Universitas Diponegoro

Bagasse-based biocomposites are gaining attention for their cost-effectiveness, low d., and eco-friendly characteristics, making them suitable for applications in automotive parts, sporting goods, and household items like furniture and flooring.Despite the abundant availability of bagasse, much of it is underutilized.Converting bagasse waste into fiber-reinforced polymer composites presents a significant com. opportunity.However, challenges such as poor wettability, high water absorption, low mech. properties, and inadequate interfacial bonding limit their potential.Bagasse fibers typically have tensile strengths of 150-290 MPa, a Young′s modulus of 15-30 GPa, and a decomposition temperature of 200°C-240°C, with water absorption rates up to 60%.Their high cellulose content (40%-50%) and dielec. constant (3-4) also influence their compatibility with polymer matrixes.Surface treatments, including mech., chem., or phys. methods, are necessary to enhance these properties.This review examines the impact of various chem. treatments on the mech., thermal, water absorption, and elec. properties of sugarcane bagasse fiber-based biocomposites, highlighting their potential and the challenges that need to be addressed for broader application.

This study optimizes biocomposite filaments composed of polylactic acid (PLA), magnesium (Mg), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) for bone scaffold applications via 3D printing.Using Response Surface Methodol., extrusion parameters including temperature, screw speed, and Mg and PEG proportions were optimized to achieve a consistent filament diameter of 1.75 mm, meeting 3D printing standardsExtrusion temperature significantly influenced filament diameter by reducing PLA viscosity at higher temperaturesScrew speed impacted diameter uniformity and d., while Mg enhanced filament strength but posed challenges in uniform distribution.PEG improved flexibility, mitigating Mg-induced stiffness.SEM revealed voids and uneven Mg inclusions, indicating areas for process enhancement.These findings advance the development of optimized biocomposite filaments, providing a foundation for improved fabrication techniques in bone tissue engineering.

Microplastic contamination in clean water sources and household wastewater is a significant environmental issue that requires sustainable remediation solutionsThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by different microalgae strains in removing microplastics from aquatic environments.Four microalgae strains, namely Spirulina sp.Tetraselmis chuii, Chlorella vulgaris, and Dunaliella salina, were cultivated under stress conditions, including the application of polypropylene microplastics, increased light intensity, and enhanced nutrient levels, to stimulate EPS productionThe EPS produced was then interacted with microplastics to form hetero-aggregates.Spirulina sp. produced the highest amount of EPS (4.59 g), followed by Tetraselmis chuii (3.27 g), Chlorella vulgaris (3.03 g), and Dunaliella salina (2.86 g).The carbohydrate content in dry EPS was also highest in Spirulina sp. (0.21%), with Tetraselmis chuii (0.19%), Chlorella vulgaris (0.16%), and Dunaliella salina (0.11%) following.The microplastic flocculation efficiency mirrored these results, with Spirulina sp. flocculating 1.397 g of microplastics, outperforming the other strains.These findings suggest that Spirulina sp. and Tetraselmis chuii are particularly effective in producing EPS that can be utilized to remove microplastics from aquatic environments, offering a promising eco-friendly solution