Biodegradable biopolymers like polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) hold promise for sustainable packaging, but their inherent degradability reduces material stability. Synthetic stabilizers, though effective, raise environmental and potential toxicity concerns. This study explores a multifunctional natural anti-aging agent: a hemp extract rich in cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabichromene (CBC). PHB composites with varying hemp extract concentrations were prepared and subjected to thermooxidative and weathering aging. Characterization employed FTIR-ATR, carbonyl index, and spectrophotometry. Static mechanical properties, DSC, and surface free energy (SFE) were also assessed. Notably, the hemp extract exhibited stability under ambient conditions but showed migration with time and aging. The results suggest a plasticizing effect on PHB and highlight the contrasting roles of the extract: inhibiting thermooxidative aging while potentially accelerating aging under atmospheric conditions. This opens avenues for tailoring material durability, further evaluated by life cycle analysis (LCA). This work represents one of the first investigations into hemp extract as an anti-aging agent for eco-friendly polymers, expanding the knowledge base of natural multifunctional additives.

This is an editorial article. It has no abstract.

The augmented demand for sustainable nanocomposites has paved the way to explore naturally derived materials. Nanocellulose, with its bountiful sources and inherent properties, ranks top in the list of biofillers with a perspective of reducing the carbon footprint. A systematic study is required to understand the reinforcing effect of various types of nanocellulose. In the present work, we selected three types of nanocellulose, i.e., cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), cellulose nanofiber (CNF) and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), to investigate the effect of geometrical structure on the properties of unvulcanized natural rubber (NR). Incorporating these fillers improved the tensile strength and modulus of natural rubber films significantly through reinforcement via filler network structure. The reinforcing effect of CNF was found to be higher compared to CNC and MFC, where an increase of 3.85 MPa in tensile strength from the neat sample was obtained. More uniform dispersion was evident through transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and Raman imaging for CNF in the rubber matrix. The structural properties were determined using Raman spectra and X-ray diffraction. The rheological studies revealed a good interaction between filler and NR. The work presented comprehensively compares different types of nanocellulose as reinforcing filler in NR matrix, which will help the researchers select an ideal type for their specific application and, thus, the proper usage of renewable resources, leading to sustainability and a circular economy.

Arsenic, an element found in the Earth’s mantle, can be highly toxic, especially in its As (III) form. It enters our food chain through human activities like melting metals, using arsenic-based pesticides, and natural processes like volcanoes and rock breakdown. Consuming too much arsenic is extremely dangerous, impacting many countries worldwide. To tackle this issue, various methods like filtering, adding chemicals, and using electricity have been developed to clean arsenic-contaminated water. Among these, adsorption is a standout approach due to its simplicity and effectiveness. Biopolymers from living sources offer a natural solution, easily tweaked for arsenic removal. These biopolymers contain functionalities that can strongly latch onto toxic materials, acting like magnets. By customizing them with compounds like titanium dioxide (TiO₂), magnetite (Fe₃O₄), and others, they become even better at capturing arsenic, shaped into tiny particles or beads. This adaptation makes biopolymers a promising choice for cleaning arsenic from water. This review focuses on ways to clean water, specifically exploring how materials like chitosan, alginate, and modified cellulose can be used to remove arsenic by adsorption. It investigates how these materials work under different conditions, highlighting important details. By sharing these insights, this article contributes to the ongoing efforts to ensure cleaner water resources.

In this study, we produced poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) fibrous mats via solution blow spinning (SBS) and evaluated their microstructural properties. We propose here the utilization of the theoretical estimative of relative viscosity (RV) as an independent variable in a statistical design of experiments (DoE) to account for the polymer’s molecular weight (M_w) effect on the determination of the diameter and morphology of the fibers. The RV of the solution (42.3・10³–287.4・10³) and air pressure – AP (70–140 kPa) were varied. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the increase in RV favored an increment in fiber size and resistance to alignment. Higher AP produced aligned and thinner fibers with higher crystallinity. The spinnability regions were determined based on the estimated RV of the PHBV solutions and the AP levels. Fibers were formed at 70 kPa from solutions with RV ranging from 10・10³ to 10⁶, while at 140 kPa, from 42・10³ to 10⁶. Nanofibers were produced from less viscous solutions (RV = 42.3・10³–124.4・10³), while microfibers were produced from solutions with RV = 287.4・10³. The developed ANOVA model predicted with good accuracy (R²_adj. = 0.96) the average diameter of the PHBV fibers produced from the SBS technique using polymers with distinct M_w values, including those available in the literature data.