Review Articles

Factors affecting the swelling of cellulosic fibers are considered in this review.  Emphasis is placed on aqueous systems and papermaking fibers, but the review also considers cellulose solvent systems, nanocellulose research, and the behavior of cellulosic hydrogels.  The topic of swelling of cellulosic fibers ranges from effects of humid air, continuing through water immersion, and extends to hydrogels and the dissolution of cellulose, as well as some of its derivatives.  The degree of swelling of cellulose fibers can be understood as involving a balance between forces of expansion (especially osmotic pressure) vs. various restraining forces, some of which involve the detailed structure of layers within the fibril structure of the fibers.  The review also considers hornification and its effects related to swelling. The expansive forces are highly dependent on ionizable groups, pH, and the ionic strength of solution.  The restraining forces depend on the nature of lignin, cellulose, and their detailed structural arrangements.

Agriculture plays a fundamental role in India’s economy, supporting 70% of rural households. While often perceived as non-productive, agricultural waste harbors materials potentially beneficial to humans through the creation and utilization of biochar in the production and processing of agricultural goods. This study conducts a comprehensive exploration into the advantages and risks associated with biochar application, considering its role as a soil amendment, bioremediation agent, and its broader implications for human health and the environment. Biochar, primarily composed of stable carbon, was initially proposed as a soil amendment to sequester carbon. Efficient resource utilization has emerged as a viable means to address global environmental challenges associated with waste disposal. This review delineates diverse agricultural waste types and sources, identifies related environmental risks, and advocates for government-led measures aligned with circular economy principles to manage such waste. Furthermore, it offers insights into potential management strategies, policy considerations, and practical approaches, fostering sustainable agriculture practices and environmental conservation in India.

The global spread of invasive plants is an important environmental problem and a real threat to biological diversity, with significant impacts on agriculture, forestry, and human and animal health. Invasive plant eradication produces large amounts of plant biomass, which should be safely utilized. The study reviews possibilities for using biomass of invasive plant species in the bioeconomy to safely convert them to items of value. Invasive plant biomass can be used as fuel or for energy production applying either biochemical or thermochemical processing technologies. The biomass of invasive plants also can be used for energy production or isolation of biologically active components. Invasive plants contain many groups of substances providing their defense potential against predators; these substances participate in metabolic regulation processes and others. Amongst the substances of interest for bioeconomy are lipids, polyphenols, alkaloids, carbohydrates, plant fibers, and essential oils. In the development of invasive plant biomass utilization strategies, the bio-based value pyramid and the waste hierarchy should be considered. Scientific sound strategies of invasive plant management will limit their spread and provide economic benefits via their eradication.

The use of decorative wood veneers in contemporary design is increasingly emphasized as society becomes more aware of quality of life and environmental protection. This article explores in detail four key aspects of decorative wood veneers as a contemporary design medium: visual perceptual elements, multisensory interaction, sustainability and environmental impact, and technology and innovation. Through its unique aesthetic attributes and multisensory experience, decorative wood veneers enhance the aesthetics and user experience of interior design, respond to the global trend of sustainability, and promote innovation and environmental responsibility in the design industry through the use of environmentally friendly materials and advanced technologies. This article aims to provide insights for designers, researchers and related industries to stimulate further exploration of the application of decorative wood veneers in design innovation.

This review highlights potential application areas for carbon-based molecular nanoparticles, such as carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, graphene quantum dots, and carbon quantum dots. The success of nano-manufacturing hinges on robust collaboration between academia and industry to advance applicable manufacturing techniques. Choosing the right approach is crucial, one that integrates the carbon base of nanomaterials with the required properties and impurities, as well as the scalability of the process. Molecular, in this context, refers to the nanoscale carbon structures that form the basis of these materials, including their arrangement, bonding, and properties at the molecular level. The article also explores the characterization of different types of molecular nanomaterials. Nanomaterials are increasingly used in almost every contemporary industry, including construction, textiles, manufacturing, and computing. This article reviews the most prominent sectors globally that employ nanomaterials. Biomasses containing lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose have become some of the most extensively studied. Initially, rice waste was utilized for bulk materials, but lately, the production of multifunctional materials has surged in interest. Carbon nanostructures derived from rice waste offer a broad spectrum of applications and enhanced biocompatibility. Recent advancements, challenges, and trends in the development of multifunctional carbon-based nanomaterials from renewable rice waste resources are considered.

Peels make up a considerable proportion of solid waste generated from fruit and vegetable production and processing. If not properly managed, they could contribute to environmental degradation through the dispersion of nutrient-rich leachate and the release of various greenhouse gases. Alternatively, these peels could be transformed to biosorbents, which could assist in the removal of pollutants of environmental and human health concerns from wastewaters. Using peels as raw material for biosorbent production is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option for waste disposal. Peels also contain bio-activators, which can be used to activate the biosorbent produced, minimizing the use of synthetic chemicals for biosorbent activation. This review considers the different physicochemical characteristics of vegetable and fruit peels that make them suitable raw materials for biosorbent production. Additionally, their transformation to biosorbents using hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis is discussed. The review concludes with a discussion on the efficiency of peel-based biosorbents in the removal of diverse types of pollutants from wastewater.

As an environmentally friendly and sustainable nanoparticle stabilizer of Pickering emulsions, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) has attracted attention because of its sustainable and biodegradable characteristics. Despite its distinct amphiphilic character as an ideal nanomaterial to replace traditionally non-sustainable surfactant emulsifiers, its long-term stability and lack of responses from external stimuli [e.g., pH, temperature, and carbon dioxide (CO₂)] are the critical issues to be addressed. The solutions for all of these questions in terms of CNCs and its responsive Pickering emulsions are systemically discussed in this review.

In view of a need for high-performing materials, while also minimizing contributions to plastic pollution, especially ocean micro- or nano- plastic pollution, biodegradable hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and nanocellulose (CNC) liquid crystal biopolymers have attracted attention as emerging fields. Their structures, phase behaviors, and advanced characterization techniques in terms of synchrotron X-ray and neutron small angle scattering of HPC solutions and CNC suspensions have been systemically studied. Diverse left- and right-hand chiral liquid crystal HPC and CNC photonic elastomer materials are further explored. To achieve their complex structure design and mass-scale manufacturing, soft matter photonic materials via advanced manufacturing techniques are critically considered in this review. The goal is to enable their applications in intelligent coating, photonic fiber, and intelligent packaging.

Light is essential for tree growth and development, yet some species are able, or prefer, to tolerate shady conditions without adversely affecting their development. This ecological preference prompts different strategies in these species, often involving a trade-off between performance and safety in terms of mechanical support, conductivity, and pest and disease protection. Studies on the ecological strategies of trees and their associated functional traits are essential to gain further insight into biodiversity and the processes that shape wood quality from the standpoint of technological properties useful to humans. This literature review showcases current links between ecological preferences and the main functional traits of tree species, with particular emphasis on wood properties.

This review explores the evolution of prestressed timber/bamboo structures across component, connection, and structural levels, and it examines the corresponding performance of prestressed specimens. Firstly, the utilization of prestress in beams is achieved through either pre-bending methods or the incorporation of additional components. Subsequently, prestress in timber/bamboo columns often appears in the form of lateral confinement, which improves the compressive performance of the columns. On the structural level, prestress is applied in self-centering structural systems and large-span string timber/bamboo structures. Detailed schematic diagrams illustrate the application methods and underlying principles of prestress in timber/bamboo components and structures. Based on the current state of research, the future research needs and development directions are outlined. The research aims to promote the broader application of prestressed timber/bamboo structures in practical engineering, contributing to the advancement of sustainable building practices.