The design of polymers from renewable sources or waste is one of the most intense fields of research in the circular bioeconomy. Phenols, terpenes, and vegetable oils are eligible raw materials for the manufacture of a variety of materials, including elastomers, plastics, hydrogels, and composites [1]. The phenol group confers to these natural compounds intrinsic antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, making them ideal candidates for biomedical applications and sustainable packaging.
Herein, natural phenols, including dihydrocaffeic acid (HCAF), tyrosol (Ty), and eugenol (EU), were investigated as building blocks for the synthesis of bioactive polymers, as a valorization of agro-food wastes. HCAF was used for chitosan functionalization [2] while Ty and EU [3] were first functionalized to introduce polymerizable moieties and then copolymerized at different molar ratios with selected cationic or functional monomers to tune the final polymers’ amphiphilic properties. Polymerization conditions were optimized to obtain either soluble or crosslinked hydrogel systems, while dispersion polymerization enabled the formation of nanogels. A comprehensive physico-chemical characterization of the obtained polymer systems, including thermal analysis, rheological measurements, and dynamic light scattering, was performed to study the structure-property relationship. Furthermore, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties were evaluated to relate bioactivity to polymer composition. Hydrogels were designed as bioactive coatings for antimicrobial and antioxidant protection in packaging or biomedical surfaces, whereas nanogels were tailored for drug delivery applications.

Thermoplastics and thermosets are widely used in various applications, such as packaging materials and construction, due to their excellent properties like lightness and versatile processability. However, a significant issue arises from their fossil-based origins, with Europe being particularly dependent on imported crude oil. To mitigate the negative environmental impact of fossil-based raw materials and enhance Europe’s self-sufficiency, there is an increasing focus on utilizing available biomasses and developing high-performance biobased alternatives.

Furfural is a platform biochemical that can be efficiently produced from hemicellulose-based C5 sugars derived from industrial side streams and agricultural residues like straw. Historically, furfural has had limited applications, primarily as a raw material for producing furfuryl alcohol. Its potential as a raw material for polymers remains underexplored and poorly documented, likely due to its monofunctional nature compared to the dual functionality of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furan-2-carbaldehyde (HMF).

Our research team has developed several furfural-derived monomers that can be used to produce new thermoplastic and thermoset materials. Notably, 2,2’-bifuran-5,5’-dicarboxylic acid (2,2’-BFDCA)¹,², 3,3’-bifuran-5,5’-dicarboxylic acid (3,3’-BFDCA)³, 5,5’-sulfanediyldi(furan-2-carboxylic acid) (SFA)⁴, and 5-[(2-hydroxyethyl)sulfanyl]furan-2-carboxylate (MSF)⁵ have shown highly promising properties. This presentation highlights the latest discoveries, properties, and prospects of furfural-derived polyesters and resin materials, such as epoxy and vinylester resins. The results clearly demonstrate that novel biobased materials can possess fully competitive properties compared to currently used fossil-based materials.

We live in a world where electronic is so well integrated into our lives that it would be hard to imagine a single day without the support of modern technology (mobile phone, LED screen, camera, etc.). These electronic products have become essential tools in our daily routine. However, even if the electronic elements that compose them are more and more efficient, the fact remains that their lifespan is limited and that the resources used for their manufacture are demanding on the environment. A drastic change in the way we harness resources and manage electronic waste is required to minimize negative impacts on our environment. In order to eliminate electronic waste, materials from renewable and recyclable sources are sought. In this regard, the biomass is considered the only sustainable source of organic carbon and therefore the ideal replacement for petroleum products for the production of chemical compounds.
One of the resources derived from biomass, lignocellulose, is the most abundant bio-based material on earth. Indeed, the main value-added compound obtained from the depolymerization of lignin is vanillin. Vanillin is an aromatic compound with three functional groups which can be chemically modified (the methoxy group, the aldehyde function, and the hydroxyl group. The present work describes how vanillin can be expanded into several heterocycle building blocks for the preparation of sustainable polymers. Vanillin-derived polymers will be discussed as semiconducting polymers for optoelectronics applications.

High-performance energy storage materials are crucial for advancing the global energy transition. In capacitors, achieving high energy densities remains challenging due to the limitations of low dielectric constant materials, which constrain efficiency in high-power applications. To address this, we leveraged a molecular design that enhances polarizability across multiple length scales, through electronic polarization (aromatic groups), atomic and orientational polarization (polar functional groups), as well as by introducing progressive polarization vectors (uneven-numbered building blocks) in the amorphous and crystalline phase. 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a uniquely fitting building block towards this purpose. It provides high thermo-mechanical properties as required, and has been used to synthesize polarizable polyesters, including polypropylene furanoate (PPF) and polyneopentyl glycol furanoate (PNF). Systematic investigations of their thermal and dielectric behavior reveal that, while structurally similar, PPF and PNF exhibit distinct crystallization behavior and unique temperature dependencies in crystal phase formation. Furthermore, we disclose how these properties can be tailored to affect the formation of polarizable crystal phases, ultimately enhancing the energy storage potential of this promising class of polymers beyond that of conventional fossil-based alternatives such as PET.

Environmental considerations and technological challenges have led to the search for green and energy-efficient processes for advanced manufacturing of materials. In this aspect, the effort to utilize green fillers in polymer composites has increased focus on the application of natural biomass-based fillers. In line with this, Biochar has garnered a lot of attention as a filler material and can potentially replace conventionally used inorganic mineral fillers. However, aggregation and heterogeneous dispersion of biochar due to its nonuniform micro/macro size distribution limits its reinforcing capability.[1-3] Therefore, in this work, a green method has been adopted to prepare nano-sized biochar as a better reinforcement using a planetary ball mill, and the ball milled-biochar has been melt-blended with a biobased thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) for the fabrication of bio-nanocomposite. The effect of the addition of ball-milled biochar on the melting temperature and crystallinity of biobased-TPU nanocomposites was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). A significant enhancement in the mechanical properties of TPU/Ball-milled-biochar composites was observed compared to TPU/Biochar composites. Further, the thermal stability of the prepared TPU/Ball-milled biochar bio-nanocomposite was investigated together with the characterization of ball-milled biochar using various techniques like XRD, Raman, XPS, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and BET Surface area analysis, etc. As biochar is highly cost-effective, the proposed biobased-polymer nanocomposites could become a valid substitute for non-biodegradable nanocomposites in various applications.