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In the last two decades, the naturally occurring polysaccharides, such as chitosan and pectin, have gained great attention having potential applications in different sectors, from biomedical to new generation packaging. Currently, the chitosan and pectic have been proposed as suitable materials also for the formulation of films and coatings for cultural heritage protection, as well as packaging films. Therefore, the formulation of biopolymer films, considering only naturally occurring polymers and additives, is a current challenging trend. This work reports on the formulation of chitosan (CS), pectin (PC), and chitosan:pectin (CS:PC) films, also containing natural crosslinking and reinforcement agents, such as citric acid (CA) and halloysite nanotubes (HNT), through the solvent casting technique. The produced films are characterized through water contact angle measurements, infrared and UV–visible spectroscopy and tensile test, while the durability of the CS:PC films is evaluated subjecting the film to accelerated UVB exposure and monitoring the photo-oxidation degradation in time though infrared spectroscopy. All obtained results suggest that both crosslinking and reinforcement agents have beneficial effects on the wettability, rigidity, and photo-oxidation resistance of biopolymer films. Therefore, these biopolymer films, also containing naturally occurring additives, have good properties and performance and they are suitable as coverage films for cultural heritage protection.
Giulia Infurna; Giuseppe Cavallaro; Giuseppe Lazzara; Stefana Milioto; Nadka Dintcheva. Understanding the Effects of Crosslinking and Reinforcement Agents on the Performance and Durability of Biopolymer Films for Cultural Heritage Protection. Molecules 2021, 26, 3468 .
AMA StyleGiulia Infurna, Giuseppe Cavallaro, Giuseppe Lazzara, Stefana Milioto, Nadka Dintcheva. Understanding the Effects of Crosslinking and Reinforcement Agents on the Performance and Durability of Biopolymer Films for Cultural Heritage Protection. Molecules. 2021; 26 (11):3468.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiulia Infurna; Giuseppe Cavallaro; Giuseppe Lazzara; Stefana Milioto; Nadka Dintcheva. 2021. "Understanding the Effects of Crosslinking and Reinforcement Agents on the Performance and Durability of Biopolymer Films for Cultural Heritage Protection." Molecules 26, no. 11: 3468.
The European Union is working towards the 2050 net-zero emissions goal and tackling the ever-growing environmental and sustainability crisis by implementing the European Green Deal. The shift towards a more sustainable society is intertwined with the production, use, and disposal of plastic in the European economy. Emissions generated by plastic production, plastic waste, littering and leakage in nature, insufficient recycling, are some of the issues addressed by the European Commission. Adoption of bioplastics–plastics that are biodegradable, bio-based, or both–is under assessment as one way to decouple society from the use of fossil resources, and to mitigate specific environmental risks related to plastic waste. In this work, we aim at reviewing the field of bioplastics, including standards and life cycle assessment studies, and discuss some of the challenges that can be currently identified with the adoption of these materials.
Alberto Di Bartolo; Giulia Infurna; Nadka Dintcheva. A Review of Bioplastics and Their Adoption in the Circular Economy. Polymers 2021, 13, 1229 .
AMA StyleAlberto Di Bartolo, Giulia Infurna, Nadka Dintcheva. A Review of Bioplastics and Their Adoption in the Circular Economy. Polymers. 2021; 13 (8):1229.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlberto Di Bartolo; Giulia Infurna; Nadka Dintcheva. 2021. "A Review of Bioplastics and Their Adoption in the Circular Economy." Polymers 13, no. 8: 1229.
Different human activities have caused and currently cause catastrophic environmental phenomena, and unfortunately, a significant negative contribution to these catastrophic phenomena can be attributed to uncontrolled plastic production, use and release everywhere. On the other hand, the plastics offer numerous comforts and advantages, and for this reason, the modern life is unthinkable without plastic. Currently, numerous scientific papers and large audience advertisings, related to the production and use of polymers made by natural sources, i.e. bio-based polymers, as a valid alternative to the petroleum-based counterparts, have been published. Therefore, for production of daily disposables and usages, the choice of petroleum-based polymers, coming from fossil-based resources, or bio-based polymers, coming from renewable resources, can be correctly understood and evaluated taking into account different issues concerning resources supplying, production technology and costs, application properties and performance, and finally, waste management. Current paper is focused on a reflection point related to waste management through burning/incineration (i.e. oxidation) of disposable beverage cups (volume 200 ml). The simple calculations of oxidation process of petrol-based or bio-based materials, which is the theoretical basis of waste management through burning/incineration, highlights that none of cup materials, can be considered better than the others to produce daily disposables and usages.
Nadka Tz. Dintcheva; Giulia Infurna; Francesca D'Anna. End-of-life and waste management of disposable beverage cups. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 763, 143044 .
AMA StyleNadka Tz. Dintcheva, Giulia Infurna, Francesca D'Anna. End-of-life and waste management of disposable beverage cups. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 763 ():143044.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNadka Tz. Dintcheva; Giulia Infurna; Francesca D'Anna. 2020. "End-of-life and waste management of disposable beverage cups." Science of The Total Environment 763, no. : 143044.
In the last decade, the interest toward the formulation of polymer films for cultural heritage protection continuously grew, and these films must be imperatively transparent, removable, and should not react/interact with surface of the artworks. In this research, bionanocomposite films, based on chitosan (Ch) and pectin (P) and containing naturally occurring fillers and antioxidants, were formulated by solvent casting methods and were accurately characterized. The natural halloysite nanotubes (HNT) have a two-fold role, specifically, physical compatibilizer and antioxidant carrier. Therefore, the theoretical solubility between Ch and P was estimated considering Hoy’s method for solubility of polymers, while the optimum ratio between biopolymer constituents was assessed by ζ-potential measurements. The transparency, wettability, and mechanical behavior of Ch:P films, also in presence of HNT without and with antioxidants, were investigated. The beneficial effects of natural antioxidants, such as vanillic acid (VA) and quercetin (Q), on Ch:P/HNT durability were found.
Giulia Infurna; Giuseppe Cavallaro; Giuseppe Lazzara; Stefana Milioto; Nadka Tzankova Dintcheva. Bionanocomposite Films Containing Halloysite Nanotubes and Natural Antioxidants with Enhanced Performance and Durability as Promising Materials for Cultural Heritage Protection. Polymers 2020, 12, 1973 .
AMA StyleGiulia Infurna, Giuseppe Cavallaro, Giuseppe Lazzara, Stefana Milioto, Nadka Tzankova Dintcheva. Bionanocomposite Films Containing Halloysite Nanotubes and Natural Antioxidants with Enhanced Performance and Durability as Promising Materials for Cultural Heritage Protection. Polymers. 2020; 12 (9):1973.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiulia Infurna; Giuseppe Cavallaro; Giuseppe Lazzara; Stefana Milioto; Nadka Tzankova Dintcheva. 2020. "Bionanocomposite Films Containing Halloysite Nanotubes and Natural Antioxidants with Enhanced Performance and Durability as Promising Materials for Cultural Heritage Protection." Polymers 12, no. 9: 1973.
Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) and Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNP) were incorporated in Polypropylene (PP) as single filler (CNT = 1, 2 and 4 %wt. and GNP = 2, 4, and 6 %wt.) and in hybrid form (CNT:GNP weight ratio 2:2, 2:4 and 4:2) using a prototype miniature Twin Screw Extruder (TSE) coupled with a double slit rheological die, in order to assess in-line the extent of nanofiller dispersion and to deliver PP-based nanocomposites with enhanced thermo-oxidative stability. The morphological, electrical and mechanical properties, as well as the resistance to thermal and photo degradation of the composites containing single nanofillers (PP/CNT and PP/GNP) were compared with those of hybrid PP based nanocomposites (PP/CNT:GNP). The results highlight that the presence of the two carbonaceous nanofillers exerts a positive synergic effect on the nanocomposite properties. Moreover, the radical scavenging role of the carbonaceous nanofillers was investigated under thermo-mechanical, thermo- and photo degradation conditions, the results confirming that aspect ratio, loading and dispersion level of the filler play a determinant role in the nanocomposite durability.
Giulia Infurna; Paulo F. Teixeira; Nadka Tz. Dintcheva; Loic Hilliou; Francesco Paolo La Mantia; Jose A. Covas. Taking advantage of the functional synergism between carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets to obtain polypropylene-based nanocomposites with enhanced oxidative resistance. European Polymer Journal 2020, 133, 109796 .
AMA StyleGiulia Infurna, Paulo F. Teixeira, Nadka Tz. Dintcheva, Loic Hilliou, Francesco Paolo La Mantia, Jose A. Covas. Taking advantage of the functional synergism between carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets to obtain polypropylene-based nanocomposites with enhanced oxidative resistance. European Polymer Journal. 2020; 133 ():109796.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiulia Infurna; Paulo F. Teixeira; Nadka Tz. Dintcheva; Loic Hilliou; Francesco Paolo La Mantia; Jose A. Covas. 2020. "Taking advantage of the functional synergism between carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets to obtain polypropylene-based nanocomposites with enhanced oxidative resistance." European Polymer Journal 133, no. : 109796.
In the last few decades, the interest towards natural compounds, coming from a natural source and biodegradable, for biopolymers is always increasing because of a public request for the formulation of safe, eco-friendly, and sustainable materials. The main classes of natural compounds for biopolymers are: (i) naturally occurring fillers (nFil), such as nano-/micro- sized layered alumino-silicate: halloysite, bentonite, montmorillonite, hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, etc.; (ii) naturally occurring fibers (nFib), such as wood and vegetable fibers; (iii) naturally occurring antioxidant molecules (nAO), such as phenols, polyphenols, vitamins, and carotenoids. However, in this short review, the advantages and drawbacks, considering naturally occurring compounds as safe, eco-friendly, and sustainable additives for biopolymers, have been focused and discussed briefly, even taking into account the requests and needs of different application fields.
Nadka Tzankova Dintcheva; Giulia Infurna; Marilena Baiamonte; Francesca D’Anna. Natural Compounds as Sustainable Additives for Biopolymers. Polymers 2020, 12, 732 .
AMA StyleNadka Tzankova Dintcheva, Giulia Infurna, Marilena Baiamonte, Francesca D’Anna. Natural Compounds as Sustainable Additives for Biopolymers. Polymers. 2020; 12 (4):732.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNadka Tzankova Dintcheva; Giulia Infurna; Marilena Baiamonte; Francesca D’Anna. 2020. "Natural Compounds as Sustainable Additives for Biopolymers." Polymers 12, no. 4: 732.
Current concerns for sustainability and the environment make low-impact materials desirable for environmental remediation and, in particular wastewater treatment. We obtained supramolecular gels of l-amino acids in the deep eutectic solvent formed by choline chloride and phenylacetic acid. After gel characterization, and investigating gel-sol transition temperatures, gelation kinetics, rheological properties, and morphology, the gels were applied as sorbents to remove cationic dyes from aqueous solutions. The effects of the pH, dye nature, volume, and concentration of wastewater were analyzed, and the best result was obtained with a l-phenylalanine-based eutectogel. It can be reused for at least 9 times without losing efficiency, also with dye mixtures. Interestingly, this gel can be loaded onto columns to decolorize flowing solutions, achieving 85 % of removal efficiency in only 10 minutes and allowing its reuse for at least 4 cycles. In terms of adsorption capacity, this eutectogel is competitive with efficient gel-based dye sorbent systems, with a value 1930 mg/g reached at a high concentration of rhodamine B 479 mg/L.
Salvatore Marullo; Alessandro Meli; Nadka. Tz. Dintcheva; Giulia Infurna; Carla Rizzo; Francesca D'anna. Environmentally Friendly Eutectogels Comprising l‐a mino Acids and Deep Eutectic Solvents: Efficient Materials for Wastewater Treatment. ChemPlusChem 2020, 85, 301 -311.
AMA StyleSalvatore Marullo, Alessandro Meli, Nadka. Tz. Dintcheva, Giulia Infurna, Carla Rizzo, Francesca D'anna. Environmentally Friendly Eutectogels Comprising l‐a mino Acids and Deep Eutectic Solvents: Efficient Materials for Wastewater Treatment. ChemPlusChem. 2020; 85 (2):301-311.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSalvatore Marullo; Alessandro Meli; Nadka. Tz. Dintcheva; Giulia Infurna; Carla Rizzo; Francesca D'anna. 2020. "Environmentally Friendly Eutectogels Comprising l‐a mino Acids and Deep Eutectic Solvents: Efficient Materials for Wastewater Treatment." ChemPlusChem 85, no. 2: 301-311.