Biocomposites have recently received more attention because of raising environmental awareness and the drive toward sustainable technologies. The most common biodegradable polymer is poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which has an excellent balance of physical and rheological properties, but there is some limit to its usage. PLA properties can be improved by adding different types of fibers or fillers that come from agricultural waste. In this study, corn cob and lavender stem were used to reinforce PLA without any coupling agent, and the properties of the composites were investigated. The melt flow rate (MFR) values decreased with the corn cob content and increased with the addition of lavender stem. Mechanical tests showed that the tensile and flexural modulus of the composites increased and the strengths decreased with the reinforcement material content. The rigidness of PLA slightly decreased with the addition of fillers. There was no significant effect on the thermal properties. The unremarkable improvement of the reinforcement was due to the lack of appropriate adhesion of the two phases. The structure of the compounds was found to be homogenous on the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. The incorporation of corn cob and lavender stem can reduce the production cost of materials.

Seaweed from macroalgae and cellulose from nonwood materials have gained attention in various fields. This study explores how seaweed and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) interact to form 3D networks in composite bioaerogels. The ratio of CNF and seaweed was varied to see how it affects the aerogel’s inside and its properties. The observations show that the biocomposite aerogel is more rigid and shrinks less than using a single biopolymer. The CNF aerogel has a fine, thin network structure, and the seaweed aerogel has a thin sheet structure. The biocomposite aerogel combines both a fine network and a thin sheet structure. The composite aerogel’s mechanical properties are significantly influenced by seaweed composition. The introduction of CNF increases elasticity, while seaweed enhances firmness. Generated computer modelling revealed that the abundant hydroxyl groups in CNF facilitated the formation of intermolecular bonds with seaweed. The bonding led to increased adhesion and entanglement between biopolymers, consequently enhancing elasticity and establishing a stable intermolecular interaction. The 3D X-ray imaging model shows that the skeletal framework primarily consists of seaweed biopolymer, with CNF serving to reinforce this structure thus enhancing the mechanical properties and robustness of the composite bioaerogels.

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.