The accumulation of plastic wastes is one of the most widely spread problems affecting the environment. The reality that plastics can be made from renewable resources and degrade naturally has prompted academics to think outside the box to develop “better for the environment” items. In this paper, a bibliometric analysis of the scholarly publications related to bio-based plastics within the last 20 years is presented. Annual progression, geographic and research area distribution, and keyword co-occurrence were all examined. Six distinct clusters emerged from keyword analysis, which were further categorized into three directions: production to marketing; impact on the environment, economy, and society; and end-of-life (EoL) options. The major focus was on how to counter the weaknesses and challenges of bio-based plastics and take opportunities using the inherent advantages of bio-based plastics. Comprehensive studies regarding the impact of bio-based plastics on the environment, economy and social sustainability are still deficient. Although there are many promising innovations in this area, most of them are at the research stage. The benefits of bio-based plastics and better EoL options can be enjoyed only after increased production.

Metal nitrides are broadly applicable in the field of electrochemistry due to their excellent electrical properties. 3D nanostructured Ni₃N–Co₃N catalyst was prepared and tested as anode catalyst for a glucose fuel cell.

This chapter reviews the advanced materials used for the fabrication and modification of dialysis membranes in research and commercial scale, including their basic. Hemodialysis (HD) is a commonly adopted clinical therapy for end-stage renal disease patients that consist of a proportioning system for blood and electrolyte solutions, delivery and safety monitoring treatment, and, most importantly, a hemodialyzer. The cylindrical HD membranes are employed in capillary and tubular, or hollow fiber modules. These membranes can be formed by one of the following techniques: thermally-induced phase separation, vapor-induced phase separation, immersion precipitation, and dry phase inversion. Polyethylene glycol and polyethylene oxide based blocks of chemicals when used with hydrophobic base polymers in the dialysis membranes could exhibit steric repulsion and work like molecular cilia. Such modified structures improved the membrane capability to repel cell adhesion, reduce protein adsorption and platelet adhesion, and enhance the blood clotting times in body environment.