Biopolymer Applications Journal

General Overview of Starch as a Biodegradable film Material

Dalila Hammiche — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The characteristics of starch-based films are profoundly governed by their chemical constitution, structural arrangement, and the extent of crystallinity, which are pivotal in ascertaining their functional capabilities and performance metrics. Mechanical properties constitute critical variables for assessing the appropriateness of starch films for various practical utilizations. These characteristics are contingent upon the source of starch, the conditions under which processing occurs, and the incorporation of additives such as plasticizers and reinforcement agents. An increase in crystallinity typically enhances the tensile strength and rigidity of the films, notwithstanding the potential compromise in flexibility. Barrier properties are of equal significance, especially in the context of food packaging applications. The permeability to water vapor and oxygen is markedly influenced by the microstructural attributes of starch films. Crystalline domains within the polymeric matrix are regarded as impervious to gases and moisture. Furthermore, a salient advantage of starch-derived materials is their inherent biodegradability. These films possess the capability to be decomposed by microorganisms and enzymes in appropriate environmental settings, thereby aiding in the alleviation of plastic pollution.

DNLR Approach of the Behavior and Damage of Thermoplastic Polymers (HDPE)

Mokhtar BENCHERIF — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Formulation and characterization of oil/water emulsions stabilized by biopolymer complexes

Rebiha Bellache — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable colloidal systems consisting of two immiscible liquids. To overcome the use of potentially irritating synthetic surfactants, this study evaluates the stabilization of simple oil/water emulsions using natural biopolymers, specifically proteins and polysaccharides. Emulsions were formulated using olive oil and mixtures of chitosan, starch, and mycological peptone. The influence of pH (2, 3, and 4) on the formation of biopolymer complexes was investigated. Macroscopic and microscopic characterizations revealed that the emulsion stabilized by the chitosan/protein complex at pH 4 exhibited the best physical stability. This stability was manifested by the absence of phase separation, sedimentation, and coalescence. UV-Visible spectrophotometry analyses showed a maximum absorbance at this pH, indicating maximal interaction between the macromolecules. Finally, infrared spectroscopy confirmed the formation of physical interactions between the protein and the polysaccharide, leading to a perfectly homogeneous phase. The chitosan/protein emulsion at pH 4 demonstrated superior stability, maintaining a homogeneous structure without phase separation, unlike the unstable chitosan/starch emulsions. FTIR analysis revealed strong interactions between chitosan and protein, evidenced by changes in the O–H, C–H, and C=O bands, whereas the unstable emulsions showed no significant spectral changes, indicating a lack of intermolecular interactions.

Niosomal Encapsulation of Artemisia herba-alba Essential Oil: Optimization and Characterization Using Box-Behnken Design

Hayet Ahlem Lezrag — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This study focuses on the development and optimization of niosomal vesicles for the encapsulation of Artemisia herba-alba (white wormwood) essential oil, a plant native to arid and semi-arid regions of Algeria. A Box-Behnken experimental design was employed to investigate the effects of cholesterol concentration, Span 60 concentration, and sonication time on niosome size and encapsulation efficiency. The optimal formulation was achieved using 0.25 μL/mL of essential oil, 2.5 mg/mL of cholesterol, 5.8 mg/mL of Span 60, and a sonication time of 7 min, resulting in an experimental encapsulation efficiency of 90.67% with an average particle size of 880 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the physical nature of encapsulation through hydrogen bonding interactions without chemical modification of components. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a decrease in crystallinity of excipients, indicating successful integration of the essential oil into the niosomal bilayer. Stability studies demonstrated progressive physical instability with particle growth from 880 nm to 2780 nm over 90 days, while encapsulation efficiency remained above 83%. These findings establish niosomes as an effective vectorization system for A. herba-alba essential oil, enhancing its stability and offering promising applications in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields.

Process Simulation of Vitamin C Syrup Manufacturing: An Aspen Plus®-Based Approach for Pharmaceutical Unit Operations Optimization

Tewfik Hammou — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The pharmaceutical industry increasingly relies on process simulation tools to optimize manufacturing workflows, reduce development costs, and ensure regulatory compliance. This study presents a comprehensive simulation of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) syrup preparation using Aspen Plus® V12.1, focusing on critical unit operations including mixing, dissolution, crystallization, and cross-flow membrane filtration. The process was modeled using the Non-Random Two-Liquid (NRTL) thermodynamic base property method, with crystallization/dissolution kinetics parameterized according to the McCabe growth law. Three sequential BatchOp unit operation under Batch Model (Batch Process), CRISTAL1–3 was employed to dissolve sucrose (933.4 kg), ascorbic acid (1.436 kg), and vanillin flavoring (0.1436 kg) in purified water (500 kg), achieving a final syrup composition of 65.0% w/w sucrose, 0.1% w/w vitamin C, and 0.01% w/w vanillin. The simulation demonstrated complete dissolution of all active and excipient components within 105 min for sucrose, 60 min for vitamin C, and 15 min for final homogenization, with cross-flow filtration (CFFilter modules) effectively removing insoluble impurities and non-sugar solids. The final product exhibited a standard liquid density of 1.3276 g/cm³, closely matching the European Pharmacopoeia specification of 1.32 g/cm³ at 20°C. This work establishes a simulation framework for liquid pharmaceutical manufacturing, demonstrating how simulation-driven process design can enhance quality assurance, reduce material waste, and accelerate scale-up from laboratory to industrial production.

Effect of Olive Pomace Content on the Capillary Water Absorption Behaviour of Earth-Sand Bio-Based Composites for use on sustainable construction

Khellaf Belmihoub — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Evaluating the hydraulic properties of construction materials is an essential step in determining their durability and in-service behavior. Among the commonly used methods, the capillary absorption test is a simple and effective tool for characterizing a porous material’s ability to absorb and transport water under the influence of capillary forces. This property is of particular importance for bio-based materials and earth-matrix composites, whose performance is strongly influenced by their porous structure. This study focuses on the characterization of earth-sand composites incorporating olive pomace as a bio-based reinforcing material. The main objective is to evaluate the influence of different olive pomace contents on the capillary behavior of the developed composites. Capillary absorption tests were conducted on several formulations containing varying percentages of olive pomace. The results obtained are analyzed in terms of the bulk density, porosity, and microstructural organization of the material. The incorporation of olive pomace significantly alters the physical characteristics of the composite by increasing porosity and reducing the density of the soil matrix. These changes directly influence water transport mechanisms and capillary absorption kinetics. Analysis of the results reveals a gradual decrease in water absorption as the olive pomace content increases, reflecting greater connectivity within the pore network. The results obtained show that the capillary absorption test is a relevant method for evaluating the hydraulic behavior of olive pomace-reinforced soil-sand composites. This approach allows for an assessment of their suitability for use in sustainable construction applications while contributing to a better understanding of the relationships between formulation, porosity, and moisture transfer.