Examinando por Autor "Batista, Diego"

Mostrando 1 - 4 de 4

Advanced Extraction and Comprehensive Characterization of Sustainable Textile Fibers from Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Waste
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) (Suiza), 2024) Ferreiro, Omayra; Mallorquín, Rodrigo; Rodas, Jorge; Vargas, Violeta; Flecha, Aida; Jose-Roberto, Vega-Baudrit; Duarte, Shirley; Batista, Diego; RIVALDI CHAVEZ, JUAN DANIEL
Abstract. The global textile sector, pivotal to economic development, significantly contributes to environmental degradation, prompting a shift towards sustainable raw material sources. Embracing circular economy principles, this industry is exploring the valorization of agricultural by-products. This study introduces an innovative approach to repurposing mango waste into valuable textile fibers, a byproduct of the fruit processing industry, predominantly generated during juice and jam production. The focus is on the lignocellulosic constituents of mango waste, specifically the peel, seed, and fibrous material, traditionally considered as refuse. Previous research has predominantly utilized mango peel in pectin extraction for food applications, whereas the potential of seed and fibrous content remains underexplored. This investigation endeavors to transform these fibrous by-products into high-value materials suitable for textile manufacturing. The process involved washing, drying, and comprehensive physicochemical characterization of mango fibers, emphasizing lignin quantification, revealing a composition of 12.2% lignin. An experimental design was employed to elucidate the impact of variables such as liquid-to-solid ratio, reaction duration, and sodium hydroxide concentration on lignin dissolution through alkaline hydrolysis. Optimal conditions—10% NaOH concentration, 30 mL/g liquid-to-solid ratio over six hours—achieved an 83% reduction in lignin content. The resulting fibers exhibited properties akin to conventional natural fibers, including a favorable aspect ratio indicative of their suitability for textile applications. A subsequent softening process using propylene glycol enhanced the fibers’ spinability, producing a durable, textured fabric ideal for eco-conscious fashion applications, including bags, footwear, and accessories. This research demonstrates the feasibility of converting mango waste into a textile-worthy material and underscores the importance of waste revalorization in promoting sustainability within the circular economy framework.
Biodegradable plastics in aquatic ecosystems: latest findings, research gaps, and recommendations
(IOP Publishing (Reino Unido), 2022) Ribba, Laura; Lopretti, Mary; Montes de Oca-Vásquez, Gabriela; Batista, Diego; Goyanes, Silvia; Jose-Roberto, Vega-Baudrit
Abstract. The negative impact of plastic accumulation in aquatic ecosystems is a known and undeniable problem. However, while many of the scientific community’s countermeasures against such accumulation target the effects of the most common commodity plastics, the consequences of so-called ‘biodegradable’ plastics in those ecosystems are seldom discussed. After all, though their alleged biodegradability sustains the widespread belief that they are harmless to the environment, because a material’s fate determines its classification as biodegradable or not, many plastics classified as biodegradable do not in fact meet the required norms and standards of biodegradability in aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, during the past five years, the scientific community has shown that the degradation of such plastics can generate bio-microplastics that have effects similar to or worse than those of conventional microplastics (MPs). Against that background, this review details the latest findings regarding how biodegradable plastics can influence aquatic ecosystems and thus cause adverse health effects in living organisms and/or act as vectors of chemical pollutants. Beyond that, it identifies the key aspects of such trends to be investigated in greater depth, including the need to consider a wider variety of biodegradable plastics and to develop systematic methods that allow quantifying and identifying the remains of those pollutants in living species. Other aspects worth considering include the arrival and mobilisation dynamics of MPs in oceans. The ways in which small animals fed by filtering (e.g. red crabs and other zooplankton organisms) move MPs through the water column and into food webs also merit attention, for those MPs are ingested by numerous species at different trophic levels, at which point bioaccumulation in tissues has to be considered as a factor of toxicity. This review closes with a series of recommendations and perspectives for future studies on biodegradable plastics in aquatic ecosystems.
Mechanical Properties of Pineapple Nanocellulose/Epoxy Resin Composites
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) (Suiza), 2023) Álvarez Véliz, Gabriela; Cifuentes, Jorge Iván; Batista, Diego; Lopretti, Mary; Corrales, Yendry; Camacho Elizondo, Melissa; Jose-Roberto, Vega-Baudrit
Abstract. A study of materials for wind turbine blades with nanotechnology—from the energy point of view—is an essential topic because resources and fossil fuels are running out. Human beings need to create alternative energies, including wind energy. This research aims to improve the mechanical properties of epoxy resin wind turbine blades by incorporating nanocelluloses obtained from pineapple residues. To determine the quality of the nanobiocomposites, materials with different epoxy resin–nanocellulose ratios were prepared. The mechanical properties of tension, compression, and bending were evaluated, and hardness tests of the material were conducted. The results indicated a general improvement in all the mechanical properties considered over the material without the nanocellulose.
Nanochitin and Nanochitosan in Pharmaceutical Applications: Innovations, Applications, and Future Perspective
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) (Suiza), 2025) Jose-Roberto, Vega-Baudrit; Lopretti, Mary; Montes de Oca, Gabriela; Camacho, Melissa; Batista, Diego; Corrales, Yendry; Araya, Andrea; Bahloul, Badr; Corvis, Yohann; Castillo-Henríquez, Luis
Abstract. Nanochitin is a nanoscale form of chitin—a polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans, insects, and some fungal cell walls—that is newly garnering significant attention in the pharmaceutical space. Its good properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and an easily adjustable surface, render it attractive for various medical and pharmaceutical applications. Nanochitin, from drug delivery systems and wound-care formulations to vaccine adjuvants and antimicrobial strategies, has demonstrated its strong potential in meeting diverse therapeutic needs. This review covers the background of nanochitin, including methods for its extraction and refining and its principal physicochemical and biological properties. It further discusses various hydrolysis and enzymatic approaches for the structural and functional characterization of nanochitin and highlights some pharmaceutical applications where this biopolymer has been studied. The review also addresses toxicity issues, regulatory matters, and challenges in large-scale industrial production. Finally, it underscores novel avenues of investigation and future opportunities, emphasizing the urgent requirement for standardized production methods, rigorous safety assessment, and interdisciplinary partnerships to maximize nanochitin’s potential in pharmaceutical research, demonstrating the importance of chitin in drug delivery.