Upcycling agro-industrial blueberry waste into platform chemicals and structured materials for application in marine environments

Guillermo Reyes*, Claudia M. Pacheco, Estefania Isaza-Ferro, Amaidy González, Eva Pasquier, Serguei Alejandro-Martín, Luis E. Arteaga-Peréz, Romina R. Carrillo, Isabel Carrillo-Varela, Regis Teixeira Mendonça, Colleen Flanigan, Orlando J. Rojas*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Blueberry pruning waste (BPw), sourced as residues from agroforestry operations in Chile, was used to produce added-value products, including platform chemicals and materials. BPw fractionation was implemented using biobased solvents (γ-valerolactone, GVL) and pyrolysis (500 °C), yielding solid fractions that are rich in phenols and antioxidants. The liquid fraction was found to be enriched in sugars, acids, and amides. Alongside, filaments and 3D-printed meshes were produced via wet spinning and Direct-Ink-Writing (DIW), respectively. For the latter purpose, BPw was dissolved in an ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([emim][OAc]), and regenerated into lignocellulose filaments with highly aligned nanofibrils (wide-angle X-ray scattering) that simultaneously showed extensibility (wet strain as high as 39%). BPw-derived lignocellulose filaments showed a tenacity (up to 2.3 cN dtex−1) that is comparable to that of rayon fibers and showed low light reflectance (RES factor <3%). Meanwhile, DIW of the respective gels led to meshes with up to 60% wet stretchability. The LCF and meshes were demonstrated to have reliable performance in marine environments. As a demonstration, we show the prospects of replacing plastic cords and other materials used to restore coral reefs on the coast of Mexico.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3794-3804
Number of pages11
JournalGreen Chemistry
Volume24
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 May 2022
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

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