Review Articles

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an emerging biopolymer synthesized by specific microbial strains, such as Komagataeibacter xylinus. It is distinguished by its ultrafine nanofibrillar architecture, exceptional mechanical strength, high water-holding capacity, and inherent biocompatibility. Unlike plant-derived cellulose, BC is chemically pure and free from lignin and hemicellulose, making it especially attractive for biomedical use. Recently, BC has gained prominence as a multifunctional platform for applications in wound care, antimicrobial therapies, tissue engineering, and sustainable infection control. Recent advances in bioengineering and materials science have significantly broadened the functional landscape of BC. Through incorporating antibacterial agents, such as silver nanoparticles, chitosan, essential oils, or antibiotics, BC composites demonstrate potent antimicrobial efficacy while maintaining safety and biocompatibility. These hybrid materials address the critical need for novel, biodegradable alternatives to synthetic polymers in the fight against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This brief review critically examines the latest progress in BC production technologies, structural functionalization strategies, and clinical applications, with particular emphasis on its antibacterial properties and regenerative potential. The molecular mechanisms underlying its interaction with microbial cells and host tissues are also explored. Furthermore, the review outlines key challenges, such as large-scale manufacturing, regulatory hurdles, and clinical validation, and presents forward-looking perspectives on how BC could revolutionize healthcare by supporting next-generation biomaterials and sustainable therapeutic solutions.

The increasing global demand for sustainable materials has spurred extensive research into biopolymer-based composites derived from agricultural residue biomass. These materials offer an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based composites, addressing environmental pollution, resource depletion, and the need for low-density materials in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, packaging, and construction. This research focused on low-density bio-based composites as sustainable options for lightweight applications in automotive, aerospace, packaging, and construction. It highlights the use of agricultural residue and discontinuous binder systems to reduce density, as well as manufacturing techniques that improve structural efficiency. It emphasizes critical composite properties such as mechanical strength, thermal behavior, water resistance, biodegradability, and lightweight characteristics. The influence of fiber content and processing parameters on overall performance is also discussed. In addition, the review highlights major challenges, including scalability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term stability and proposes future research directions focused on durability enhancement, production efficiency, and commercial viability. Overall, this work underscores the transformative potential of agricultural residue-derived bio composites in advancing sustainable, high-performance materials for lightweight and eco-conscious construction and industrial applications.

The efficient utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production represents a significant challenge. As effective solvents, ionic liquids (ILs) have demonstrated considerable potential in laboratory-scale studies for the pretreatment of biomass, thereby enabling successful enzymatic saccharification. However, critical issues should be resolved, for instance, the remaining tolerance or activity of microorganisms or cellulase in the presence of ILs. This review aims to study the impact of ILs on microorganisms and cellulase during ILs-assisted biomass degradation, to investigate the interactions between ILs and microorganisms/enzymes, and to explore the feasible mechanism of ILs on enzymatic activity. This study emphasizes ILs-assisted enzymatic saccharification systems for the successful biomass degradation. Future research will focus on developing composite catalytic systems of ILs and microorganisms/enzymes and also the recycling and reusing of ionic liquids for industrial applications.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a widely recognized method for converting organic waste into biogas, offering a sustainable solution for both waste management and renewable energy generation. This review critically examines recent advancements in mathematical modeling and machine learning (ML) approaches applied to biogas production from AD processes. The study categorizes the models into daily and cumulative biogas production models, kinetic models, and hybrid AI-based predictive techniques. Special attention is given to the comparative evaluation of first-order kinetics, modified Gompertz, and Chen-Hashimoto models, highlighting their applicability and limitations. Furthermore, the integration of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and other ML algorithms is discussed in the context of optimizing biogas yield, understanding system dynamics, and reducing operational uncertainties. Research gaps are identified, including the need for more robust hybrid models, real-time monitoring systems, and studies under diverse feedstock and environmental conditions. The review emphasizes that combining traditional modeling with intelligent systems offers a powerful approach to enhancing AD performance and scaling sustainable energy solutions.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising technology for renewable energy and environmental remediation. The performance of MFCs is greatly influenced by the binder materials used on the electrodes, which must have good conductivity, stability, and compatibility with microorganisms. Synthetic binders, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyuretane (PU), geopolymer binder, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), are commonly used due to their electrochemical properties but are expensive and not environmentally friendly. In contrast, natural binders, such as chitosan, sucrose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and vegetable oils, provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives. This review synthesizes findings from various studies, comparing the electrochemical properties, stability, and sustainability of chemical and natural binders. The review identifies key research gaps and suggests future directions to improve the performance of natural binders in MFCs, making them more viable for large-scale applications in terms of cost and environmental impact. Natural binders have the potential to be a sustainable alternative in MFC electrode development.

Biomass energy is the largest source of renewable energy, accounting for approximately 55% of global renewable energy consumption. Therefore, it holds great importance for the efficient utilization of biomass. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) has been demonstrated to convert biomass into liquid biofuels, with physicochemical properties comparable to conventional crude oil. Because moisture content is a key factor in choosing the best conversion method, HTL is especially well-suited for fresh biomass, which usually contains a substantial amount of moisture. This comprehensive review examines the research progress in biomass hydrothermal liquefaction, focusing on biomass types, liquefaction parameters, reactor configurations, and catalyst types, with particular emphasis on a comparative analysis of catalytic mechanisms. This study provides a structured framework for selecting optimal conversion processes by linking biomass types, parameters, reactors, and catalysts. Future research should prioritize the development of cost-efficient bifunctional catalysts and optimization of continuous reaction systems with respect to heat and mass transfer efficiency, and integration design of catalysts, while also aiming to minimize byproduct handling costs.

The quantity and quality of oilseed production in rapeseed mustard are severely affected by biotic and abiotic stresses. Among these, the biotrophic fungus Erysiphe cruciferarum causes powdery mildew (PM) infection in Indian mustard cultivars, potentially reducing yield by up to 50% across affected regions in India. Considering recent developments in molecular plant pathology and their impact on sustainable management of challenging plant pathogens, this article reviews the current scenario for resistance and its mechanism to E. cruciferarum in Brassica cultivars. It also covers the complex molecular signaling pathways for resistance that are regulated by phytohormones along with differential gene expression, and effectors proteins in Brassica spp. The recent advancements in genomics have contributed to identification of resistance/susceptibility genes as well as quantitative trait loci (QTLs) involved in PM resistance. Furthermore, this review unfolds a comprehensive understanding of the genetic as well as genomic basis of resistance that can provide the valuable insights for breeding programs focused on developing PM-resistant rapeseed-mustard varieties. This review aims to provide the background on recent discoveries and future strategies on identification of resistance genes, aiding in the development of more resilient rapeseed-mustard crops and leading to significant improvements in crop protection and yield stability.

This review of the literature features the fundamentals of papermaking and its history. First, writing substrates other than paper, as well as similar to paper, are discussed. Then, issues related to the invention of the technology of paper and paperboard production as we know it today are presented. Subsequently, facts related to the key achievements in pulp and paper technology that enabled the mass production of these products are described. Finally, examples of papers and processed products (not only papermaking) that significantly expanded the scope of production of pulp and paper industry – also greatly improving people’s daily lives – are provided. The article concludes by highlighting the long historical journey toward obtaining a writing substrate with optimal properties ¾ namely, paper. It is proposed to divide the period of diversification of the applications of pulps, paper, and paperboards into 1^st generation diversification and 2^nd generation diversification, the latter corresponding to the contemporary times, i.e. the period in which due to the reduction in the production of writing and printing papers, the paper industry is intensively looking for new applications for papermaking pulps, papers, and cardboards.

The aging of paper significantly impacts fiber-water interactions, leading to a decline in dispersibility over time. This deterioration is particularly critical for water-dispersible paper and packaging applications designed to dissolve easily after use, as well as for recycling processes, where reduced dispersibility increases energy consumption and reject content. The aging process is notably faster and more pronounced in unbleached fibers compared to bleached fibers, indicating that lignin plays a crucial role in this phenomenon. A decrease in dispersibility is closely linked to reductions in water retention value (WRV) and increases in paper wet strength, driven by natural aging mechanisms such as hornification, auto-crosslinking, extractives self-sizing, and cellulose recrystallization. These processes reduce fiber swelling capacity and hinder paper disintegration in water. To mitigate the decline in dispersibility due to aging, minimizing moisture cycling and avoiding high temperatures are promising. Also reduction of refining energy and wet-end starch dosage in papermaking are ways to better preserve repulpability. Understanding these aging mechanisms is essential for optimizing paper formulations and ensuring long-term performance in both functional and recyclable paper products.