stones are generated annually during the processing of date palm fruit. This waste is usually discarded although it can be used as an attractive energy source or can be converted into chemical products using thermochemical conversion processes. Among these processes, pyrolysis has attracted attention since it enables the production and chemical recovery. In this context, the use of date stones as a raw material for the production of bio-oil and biochar using a fixed-bed reactor is investigated. The pyrolysis process was performed by varying three parameters: temperature $(400\mbox {--}600~\text{°}\mathrm{C})$, heating rate $(10\mbox {--}50~\text{°}\mathrm{C}{\cdot }\mathrm{min}^{-1})$, and particle size (0.5–1.5 mm). The modeling and optimization of the process parameters were conducted using the Box–Behnken experimental design. The maximum value of the desirability function was obtained at a pyrolysis temperature of $500~\text{°}\mathrm{C}$, a heating rate of $10~\text{°}\mathrm{C}/\mathrm{min}$, and a particle size of 1.5 mm. Under these conditions, the bio-oil and biochar produced were successfully characterized using different analytical techniques including elemental analysis, chemical composition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the bio-oil can be used as a biofuel owing to its high content of aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds. The biochar having a high carbon content is a promising candidate for the production of activated carbon.

Nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with chemically reduced graphene nanosheets (GNs) were prepared by melt mixing method and their structure and morphology characterized by SEM analysis. The addition of GNs in the PVDF matrix resulted in changes of the crystallization and melting behaviors. Furthermore, increasing GNs content led to improved thermal stability of the PVDF nanocomposites in air and nitrogen, as well as significant increase in tensile and flexural properties. The nanocomposites' rheological behavior is also affected by the GNs' content. Using oscillatory rheology to monitor the GNs' dispersion, it was found that as the GNs loading increase, the Newtonian behavior disappears at low frequency. This suggests a viscoelastic behavior transition from liquid-like to solid-like, with greater GNs content and more homogeneous dispersion resulting in a stronger solid-like and nonterminal behavior. By using the melt mixing method to disperse GNs, the properties of PVDF are enhanced due to the better dispersion and distribution of GNs throughout the matrix. This improvement could broaden the applications for PVDF nanocomposites. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present work is to develop processes for the production of bio-oil and bio-char from algae waste using the pyrolysis at controlled conditions. The pyrolysis was carried out at different temperatures 400–600 °C and different heating rates 5–50 °C/min. The algal waste, bio-oil and bio-char were successfully characterized using Elemental analysis, Chemical composition, TGA, FTIR, 1 H NMR, GC–MS and SEM. At a temperature of 500 °C and a heating rate of 10 °C/min, the maximum yield of bio-oil and bio-char was found to be 24.10 and 44.01 wt%, respectively, which was found to be strongly influenced by the temperature variation, and weakly affected by the heating rate variation. Results show that the bio-oil cannot be used as bio-fuel, but can be used as a source of value-added chemicals. On the other hand, the bio-char is a promising candidate for solid fuel applications and for the production of carbon materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental implications of utilizing walnut shells (WSs) as a material for energy storage are complex, balanced between advancing technologies and improving efficiency. This review aims to address, for the first time, environmental concerns and health effects associated with this material by conducting an in-depth analysis of carbon materials derived from waste management systems. Beginning with a reevaluation of the structural characteristics, cellular morphology, and physicochemical properties of WSs, this study explores their potential for the efficient synthesis of carbon. By examining various methods for the production of WS-derived materials such as hard carbon, we demonstrate the multifaceted nature of WS biomass as a resource. Subsequently, we shift our focus to ion storage mechanisms in the carbon source (C-S), including storage sensitivity, ion intercalation in micropores, and layer intercalation. An electrochemical analysis of the carbon source reveals its potential applications in energy storage systems. Furthermore, life cycle analysis was employed to assess the environmental impact and economic viability of WS utilization. The findings of the analysis suggest that one of the most valuable attributes of WSs is their potential for creating more environmentally sustainable materials, encouraging researchers to promote the use of green components in sodium batteries. This review underscores, for the first time, the significance of WSs in the field of carbon energy storage and their potential to enhance future prospects. The substantial opportunities in this area warrant further research and development, highlighting the relevance of WS-derived materials in advancing sustainable energy storage solutions.

This study offers a novel method for improving the piezoelectric characteristics of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) by adding lanthanated CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (CLFO), thereby addressing the critical need for effective renewable energy solutions. The novelty of this work lies in the synthesis of CLFO nanoparticles and their integration into the PVDF matrix, with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) employed to ensure uniform dispersion. This was accomplished by a special co-precipitation and heat treatment procedure. Nanocomposite films were created using solvent casting with a range of CLFO concentrations (1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%). The structural, morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties of these films were all thoroughly assessed. A remarkable improvement over conventional techniques was found using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which showed up to 80% β-phase development with 3 wt% CLFO. While thermogravimetric studies showed enhanced thermal stability, scanning electron microscopy verified homogeneous nanoparticle dispersion. Mechanical tests revealed ideal stiffness, strength, and ductility at 3 wt% CLFO. Significant advances in electronics and energy harvesting are anticipated from this novel combination of PVDF's piezoelectric properties and CLFO reinforcement. By minimally influencing the environment, these advancements not only tackle the world's energy problems but also present prospective uses for renewable energy technologies., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Soft magnetic materials, like Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 , require high temperatures and regulated environments for their manufacture and processing, which can be highly energy intensive. These requirements therefore result in higher production costs and energy consumption. To address this issue, the development of composite materials based on soft magnetic ferrites has become a prominent research area. The type of particles and their size distribution, shape, and dispersion within the polymer matrix can be crucial for controlling the magnetic properties. In this context, and to reduce energy consumption, the parameters of solid-state reaction (such as calcination temperature, calcination time, and milling time) were optimized in this work to produce magnetic particles with suitable shape and size for filling a thermoplastic matrix. The impact of these parameters on phase purity, morphology, particle size, and magnetic properties was thoroughly evaluated. The results highlight that the sample synthesized at 1200 °C for 6 hours achieved an impressive saturation magnetization value of 80.07 emu g -1 , showcasing exceptional magnetic performance., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Cellulose fiber, a prevalent natural biopolymer, offers numerous benefits including renewability and biodegradability. It presents a cost-effective, chemical-free alternative for various applications such as textiles, packaging, food preservation, wastewater treatment, medicine, and cosmetics. Recent research has focused on cellulose's potential in advanced polymeric materials, highlighting its versatility and sustainability. This review examines cellulose fibers' synthesis, structure, and properties, as well as their industrial applications in sectors like automotive, packaging, textiles, construction, and biomedical engineering. It also addresses challenges in large-scale production, processing, and sustainability, providing insights for optimizing cellulose fiber use. The review serves as a comprehensive guide for leveraging cellulose fiber's potential in industrial applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the pursuit of sustainable materials for environmental remediation, this study presents the development and comprehensive characterization of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CFNPs) incorporated in lignocellulosic-derived sodium alginate (CFNPs@LCG-SA) biocomposite beads. These biobased beads exhibit exceptional adsorption capabilities, particularly for methylene blue (MB) dyes, rendering them promising candidates for wastewater treatment. Using a comprehensive range of analytical techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis-derivative thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), etc., we elucidated their structural, physicochemical, and thermal properties. Their multifunctional nature, derived from lignin and sodium alginate components, provides ample active sites for both physical interactions and chemical bonding with contaminants apart from the magnetic character attributed by the CFNPs. With a freeze-drying approach, the optimal adsorption capacity and removal rate of MB reached 97 mg/g and 99%, respectively, and no meaningful decline in their activity was noted even after six cycles. The CFNPs@LCG-SA biocomposite beads emerge as a cost-efficient and sustainable remedy for environmental cleanup, offering valuable perspectives in environmental preservation and advancing green energy technologies.

Water pollution due to dyes in the textile industry is a serious environmental problem. During the finishing stage, Congo red (CR) dye, water-soluble, is released into wastewater, polluting the water body. This study explores the effectiveness of utilizing a composite composed of Safi raw clay and chitosan to remove an anionic dye from synthetic wastewater. The chitosan was extracted from crab shells. Its removal performance was compared to that of natural clay. Both the composite and raw clay were used to remove target pollutant. The effects of the chitosan load in the composite, size particles, initial dye concentration, contact time, pH, and temperature on the dye's elimination were tested in batch modes. The composite with 30% (w/w) of chitosan exhibited the highest dye removal. At pH 2, an adsorption capacity of 84.74 mg/g was achieved, indicating that the grafting of the polymer onto clay surface enhances its efficacity and stability in acidic environments. This finding was supported by characterization data obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analyses. Under optimized conditions of 20 mg dose, pH 2, 30 min of reaction time, and 20 mg/L of dye concentration, about 92% of dye removal was achieved. The Langmuir isotherm model represents dye adsorption by the composite, while dye removal was controlled by pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic data of the adsorption (ΔH = +8.82 kJ/mol; ΔG <0) suggested that the dye adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic. The findings provide insights into the dye elimination by the adsorbent, indicating that the removal occurred via attractive colombic forces, as confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) analysis. Overall, the composite of natural clays and chitosan waste is a promising and innovative adsorbent for treating wastewater containing recalcitrant dyes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Tannin, after lignin, is one of the most abundant sources of natural aromatic biomolecules. It has been used and chemically modified during the past few decades to create novel biobased materials. This work intended to functionalize for the first time quebracho Tannin (T) through a simple phosphorylation process in a urea system. The phosphorylation of tannin was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), NMR, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), while further characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to investigate the morphology, composition, structure, and thermal degradation of the phosphorylated material. Results indicated the occurrence of phosphorylation, suggesting the insertion of phosphate-containing groups into the tannin structure, revealing a high content of phosphate for modified tannin (PT). This elevated phosphorus content serves as evidence for the successful incorporation of phosphate groups through the functionalization process. The corresponding PT and T were employed as adsorbents for methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous solutions. The results revealed that the Langmuir isotherm model effectively represents the adsorption isotherms. Additionally, the pseudo-second-order model indicates that chemisorption predominantly controls the adsorption mechanism. This finding also supports the fact that the introduced phosphate groups via the phosphorylation process significantly contributed to the improved adsorption capacity. Under neutral pH conditions and at room temperature, the material achieved an impressive adsorption capacity of 339.26 mg·g -1 in about 2 h.

The rational application of fertilizers is crucial for achieving high crop yields and ensuring global food security. The use of biopolymers for slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) development has emerged as a game-changer and environmentally sustainable pathway to enhance crop yields by optimizing plant growth phases. Herein, with a renewed focus on circular bioeconomy, a novel functionalized lignin-based coating material (FLGe) was developed for the sustained release of nutrients. This innovative approach involved the extraction and sustainable functionalization of lignin through a solvent-free esterification reaction with humic acid─an organic compound widely recognized for its biostimulant properties in agriculture. The primary objective was to fortify the hydration barrier of lignin by reducing the number of its free hydroxyl groups, thereby enhancing release control, while simultaneously harnessing the agronomic benefits offered by humic acid. After confirming the synthesis of functionalized lignin (FLGe) through 13 C NMR analysis, it was integrated at varying proportions into either a cellulosic or starch matrix. This resulted in the creation of five distinct formulations, which were then utilized as coatings for diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer. Experimental findings revealed an improved morphology and hardness (almost 3-fold) of DAP fertilizer granules after coating along with a positive impact on the soil's water retention capacity (7%). Nutrient leaching in soil was monitored for 100 days and a substantial reduction of nutrients leaching up to 80% was successfully achieved using coated DAP fertilizer. Furthermore, to get a fuller picture of their efficiency, a pot trial was performed using two different soil textures and demonstrated that the application of FLGe-based SRFs significantly enhanced the physiological and agronomic parameters of wheat, including leaf evolution and root architecture, resulting in an almost 50% increase in grain yield and improved quality. The results proved the potential of lignin functionalization to advance agricultural sustainability and foster a robust bioeconomy aligning with the premise "from the soil to the soil".

With the increasing demand of new magnetic materials for modern technological application alternatives to conventional magnetic materials, the development of lightweight polymer magnetic composites has become a prominent research area. For this perspective, a new magnetic material was developed using 30 wt% nickel ferrite micro and nanoparticles as fillers for a high-density polyethylene matrix. The development process began with the synthesis of NF-micro and NF-nanoparticles using solid-state and co-precipitation techniques, respectively, followed by extrusion molding and injection molding. The success of the synthesis process and the purity of the spinel structure phase were confirmed. Additionally, using the extrusion process produced polymer magnetic composite materials with a good distribution of magnetic particles within the polymer matrix, resulting in good magnetic properties and enhanced mechanical properties of the polymer magnetic materials., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

In this work, chitin (CT) was isolated from shrimp shell waste (SSW) and was then phosphorylated using diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) as a phosphorylating agent in the presence of urea. The prepared samples were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and EDX-element mapping, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA/DTG), conductometric titration, Degree of Substitution (DS) and contact angle measurements. The results of characterization techniques reveal the successful extraction and phosphorylation of chitin. The charge content of the phosphorylated chitin (P-CT) was 1.510 mmol·kg -1 , the degree of substitution of phosphorus groups grafted on the CT surface achieved the value of 0.33. The adsorption mechanisms appeared to involve electrostatic attachment, specific adsorption (CdO or hydroxyl binding), and ion exchange. Regarding the adsorption of Cd 2+ , the effect of the adsorbent mass, initial concentration of Cd 2+ , contact time, pH, and temperature were studied in batch experiments, and optimum values for each parameter were identified. The experimental results revealed that P-CT enhanced the Cd 2+ removal capacity by 17.5 %. The kinetic analyses favored the pseudo-second-order model over the pseudo-first-order model for describing the adsorption process accurately. Langmuir model aptly represented the adsorption isotherms, suggesting unimolecular layer adsorption with a maximum capacity of 62.71 mg·g -1 under optimal conditions of 30 °C, 120 min, pH 8, and a P-CT dose of 3 g·L -1 . Regeneration experiments evidenced that P-CT can be used for 6 cycles without significant removal capacity loss. Consequently, P-CT presents an efficient and cost-effective potential biosorbent for Cd 2+ removal in wastewater treatment applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study investigates the potential of Juncus plant fibers as a renewable source for producing cellulose nanocrystals (CNs) to reinforce polymers. Cellulose microfibers (CMFs) were extracted with a 0.43 ± 0.2 μm diameter and 69 % crystallinity through alkaline and bleaching treatments, then subjected to sulfuric acid hydrolysis, yielding four CN types (CN 10 , CN 15 , CN 20 and CN 30 ) with distinct physico-chemical properties and aspect ratios (47, 55, 57, and 60). The study assessed the influence of cellulose nanocrystals (CNs), incorporated at different weight percentages (3 %, 5 %, and 8 %), on thermal, transparency, and mechanical properties in k-carrageenan (CA) biocomposite films. The results indicate significant enhancements in these characteristics, highlighting good compatibility between CNs and CA matrix. Particularly noteworthy is the observed substantial improvement in tensile strength at an 8 wt% loading, with values of 23.43 ± 0.83 MPa for neat CA, 33.53 ± 0.83 MPa for CA-CN 10 , 36.67 ± 0.71 MPa for CA-CN 15 , 37.65 ± 0.56 MPa for CA-CN 20 , and 39.89 ± 0.77 MPa for CA-CN 30 composites. Furthermore, the research explores the connection between the duration of hydrolysis and the properties of cellulose nanocrystals (CNs), unveiling their influence on the characteristics of nanocomposite films. Prolonged hydrolysis enhances CN crystallinity (CrI), aspect ratio, and surface charge content, consequently enhancing mechanical features like strength and flexibility in these films. These findings demonstrate the potential of Juncus plant fibers as a natural and eco-friendly resource for producing CNs that effectively reinforce polymers, making them an attractive option for diverse applications in the field., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study focuses on the production of sulfated cellulose microfibers and nanocellulose hydrogels from native cellulose microfibers (CMF). The process involves using a combination of H 2 SO 4 and urea, resulting in highly sulfated cellulose microfiber hydrogel (SC) with notable properties such as a sulfur content of 7.5 %, a degree of sulfation of 0.49, a surface charge content of 2.2 mmol. g -1 , and a high yield of 81 %. The SC hydrogel can be easily fibrillated into sulfated nanocellulose hydrogel (S-NC) with elongated nanocellulose structures having an average diameter of 6.85 ± 3.11 nm, as determined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirms the presence of sulfate groups on the surface of the nanocellulose material. Transparent films with good mechanical properties can be produced from both cellulose microfiber and nanocellulose hydrogels. The sulfate functionality gives the hydrogel attractive rheological properties and makes S-NC re-dispersible in water, which can be beneficial for various applications. This study demonstrates the potential of this process to address previous challenges related to nanocellulose materials production., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To fulfill the unprecedented valorization approaches for lignocellulose, this work focuses on the potential of lignin-derived catalytic systems for bio-remediation, which are natural materials perceived to address the increased demand for eco-conscious catalyzed processes. A useful lignin-functionalized cobalt (Lig-Co) catalyst has been prepared, well-characterized and deployed for the catalyzed reducing decomposition of stable harmful organic pollutants such as methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO), in simple and binary systems. The multifunctional character of lignin and the presence of various active sites can promote effectively loaded metal nanoparticles (NPs). Considerably, optimizing detoxification tests showed that the uncatalyzed use of NaBH 4 as a reductive agent led to an incomplete reduction of organic contaminants over a long period of up to 65 min. Interestingly, Lig-Co catalyst exhibited a high reduction rate and turnover frequency of up to 99.23% and 24.12 min -1 for MB, respectively, while they reached 99.25% and 26.21 min -1 for MO at normal temperature. Kinetically quick catalytic reaction was also demonstrated for the hybrid system, in which the rate constant k was 0.175 s -1 and 0.165 s -1 for MB and MO, respectively, within a distinctly low reaction time of around 120 s. The reproducibility of the Lig-Co catalyst induces a desirable capacity to reduce stable dyes present simultaneously in the binary system, with 6 successive catalytic runs and over 80% of activity retained. Such robust findings underline the considerable interest in developing future lignin-mediated catalytic transformations and upscaling biomass-derived products, to meet the growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives in various industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Heterogenous copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC) was performed by using the phosphorylated carbohydrate-based cellulose nanofibers loaded with copper(II) ions. The copper-containing phosphorylated cellulose nanofibers (here after noted Cu(II)-PCNFs) were prepared in two different morphologies, namely the paper and foam ones and characterized by different techniques, including Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Brauner-Emmett-Teller (BET), FT-IR spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Cu(II)-PCNFs showed high activity in the CuAAC reaction when applied to the ligation of various organic azides and terminal alkynes without any reducing agent, resulting in the regioselective synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles in water at room temperature. These nanofibers were recovered and reused with no significant loss of catalytic activity or selectivity. A carbohydrate-based bio-support cellulose as reliable heterogenous catalyst was efficiently developed in view of taking the click chemistry concept to sustainable chemistry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hemp is known for its swift growth and remarkable sustainability, requiring significantly less water, an adaptable cultivation to a wide range of climates when compared to other fibers sources, making it a practical and environmentally friendly choice for packaging materials. The current research seeks to extract cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from hemp fibers using alkali treatment followed by acid hydrolysis and assess their reinforcing capacity in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) films. AFM analysis confirmed the existence of elongated, uniquely nanosized CNC fibers. The length of the isolated CNCs was approximately 277.76 ± 61 nm, diameter was 6.38 ± 1.27 nm and its aspect ratio was 44.69 ± 11.08. The FTIR and SEM analysis indicated the successful removal of non-cellulosic compounds. Furthermore, the study explored the impact of adding CNCs at varying weight percentages (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 wt%) as a strengthening agent on the chemical composition, structure, tensile characteristics, transparency, and water solubility of the bionanocomposite films. Adding CNCs to the CS/PVA film, up to 5 wt%, resulted in an improvement in both the Young's modulus and tensile strength of the bionanocomposite film, which are measured at (412.46 ± 10.49 MPa) and (18.60 ± 3.42 MPa), respectively, in contrast to the control films with values of (202.32 ± 22.50 MPa) and (13.72 ± 2.61 MPa), respectively. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images reveal the creation of a CS/PVA/CNC film that appears smooth, with no signs of clumping or clustering. The blending and introduction of CNCs have yielded transparent and biodegradable CS/PVA films. This incorporation has led to a reduction in the gas transmission rate (from 7.013 to 4.159 cm 3 (m 2 day·0.1 MPa)) -1 , a decrease in transparency (from 90.23% to 82.47%), and a lowered water solubility (from 48% to 33%). This study is the inaugural effort to propose the utilization of hemp-derived CNC as a strengthening component in the development of mechanically robust and transparent CS/PVA-CNC bio-nanocomposite films, holding substantial potential for application in the field of food packaging., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The overwhelming concerns of water pollution, industrial discharges and environmental deterioration by various organic and inorganic substances, including dyes, heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and detergents, intrinsically drive the search for urgent and efficacious decontamination techniques. This review illustrates the various approaches to remediation, their fundamentals, characteristics and demerits. In this manner, the advantageous implementation of nature-based adsorbents has been outlined and discussed. Different types of lignocellulosic compounds (cellulose, lignin, chitin, chitosan, starch) have been introduced, and the most used biopolymeric materials in bioremediation have been highlighted; their merits, synthesis methods, properties and performances in aqueous medium decontamination have been described. The literature assessment reveals the genuine interest and dependence of academic and industrial fields to valorize biopolymers in the adsorption of various hazardous substances. Yet, the full potential of this approach is still confined by certain constraints, such as the lack of reliable, substantial, and efficient extraction of biopolymers, as well as their modest and inconsistent physicochemical properties. The futuristic reliance on such biomaterials in all fields, rather than adsorption, is inherently reliable on in-depth investigations and understanding of their features and mechanisms, which can guarantee a real-world application and green technologies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This present study depicts the successful employment of fixed-bed column for total chromium removal from tannery wastewater in dynamic mode using sodium alginate-powdered marble beads (SA-Marble) as adsorbent. The SA-Marble composite beads prepared were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) method. The adsorption process performance of this bio-sorbent was examined in batches and columns for real effluent (tannery wastewater). After 90 min, the total chromium removal efficiency could be kept above 90% in the batch experiment. The adsorption kinetics fit better with the pseudo-second-order model, indicating the chemisorption process and the adsorption capacity of about 67.74 mg g -1 at 293 K (C0 = 7100 mg L -1 ) was obtained. Additionally, dynamic experiments indicate that the total chromium removal efficiency could be maintained above 90% after 120 min at 293 K and 60 min at 318 and 333 K; it's an endothermic but rapid process. The effects of two adsorption variables (Temperature and time) were investigated using central composite design (CCD), which is a subset of response surface methodology (total Cr, COD, sulfate, and total phosphorus percentage removal). This work paves a new avenue for synthesizing SA-Marble composite beads and provides an adsorption efficiency of total chromium removal from tannery wastewater., Competing Interests: Competing interestThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The current work describes the synthesis of carbonaceous composites via pyrolysis, based on CMF, extracted from Alfa fibers, and Moroccan clay ghassoul (Gh), for potential use in heavy metal removal from wastewater. Following synthesis, the carbonaceous ghassoul (ca-Gh) material was characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), zeta-potential and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The material was then used as an adsorbent for the removal of cadmium (Cd 2+ ) from aqueous solutions. Studies were conducted into the effect of adsorbent dosage, kinetic time, initial concentration of Cd 2+ , temperature and also pH effect. Thermodynamic and kinetic tests demonstrated that the adsorption equilibrium was attained within 60 min allowing the determination of the adsorption capacity of the studied materials. The investigation of the adsorption kinetics also reveals that all the data could be fit by the pseudo-second-order model. The Langmuir isotherm model might fully describe the adsorption isotherms. The experimental maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 20.6 mg g -1 and 261.9 mg g -1 for Gh and ca-Gh, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters show that the adsorption of Cd 2+ onto the investigated material is spontaneous and endothermic., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Cellulose-based biopolymers have emerged as one of the most promising components to produce sustainable composites as a potential substitutes to fossil-based materials. Herein, the aim of this study is to investigate the reinforcing effect of cellulose microfibers (CMFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), extracted from alfa fibers (Stipa tenacissima), on the properties of starch biopolymer extracted from potato. The as-extracted CMFs (D = 5.94 ± 0.96 μm), CNCs (D = 14.29 ± 2.53 nm) and starch were firstly characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties. Afterwards, CMFs and CNCs were separately dispersed in starch at different concentrations, and their reinforcing effects as well as the chemical, thermal, transparency and mechanical properties of the resulted starch-based films were evaluated. Thus, CMFs and CNCs incorporation into starch resulted in a minor impact on the films thermal stability, while a considerable impact on the transparency property was observed. In terms of mechanical properties, the addition of up to 20 wt% CMFs reduced the film's elongation but drastically increased its stiffness by 300 %. On the other hand, in the case of CNCs, a loading of 10 wt% was found to be the most effective in increasing film stiffness (by 57 %), while increasing the loading up to 20 wt% CNCs enhanced the film's ductility (strain-to-failure) by 52 %. This study showed that introduction of cellulosic fibers having different sizes into starch can produce biocomposite materials with a wide range of properties for food packaging application., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests. The manuscript has not been published elsewhere and that it has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The engineering of a novel biocomposite based on Cerastoderma edule shells doped with copper and alginate (Ce-Cu@Alg) forming hydrogel beads was used for batch and dynamic adsorption thiabendazole (TBZ) pesticide from water. The prepared biosorbent was analyzed by various characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric and differential analysis (TGA-DTA). The results of the TBZ batch biosorption by Ce-Cu@Alg composite showed that the Langmuir model was the most adequate to describe the adsorption process, with a maximum adsorption capacity value of 21.98 mg/g. Moreover, the adsorption kinetics were adjusted by the pseudo-second-order model. The optimal conditions determined by the RSM approach coupled with the CCD design were 100 ppm of initial TBZ concentration, a Ce-Cu@Alg beads dose of 6 g/L and a contact time of 180 min for maximum removal of 83.42%. On the other hand, the TBZ sorption on a fixed bed of Ce-Cu@Alg beads was effective at high column height, low effluent flow and low solution concentration. The Thomas model was best fitted to the kinetic data. This study shows the possibility of using this new hybrid biocomposite in the industrial sector to treat large effluent volumes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The current study investigates for the first time the physico-chemical performances of lignins from cactus waste seeds (CWS) and spent coffee (SC) in comparison to previously isolated lignins from sugar byproducts (bagasse (SCB) and beet pulp (SBP)). In this work, lignin-phenol formaldehyde (LPF) resins were formulated using various lignin loadings (5-30 wt%), characterized and applied in the manufacturing of plywood panels. Several characterization techniques were applied to identify the chemical and morphological properties, thermal stability, and phenolic content of the extracted lignins, as well as the bonding strength and wood failure of the formulated resins. Results showed that the CWS and SC could be considered as an important source for lignin recovery with a considerable yield of 15.46 % and 27.08 % and an important hydroxyl phenolic content of 1.26 mmol/g and 1.36 mmol/g for CWS and SC, respectively. Interestingly, 20 wt% of extracted lignins in PF adhesives were the optimal formulation showing an improved modulus of elasticity (MOE) of about 3505, 3536 and 3515 N/mm 2 , and a higher modulus of rupture (MOR) of about 55, 55 and 56 N/mm 2 for panels containing CWS, SC and SCB-lignins, respectively, over the reference panels (MOE = 3198 N/mm 2 and MOR = 48 N/mm 2 ). Additionally, formaldehyde emission from plywood remarkably decreases by up to 20 % when lignin was incorporated into the PF matrix. Herein, the treatment of the CWS and SC for the extraction of alkali lignin and its application showed a new route to produce high added-value products from underused residues., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To obviate adverse effects from the non-biodegradability of certain polymer-based slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) and to offset higher operational costs, the use of biopolymers as coating material has recently caught interest in the research circles. The present work aims to design a sustainable coating material based on biodegradable polymers. To this end, Alfa plant was initially exploited as a viable sustainable source for the extraction of lignin (LGe), which was in turn integrated into the development of a three-dimensional cross-linked network, including methylcellulose (MC) as a matrix and citric acid (CA) as a cross-linking agent. Then, the designed coating material was applied onto Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Triple Superphosphate (TSP) water-soluble fertilizers in a rotating pan machine. Chemical, physical, and biodegradation studies have confirmed that the coating material is environmentally-friendly. Nutrients release experiments in water as well as in soil environments have proved the effectiveness of the MC and MC/LGe coating layers in delaying the nutrients discharge. Besides, the nutrients release from coated DAP and TSP lasted longer than 30 days. Furthermore, the coating film enhanced the fertilizers mechanical resistance and boosted the soil water retention capacity. The agronomic evaluation has also confirmed their remarkable potential in enhancing wheat leaf area, chlorophyll content and biomass, in addition to the roots architecture and the final fruiting efficiency. These results showed that this hybrid composite could be used as an efficient coating material to produce slow-release fertilizers with multifunctional performances., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cellulose is an interesting biopolymer offering numerous functionalization possibilities for various applications. Yet, cellulose functionalization usually involves expensive chemicals and complex processes. Here, we aim to utilize inexpensive fertilizer-grade phosphate for cellulose functionalization. Cellulose microfibers (CMF) were isolated from Giant Reed (GR) and were then phosphorylated using either a reagent-grade or a fertilizer-grade diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) in the presence of urea following a water-based protocol. The effect of DAP on the phosphorylation reaction was mainly studied by conductometric titration, ICP-OES and FTIR, while further characterization was performed by SEM/EDX, TGA and XRD to investigate the morphology, composition, charge content, structure, and thermal degradation of the phosphorylated materials. It was found that cellulose phosphorylation using DAP fertilizer gave materials with the same charge content as that registered when using the reagent-grade DAP. Optimizing the reaction conditions with respect to the amount of fertilizer-grade DAP used for the phosphorylation gave high charge content (7000 mmol·g -1 ). The corresponding phosphorylated CMF (P-CMF) were processed into a paper and used as sorbent for methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous solutions with different concentrations. The findings indicated that the pseudo-second-order model could be useful to assess the adsorption kinetics while the Langmuir isotherm model can suitably describe the adsorption isotherms. With fast adsorption kinetics (2-6 h), high adsorption efficiency (92-99 %) and a MB adsorption capacity of ~1200 mg·g -1 surpassing what has been reported so far for cellulose-based sorbents, the P-CMF paper holds great promises for the effective remediation of dye-contaminated wastewater effluents. Adsorption/desorption tests confirmed the reusability and regeneration of the paper with a recovery of 100 % for MB in the second cycle., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

For many years, garlic has been used as a condiment in food and traditional medicine. However, the garlic skin, which accounts for 25% of the garlic bulk, is considered agricultural waste. In this study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and garlic extract (GE) from garlic skin were isolated and used as fillers to manufacture biocomposite films. The films were characterized in terms of UV barrier, thermal, mechanical, biodegradability, and antimicrobial activity. The chitosan-containing films and CNCs have significantly improved the films' tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation but decreased the film transparency compared to chitosan films. The combination of the CNCs and GE, on the other hand, slightly reduced the mechanical properties. The addition of CNCs slightly decreased the film transparency, while the addition of GE significantly improved the UV barrier properties. Thermal studies revealed that the incorporation of CNC and GE had minimal effect on the thermal stability of the chitosan films. The degradability rate of the chitosan composite films was found to be higher than that of the neat chitosan films. The antimicrobial properties of films were studied against Escherichia coli, Streptomyces griseorubens, Streptomyces alboviridis, and Staphylococcus aureus, observing that their growth was considerably inhibited by the addition of GE in composite films. Films incorporating both CNCs and GE from garlic skin hold more promise for active food packaging applications due to a combination of enhanced physical characteristics and antibacterial activity., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cactus fruit waste seeds (CWS) are a by-product of the cactus fruit processing industry. Until now, CWS are not recoverable in any sector. The valorization of these residues may reduce their volume in the environment and transform them into valuable products. In this work, CWS have been identified for the first time as a sustainable lignocellulosic source. Cellulose microfibers (CMFs) and nanocrystals (CNCs) were successfully produced via alkali and bleaching treatments followed by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. It was found that the extracted CMFs showed an average diameter of 11 μm, crystallinity of 72%, and a yield of 25%. The as-produced CNCs exhibited a needle-like shape with a diameter of 13 ± 3 nm and length of 419 ± 48 nm, giving rise to an aspect ratio of 30.7, with a zeta potential value of - 30 mV and a charge content of sulfate groups of 287.8 mmol·kg -1 . Herein, the obtained cellulosic derivatives with excellent properties from this underutilized waste can draw the attention of researchers towards CWS as a new type of biomass with virtually no hemicellulose, which could be of great interest to isolate and study the effects of how lignin interacts with cellulose., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In general, during the papermaking process or the production of cellulosic materials for food-packaging applications, lignin and other amorphous components are usually removed via the pulping and multilevel bleaching process to entirely separate them from the fiber. The aim of this work was to study the positive effect that can impart the residual lignin remaining in the alkali-treated fiber surface over bleached fibers to produce an alternative food-packaging cellulosic paper. Herein, cellulosic papers based on alkali-treated and bleached fibers obtained from the Alfa plant were successfully prepared using a compression process. The as-obtained papers were coated by crosslinked starch using a solvent-casting method to improve their mechanical and surface properties. The morphological and contact angle results showed that the residual lignin in the alkali-treated cellulosic papers strongly increased the interfacial adhesion by making the structure denser and more compact, resulting in an improved water resistance property over the bleached ones. On the other hand, it also promoted char formation, slowing down the burning process, resulting in better flame resistance. Additionally, the mechanical properties demonstrated that the presence of lignin contributed to the material rigidity improvement without compromising its flexibility (folding endurance). The as-developed cellulosic papers coated with crosslinked starch could be used for the production of high-quality materials for food-packaging applications using conventional industrial processes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests. The manuscript has not been published elsewhere and that it has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Enormous interest in using marine biomass as a sustainable resource for water treatment has been manifested over the past few decades. Herein, the objective was to investigate the possible use of green macroalgae (Codium tomentosum) for cellulose-based foam production through a versatile and convenient process. Macroporous cellulose monolith was prepared from cellulose hydrogel using freeze-drying process, resulting in a mechanically rigid monolith with a high swelling ratio. The as-produced spongy-like porous cellulosic material was used as bio-sorbent for wastewater treatment, particularly for removing methylene blue (MB) dye from concentrated aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of MB was subsequently studied, and the effect of adsorption process parameters was determined in a controlled batch system. From the kinetic studies, it was found that the adsorption equilibrium was reached within 660 min. Furthermore, the analysis of the adsorption kinetics reveals that the data could be fitted by a pseudo-second order model, while the adsorption isotherm could be described by Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 454 mg/g. The findings suggested that the produced cellulose monolith could be used as a sustainable adsorbent for water treatment., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In search for more effective and eco-friendly adsorbent materials, this study comprehensively investigated Cd 2+ adsorption onto phosphorylated cellulose paper (PCP). For this, cellulose microfibers (CMF) was extracted from Alfa fibers and phosphorylated using the solid-state phosphorylation approach. Then, the prepared PCP samples were characterized by SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, TGA, conductometric titration and zeta potential measurement. The adsorption of cadmium ions, the effect of time, pH and Cd 2+ initial concentration were systematically studied in batch experiments. Based on the results, the highest adsorption capacity achieved was 479 mg of Cd 2+ per g of PCP, which was remarkable compared to other modified cellulose capacities cited in the literature. Furthermore, the Cd 2+ removal mechanism was investigated based on characterization results before and after adsorption and also based on the kinetics results. It was concluded that cation exchange and electrostatic attraction between phosphorylated cellulose and the cadmium ion mainly dominated the adsorption process. These findings highlighted that the phosphorylated cellulose paper has a broad application prospect in removal of divalent metal from aquatic solution., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

In this study, Artemisia annua stem waste was identified, for the first time, as a potential natural source to produce cellulose microfibers (CMF), as well as cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) with unique functionalities by using various organic acids. The CMF extraction was carried out using alkali and bleaching treatments, while the CNC were isolated under acid hydrolysis by using sulfuric acid (S-CNC), phosphoric acid (P-CNC), and hydrochloric acid / citric acid mixture (C-CNC). The CMF and CNC physicochemical, structural, morphological, dimensional, and thermal properties were characterized. CMF with a yield of 53%, diameter of 5 to 30 µm and crystallinity of 57% were successfully obtained. In contrast, CNC showed a rod-like shape with an aspect ratio of 53, 95, and 64 and a crystallinity index of 84, 79, and 72% for S-CNC, P-CNC, and C-CNC, respectively. Results suggested that the type of acid significantly influenced the structure, morphology, and thermal stability of CNCs. Based on these results, Artemisia annua stem waste is a great candidate source for cellulose derivatives with excellent characteristics., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2021.)

Effective fertilizers management is essential for sustainable agricultural practices. One way to improve agronomic practices is by using slow-release fertilizers (SRF) that have shown interesting role in optimizing nutrients availability for plants growth. Considering the current ecological concerns, coated SRF using ecofriendly materials continue to attract great attention. In this context, novel waterborne and biodegradable coating nanocomposite formulations were elaborated from cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)-filled poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) for slow release NPK fertilizer with water retention property. CNC were extracted from hemp stalks using sulfuric acid hydrolysis process and their physico-chemical characteristics were investigated. CNC with various weight loadings (6, 10, 14.5 wt%) were incorporated into PVA polymer via solvent mixing method to produce viscous coating nanocomposite formulations with moderated shear viscosity. Uniform PVA@CNC coating microlayer was applied on the surface of NPK fertilizer granules in Wurster chamber of a fluidized bed dryer at controlled spraying and drying parameters. The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium release profiles from coated NPK fertilizer were determined in water and soil. It was found that the coating materials extended the N-P-K nutrients release time from 3 days for uncoated fertilizer to 10 and 30 days for neat PVA- and CNC/PVA-coated fertilizer in soil medium, indicating the positive role of the presence of CNC in the PVA-based coatings. The morphology, coating rate and crushing strength of the as-prepared coated products were investigated in addition to their effect on water holding capacity and water retention of the soil. Enhanced crushing strength and water retention with a positive effect on the soil moisture were observed after coating NPK fertilizer, mainly with high CNC content (14.5 wt%). Therefore, these proposed nanocomposite coating materials showed a great potential for producing a new class of SRF with high nutrients use efficiency and water retention capacity, which could be beneficial to sustainable crop production., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The solid waste of olive oil extraction processes (olive pomace, OP) was converted into activated carbon (AC) by treating it with NaOH and then encapsulating it within sodium alginate (SA) in beads by crosslinking (SA-AC beads). The prepared SA-AC beads were utilized as an adsorbent for the elimination and recovery of phenolic compounds (PCs) from olive mill wastewater (OMWW) following a zero liquid and waste discharge approach to implement and promote the circular economy concept. The novel AC and SA-AC beads were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) analysis. The adsorption performance of these beads was evaluated in batch and fixed-bed reactors operated in a concurrent flow system. The results revealed that an adsorption capacity of 68 mg g -1 was attained for 4000 mg L -1 phenolic compounds. The kinetics of the adsorption process of the PCs fit a pseudo second-order model, and the most likely mechanism took place in two stages. The adsorption isotherm conformed to the Langmuir model, representing the monolayer adsorption of the phenolic compounds. The dynamic models were used, and they accurately represented the breakthrough curves. Considering PC recovery and process reusability, a regeneration experiment of SA-AC beads was carried out in fixed-bed reactors. SA-AC beads showed a high percentage desorption >40% using ethanol and were efficient after several cycles of OMWW treatment and phenol recovery., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Stipa tenacissima L. ( S. tenacissima ), called Esparto grass, is a cultivated species used for industrial purposes, including textile production. This species has never been studied for its medical potential before, nor has it been used in traditional medicines. It is thus fitting that the present study aimed to investigate the pharmacological potential of S. tenacissima. To achieve this goal, this work was conducted to study the chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and antiproliferative effects of S. tenacissima against cancerous cell lines, including the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29) and human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-231). Fractionation and characterization of S. tenacissima extract showed the presence of promising bioactive fractions. The fractions obtained from S. tenacissima extract exhibited interesting antioxidant properties, with IC 50 values ranging from 1.26 to 1.85 mg/mL. All fractions, such as F1, F2, F3, and F4, induced an important antiproliferative effect on the cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, scoring IC 50 values ranging from 63.58 ± 3.14 to 99.880 ± 0.061 µg/mL. These fractions (F1, F2, F3, and F4) also exhibited a potent antiproliferative effect versus HT-29 cell lines, with IC 50 values ranging from 71.50 ± 4.97 to 87.500 ± 1.799 µg/mL. Therefore, S. tenacissima could constitute a new natural source of bioactive compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to fight cancer and free radical damage.