Exploring the diverse applications of Carbohydrate macromolecules in food, pharmaceutical, and environmental technologies

Carbohydrates are a class of macromolecules that has significant potential across several domains, including the organisation of genetic material, provision of structural support, and facilitation of defence mechanisms against invasion. Their molecular diversity enables a vast array of essential functions, such as energy storage, immunological signalling, and the modification of food texture and consistency. Due to their rheological characteristics, solubility, sweetness, hygroscopicity, ability to prevent crystallization, flavour encapsulation, and coating capabilities, carbohydrates are useful in food products. Carbohydrates hold potential for the future of therapeutic development due to their important role in sustained drug release, drug targeting, immune antigens, and adjuvants. Bio-based packaging provides an emerging phase of materials that offer biodegradability and biocompatibility, serving as a substitute for traditional non-biodegradable polymers used as coatings on paper. Blending polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with carbohydrate biopolymers, such as starch, cellulose, polylactic acid, etc., reduces the undesirable qualities of PHA, such as crystallinity and brittleness, and enhances the PHA's properties in addition to minimizing manufacturing costs. Carbohydrate-based biopolymeric nanoparticles are a viable and cost-effective way to boost agricultural yields, which is crucial for the increasing global population. The use of biopolymeric nanoparticles derived from carbohydrates is a potential and economically viable approach to enhance the quality and quantity of agricultural harvests, which is of utmost importance given the developing global population. The carbohydrate biopolymers may play in plant protection against pathogenic fungi by inhibiting spore germination and mycelial growth, may act as effective elicitors inducing the plant immune system to cope with pathogens. Furthermore, they can be utilised as carriers in controlled-release formulations of agrochemicals or other active ingredients, offering an alternative approach to conventional fungicides. It is expected that this review provides an extensive summary of the application of carbohydrates in the realms of food, pharmaceuticals, and environment.

High-pressure treatment of water-filled co-extruded polylactide films: Effect on microstructure, barrier, thermal, and rheological properties

The impact of high-pressure treatments (450 and 600 MPa) on the morphological, thermal, structural, and barrier properties of commercial coextruded polylactide (PLA) packaging films has been explored to evaluate their applicability in food processing. Pouches filled with water as a food simulant were subjected to high-pressure treatment for 15 min at ambient temperature. Results indicated no significant changes in the visual appearance, color, integrity, or water barrier properties of the post-process pouches. However, high-pressure treatment affected mechanical property results. Thermal analysis of the film showed endothermic double melting peaks (165.12 and 170.55°C), which did not change with the pressurization; however, the exothermic crystallization peak (118.08°C) varied significantly. Both SEM and AFM micrographs demonstrated that the surface morphology and roughness parameters (arithmetic mean [S_a ] and root mean square height [S_q ]) of the films were significantly affected by the HP treatment, which is further complemented by the FTIR spectra and XRD diffractogram. Melt rheology (175-205°C) of the pressure-treated films showed a significant drop (20-30%) in mechanical rigidity (G') when compared to the untreated sample. Changes in the microstructure/crystallinity in the PLA films were indicated by van Gurp and Palmen plot. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results reported here can help to improve the design of the coextruded packaging materials so that it can be successfully implemented to high-pressure processing and high pressure-assisted thermal processing of food.

Cellulose and Its Nano-Derivatives as a Water-Repellent and Fire-Resistant Surface: A Review

The inevitable destructive effects of moisture and temperature are obvious in cellulosic and nanocellulosic substrates. These materials are the main foundations of interdependent industries that produce products such as currency notes or high-quality packaging for sanitary, cosmetics, or ammunition in the defense industry. Therefore, it is essential to develop procedures to eliminate problems arising from humidity and fire to improve the quality of these green and sustainable materials. The production of waterproof and flame-resistant cellulose-based substrates has drawn increasing attention to resolve these drawbacks. In this review paper, we have initially summarized the most accessible cellulosic substrates, different kinds of nanocellulose, and the general information about water repellents and intumescent fireproof surfaces. Then, the potential and necessity of using cellulosic biobased substrates are addressed for use in modified shapes as waterproof and fire inhibitor coatings. Cost-effective, eco-friendly, and durable, dual-function coatings are also introduced as future challenges, which are exploited as water-repellents and flame-retardant cellulose-based surfaces for pulp and paper applications.

LCA of an ice cream cup of polyethylene coated paper: how does the choice of the end-of-life affect the results?

This study presents an evaluation of the environmental performance of an ice cream cup made of polyethylene (PE)/paper laminate using a life cycle assessment approach 'from cradle to grave'. Two opposite alternative disposal scenarios, as well as their intermediate combinations, were considered: 100% incineration and 100% landfilling. The environmental impacts were calculated using the EPD 2013 evaluation method since the study was developed in an Environmental Product Declaration perspective as well as the method ReCiPe 2008 H at the endpoint level. PE/paper laminate production was the most impactful process since it provided the highest contribution to total impacts in four of six impact categories considered. Ice cream cup production was the second impactful process. The 100% incineration scenario provided negligible contribution to life cycle total impact for all impact categories; while considering the landfilling scenario, the percentage contributions to the total impact provided by the end-of-life phase increased considerably, until to be comparable to the contributions provided by the production processes of the PE/paper laminate and the ice cream cup. The obtained results highlighted that different disposal scenarios can affect significantly the conclusions of a study. At the endpoint level, incineration was more environmentally sound than landfilling for all the ReCiPe damage categories.