Virgin biopolymers are often brittle and, therefore, need the addition of plasticizers to obtain the required mechanical properties for practical applications, e.g. in bags and disposable kitchen items. In this article, based on a combined experimental and modelling approach, it is shown that it is possible to rank molecules with respect to their plasticization efficiency (depression in glass transition temperature with PVT data and reduced stiffness and strength) using molecular dynamics simulations. Starch was used as the polymeric matrix material due to its promising potential as a sustainable, eco-friendly, biobased replacement for fossil-based plastics. Three polyols (glycerol, sorbitol and xylitol), two ethanolamines and glucose were investigated. The results indicate that molecular simulations can be used to find the optimal plasticizer among a set of candidates, or to design/identify better plasticizers in a complex polymer system. Glycerol was the most efficient of the six plasticizers, explained by it forming the least amount of hydrogen bonds, having the shortest hydrogen bond lifetimes and low molecular rigidity. Hence, not only was it possible to rank plasticizers, the ranking results could also be explained by the simulations.

The functionalization of inexpensive potato protein concentrate (PPC) is presented as a simple and easily scalable method to produce bio-based super absorbent powders. Five non-toxic acylating agents were evaluated at different reaction temperatures for solvent-free acylation of the protein. The best results were obtained for succinic anhydride (SA) and a reaction temperature of 140 ˚C. These conditions resulted in efficient functionalization that provided formation of a useful network, which allowed high uptake of fluids and little material disintegration during the uptake, i.e. due to protein hydrolysis during the functionalization. The SA acylated-PPC showed increased water and saline swelling capacity of 600 % and 60 %, respectively, as compared to untreated PPC. The acylated potato protein also showed a saline liquid holding capacity of ca. 50 % after centrifugation at 1230 rpm for 3 min, as well as a significant blood swelling capacity of 530 %. This blood swelling represents more than 50 % of that of a commercial fossil-based super absorbent (SAP) used for blood absorption in sanitary-health products. The swelling properties of these inexpensive protein-based acylated materials highlights their potential as sustainable SAP materials (from industrial side-streams) in applications such as daily-care products that are currently dominated by fossil-based SAPs.

The structure and physicochemical properties of starch isolated from the cotyledon and hull of faba beans and from wheat (as reference) were examined using 16 different methods. The amylose content in faba bean cotyledon and hull starch was 32% and 36%, respectively, and that in wheat starch was 21%. The faba bean cotyledon and hull starch were structurally alike both displaying C-polymorphic pattern, a similar degree of branching and similar branch chain length distributions. Wheat starch had a significantly greater prevalence of short amylopectin chains (DP < 12) and a higher degree of branching. Granules in both faba bean starches exhibited surface cracks and were more homogenous in size than the smoother wheat starch granules. Gelatinisation temperature was higher for the faba bean starches, likely as an effect of high amylose content and longer starch chains delaying granular swelling. Cotyledon starch produced pastes with the highest viscosities in all rheological measurements, probably owing to larger granules. Higher prevalence of lipids and resistant starch reduced the viscosity values for hull starch. For all starches, viscosity increased at faster heating rates. During the rheological analyses, the samples were exposed to different instruments, heating rates and temperatures ranges, differing from standard rheological procedures, which could help predict how different processing techniques effect the final starch textures. Graphical abstract

The development of wood-based thermoplastic polymers that can replace synthetic plastics is of high environmental importance, and previous studies have indicated that cellulose-rich fiber containing dialcohol cellulose (ring-opened cellulose) is a very promising candidate material. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations, complemented with experiments, were used to investigate how and why the degree of ring opening influences the properties of dialcohol cellulose, and how temperature and presence of water affect the material properties. Mechanical tensile properties, diffusion/mobility-related properties, densities, glass-transition temperatures, potential energies, hydrogen bonds, and free volumes were simulated for amorphous cellulosic materials with 0-100% ring opening, at ambient and high (150 °C) temperatures, with and without water. The simulations showed that the impact of ring openings, with respect to providing molecular mobility, was higher at high temperatures. This was also observed experimentally. Hence, the ring opening had the strongest beneficial effect on "processability" (reduced stiffness and strength) above the glass-transition temperature and in wet conditions. It also had the effect of lowering the glass-transition temperature. The results here showed that molecular dynamics is a valuable tool in the development of wood-based materials with optimal thermoplastic properties.