University of Córdoba (Spain)

About: University of Córdoba (Spain) is a education organization based out in Cordova, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 12006 authors who have published 22998 publications receiving 537842 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Córdoba (Spain) & Universidad de Córdoba.

Cellulose Nanofibers and Other Biopolymers for Biomedical Applications. A Review

Abstract: Biopolymers are materials synthesised or derived from natural sources, such as plants, animals, microorganisms or any other living organism. The use of these polymers has grown significantly in recent years as industry shifts away from unsustainable fossil fuel resources and looks towards a softer and more sustainable environmental approach. This review article covers the main classes of biopolymers: Polysaccharides, proteins, microbial-derived and lignin. In addition, an overview of the leading biomedical applications of biopolymers is also provided, which includes tissue engineering, medical implants, wound dressings, and the delivery of bioactive molecules. The future clinical applications of biopolymers are vast, due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability and low immunogenicity. All properties which their synthetic counterparts do not share.

Suitability of wheat straw semichemical pulp for the fabrication of lignocellulosic nanofibres and their application to papermaking slurries

Abstract: The present work studies the feasibility of wheat soda pulp as a raw material for the fabrication of cellulose nanofibres and their application as an additive in papermaking. Wheat straws were cooked under alkaline conditions and the resulting pulp was used as a raw material for the production of lignocellulosic nanofibres (LCNF). Nanofibres were fabricated by intense mechanical beating followed by high-pressure homogenization. The produced LCNF were characterized and applied to papermaking slurry based also on wheat straw soda pulp. Paper sheets made thereof were analysed for their physical and mechanical properties. The results indicated that paper strength was improved after addition of LCNF, whereas density increased and porosity was reduced. These improvements in properties (except the Tear Index) are significant because they were achieved using LCNF with lower fibrillation degree compared to previous works where chemically pre-treated LCNF were used as reinforcement.

A Tuneable Bifunctional Water-Compatible Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Selective Aqueous Hydrogenation of Phenols

Abstract: A water-tolerant bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst is able to effectively catalyse the selective hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone in water at atmospheric pressure and room temperature with >99.9% selectivity to cyclohexanone at phenol conversions >99.9%. The catalyst was found to be highly active and reusable, giving identical activities and selectivities after >5 uses. Moreover, this reported simple bifunctional catalyst is also able to hydrogenate a range of substituted phenols in high yields under the investigated aqueous conditions.