Research Keyword: polymer chemistry

The Food–Materials Nexus: Next Generation Bioplastics and Advanced Materials from Agri‐Food Residues

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This review explores how food waste and agricultural byproducts can be transformed into useful bioplastics and advanced materials. By breaking down food residues into their component building blocks—like cellulose, pectin, and proteins—scientists can create eco-friendly plastics suitable for packaging, medical devices, and electronic applications. This approach supports a circular economy where waste becomes a valuable resource rather than an environmental burden.

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An Overview of Microorganisms Immobilized in a Gel Structure for the Production of Precursors, Antibiotics, and Valuable Products

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Scientists have developed methods to trap bacteria and fungi inside gel structures, similar to tiny capsules. These immobilized microorganisms can produce antibiotics and other useful medicines more efficiently and continuously than free-floating cells. The gel structures protect the cells, allow them to be reused multiple times, and reduce production costs, making medicine manufacturing faster and cheaper.

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Identification of novel polyethylene-degrading fungi from South African landfill soils: Arthrographis kalrae, Lecanicillium coprophilum, and Didymosphaeria variabile

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Researchers in South Africa discovered three previously unknown fungi that can break down plastic waste, particularly low-density polyethylene used in shopping bags. These fungi were isolated from landfill soils and showed the ability to degrade plastic strips through oxidative processes, with chemical changes detectable using advanced analysis techniques. This discovery offers hope for developing local, biologically-based solutions to South Africa’s serious plastic waste problem.

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Fungal and Microalgal Chitin: Structural Differences, Functional Properties, and Biomedical Applications

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Chitin is a natural fiber found in mushroom cell walls and algae that can be extracted and used for medical applications like wound healing and drug delivery. Traditional chitin from shellfish shells contains heavy metals and requires harsh chemicals to extract, but chitin from mushrooms and algae is cleaner, more sustainable, and can be grown year-round. Scientists have developed environmentally friendly extraction methods using special solvents and enzymes that preserve the chitin’s useful properties. This makes fungal and algal chitin promising alternatives for creating biomedical materials and packaging.

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