This study reports the fabrication and evaluation of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (PVA/Ch) composite membranes loaded with extracts from Ficus carica peel (FPeE) and pulp (FPuE) as a platform for anticancer and antimicrobial applications. Phytochemical analysis revealed distinct and source‐dependent profiles: HPLC showed FPeE was rich in diverse polyphenols like rutin and hesperetin. At the same time, FPuE was dominated by an 8.1‐fold higher concentration of chlorogenic acid. Similarly, GC–MS identified malic acid (82.13%) and citric acid (85.64%) as the major volatiles in FPeE and FPuE, respectively. These chemical differences translated into specific biological activities. Both loaded membranes exhibited significant antibiofilm potential, with the FPeE membrane most effective against Pseudomonas fluorescens (58.67% inhibition) and the FPuE membrane most potent against Staphylococcus aureus (37.36% inhibition). Crucially, the membranes demonstrated high selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells while remaining safe for normal fibroblasts (HSF cells, IC 50 > 14 mg/mL). The FPeE membrane was particularly potent against HCT‐116 colorectal cancer cells, with an IC 50 value of 0.645 mg/mL. Mechanistic studies confirmed that the anticancer effect was mediated through apoptosis induction and metastasis suppression, validated by wound‐healing assays and a significant downregulation of MMP‐2/9 expression (up to 48.2%). Molecular docking further supported these findings, identifying rutin and hesperetin as strong inhibitors of MMPs and VEGFR‐2. In conclusion, this work establishes PVA/Ch membranes as a safe and effective delivery system for Ficus carica extracts. It demonstrates that the botanical source (peel vs. pulp) is a critical determinant of the specific antibiofilm and anticancer efficacy.

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer nanofiber membranes are recognized as one of the highly effective air filters with more than ~90% reported filtration efficiency for particulate matter (PM) pollution. Converting the PAN nanofiber membrane into a hydrophobic one is highly desirable, making it suitable for wet environmental conditions. In this work, we fabricate a PAN nanofiber filter with hydrophobic quality by infusing eggshell powder into the polymer solution and electrospinning it. Nanofibers with various possible combinations of eggshell powder infusion percentage and PAN precursor solution concentration are fabricated and evaluated for the filtration efficiency and hydrophobicity. SEM images of the membranes show the formation of beads and blends on the surface of the PAN nanofibers. Excellent hydrophobicity is observed in these composite polymers with a contact angle of ~132 ° . The filtration performance of the eggshell‐polyacrylonitrile (EGP) nanofiber filter is also evaluated by the filter quality measurement system, and filtration efficiency of ~93% is observed for a ~4‐ μ m thick membrane. We also fabricated composite PAN nanofibers embedded with fine calcium carbonate powder, which were found highly hydrophilic, confirming the protein content of eggshell responsible for hydrophobicity.

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste also known as Styrofoam is a common material found in packaging and insulation applications and presents significant environmental challenges due to its nonbiodegradable nature. To address this issue, researchers have explored EPS waste as a potential polymer matrix for developing composite materials. Many researchers have studied the physical, mechanical, and thermal behavior of EPS‐based materials. Therefore, this review provides the current state of knowledge regarding the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of EPS‐based composites. The effect of reinforcement content, filler size, EPS content, processing method, and other factors that affect the properties of EPS‐based composites is covered in this review. The physical properties examined include density, porosity, and water absorption properties, while the mechanical behavior encompasses tensile strength, impact strength, and flexural resistance of EPS waste–based materials. This review also identifies key findings from various studies and discusses the influence of EPS waste on the overall performance of the composites. Moreover, it highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with utilizing EPS waste in composite materials, along with potential avenues for future research. Overall, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and stakeholders interested in understanding the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of EPS waste–based composites and their potential applications in sustainable material development, thereby enhancing the commercial value of recycled materials.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) persist as organic contaminants within diverse water reservoirs, posing significant environmental and health risks. Nanofiltration (NF) membranes have emerged as effective tools for PAHs removal owing to their ability to separate based on size. However, membrane fouling and limited rejection efficiency remain as challenges. This study developed a novel gradient cross‐linking graphene oxide (GO)–integrated polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) NF membrane to enhance PAHs rejection while mitigating fouling issues. The gradient cross‐linking approach and GO integration are aimed at improving the membrane’s rejection performance, stability, and antifouling properties. Fourier transform spectroscopy spectra of the GO‐PVP membrane showed new peaks, indicating the GO linkage. The membrane flux increased with GO concentration due to hydrophilicity; however, membrane flux decreased for the GO‐PVP membrane at a loading of 0.5 wt% due to poor GO distribution. The results exhibited a higher membrane flux of 72.9 ± 2.9 L m −2 h −1 , obtained for the GO‐PVP membrane at 0.4 wt% loading. Salt rejection decreased with GO due to the development of large pores; hence, there is always a trade‐off between membrane flux and salt rejection. GO‐PVP membrane presents a promising approach for efficiently removing PAHs from water sources. The developed membrane has the potential to be applied in various water treatment applications, contributing to improved water quality and environmental protection.

In this study, a novel cobalt ferrite–chitosan magnetic bioadsorbent was synthesized and utilized for the efficient removal of monoethylene glycol (MEG) from aqueous media. The novelty of this work lies in the rational design of a biopolymer‐coated magnetic nanocomposite that integrates the superior adsorption functionality of chitosan with the high magnetic stability and recyclability of cobalt ferrite, providing a sustainable and easily recoverable alternative to conventional adsorbents. The choice of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles ensures a strong magnetic response and structural robustness, while the chitosan coating introduces abundant amino and hydroxyl groups that serve as active binding sites for MEG through hydrogen bonding and dipole interactions. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the successful synthesis of a porous, uniformly coated hybrid material: FTIR spectra evidenced the formation of characteristic –NH₂ and –OH groups, XRD patterns revealed distinct spinel ferrite peaks, and SEM images showed a roughened chitosan surface that enhances active site accessibility. These morphological modifications directly improved the adsorption efficiency, demonstrating a clear structure–property relationship. Batch adsorption experiments indicated a maximum adsorption capacity of 133.33 mg/g (Langmuir model), and thermodynamic studies ( Δ G ° , Δ H ° , and Δ S ° ) confirmed that the process is spontaneous and endothermic. The adsorption performance was strongly pH‐dependent, with optimal uptake at pH 6 due to balanced protonation of surface groups enabling favorable electrostatic attraction toward MEG molecules. The bioadsorbent maintained high regeneration ability, exhibiting minimal capacity loss after several reuse cycles. Overall, this work introduces a distinctive, magnetically separable, and eco‐friendly bioadsorbent that effectively bridges biodegradability, reusability, and high‐performance MEG removal for industrial wastewater applications.

This study presents the selection process of an approximate constitutive compression model of concrete in the simulations of a fiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP)–concrete bonded interface because significant effects of compressive strain energy have been found on the ultimate load at the FRP–concrete bonded interface through a reliable finite element (FE) model. In this study, a number of constitutive compression models of concrete are comprehensively reviewed first and then compared to the experimental data from short concrete columns with different compressive strengths, revealing that the models in the third group are in the best agreement with those in physical tests. The effect of residual stress through different cut‐off schemes is then investigated on the basis of the FE model validated by the corresponding testing data of the FRP–concrete bonded interface. The aforementioned constitutive compression models with appropriate values for residual stress are employed to investigate their effects on the mechanical behavior in the simulations of the FRP–concrete bonded interface through the validated FE model. Once again, it suggests that the models in the third group are most suitable to simulate the mechanical behavior of concrete at the FRP–concrete bonded interface.

The current research is focused on developing and evaluating new composite materials that are reinforced with natural fibers to enhance sustainability and create environmentally friendly composites. The use of both wool and Periploca laevigata Aiton fibers was chosen in the construction of the hybrid composite due to their similar organic composition, while also taking into account their different properties such as weight, density, and water absorption capabilities. This combination created a composite material that is not only lightweight but also has little water absorption. To further improve the quality of the wool, a treatment involving cold plasma has been carried out to enhance the bonding between individual fibers. Vacuum infusion technology is used during the manufacturing process to ensure the quality of the composite materials by eliminating trapped air, allowing for consistent purity in each repetition. The fibers used in this study include untreated wool fibers, NaOH‐treated wool fibers, and cold plasma–treated wool fibers. Wool fibers were treated with a 5% sodium hydroxide solution for 30 min, resulting in fiber degradation. The concentration of the solution was gradually reduced until it reached a practical level of 0.1%. The hybrid composite incorporates wool that has undergone plasma treatments, which are crucial for removing organic contaminants from surfaces, strengthening the surface layer, and altering the chemical structure. The electric field applied had a strength of 9 kV and a frequency of 60 Hz. Atmospheric air was employed as the gas, with a flow rate of 800 L/min, and the fiber treatment lasted for 60 min. An analysis of natural fibers using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) unveiled similarities in the organic structures and chemical bonds shared between Periploca laevigata Aiton fiber and wool fibers, despite their unique origins. While wool fibers are animal‐derived, Periploca laevigata Aiton fibers stem from plants. By identifying these parallels, a hybrid composite material was formulated by combining plasma‐treated wool fibers with Periploca laevigata fibers. This resulted in a significant improvement in the tensile, flexural, and compressive properties of the composite, establishing it as a promising avenue for enhancing mechanical performance. The PLAF‐WLF hybrid composite exhibited a remarkable tensile strength of 26.02 MPa and Young’s modulus of 2.35 GPa, surpassing all other composites. In comparison, the PLAF composite demonstrated an impressive tensile strength of 20.1 MPa and Young’s modulus of 2.34 GPa. The PLAF‐WLF hybrid composite exhibited the highest flexural load‐bearing capacity of 253.15 N and Young’s modulus of 1.21 GPa. PLAF‐WLF demonstrates a hybrid compressive strength of 59.56 MPa, while its Young’s modulus is 0.5 GPa. The mechanical analysis findings revealed that the hybrid composite incorporating cold plasma–treated wool fibers and Periploca laevigata Aiton fibers displayed superior mechanical characteristics. Additionally, the composite made of Periploca laevigata Aiton fibers, recognized for its lightweight nature, smooth surface, and high quality, showed notable mechanical properties as well.

The objective of this study was to develop an efficient method for enhancing the production of bioethanol in a single‐reactor system (SRS) by implementing acid–base pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis techniques, thereby eliminating differentiation and removal processes. The aim was to establish a process for bioethanol synthesis using hydrolyzed palm oil mill effluent (POME) and a locally sourced cellulase enzyme. The pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis methods were successfully optimized, resulting in a maximum yield of reducing sugars of 26.6 g/L (53.14%). To achieve the highest bioethanol yield, fermentation was carried out using both the one‐factor‐at‐a‐time (OFAT) and face‐centered central composite design (FCCCD) approaches. The OFAT approach was employed to obtain the maximum bioethanol production, which yielded 6.75% v/v of bioethanol from the hydrolyzed POME using the same bioreactor. In the case of the FCCCD process, the optimal conditions led to a bioethanol production of 7.64% v/v during the fermentation stage. Kinetic analyses of the bioethanol produced revealed a specific growth rate (μ) of 0.198 h−1 and a specific product formation rate (qp) of 0.239 h−1 after 3 days of fermentation. These findings highlight a promising strategy for efficient management of POME through the production of biofuels, which could contribute to the economic growth of the country.

The conversion of waste into value‐added products is critical to long‐term sustainability as waste disposal costs, landfilling space, and climate change would be reduced. Research and production industries investigate the possible use of natural fibers as a substitute for fossil fuels. Natural fiber‐reinforced polymer composites’ physical and mechanical properties can be altered by natural fiber treatment, and the treatment choice relies on the desired properties and performance. In addition to cost‐profitability, environmental effects, and required performance, composites can be designed based on the product conditions. Disadvantages such as incompatibility of the hydrophilic natural fiber reinforcements with the hydrophobic polymer matrix often result in the tendency of the composite to have high moisture absorption, poor thermal stability, crystallinity, and mechanical strength. These factors critically impair the performance of the natural fibers as reinforcements in polymer composites, hence resulting in less‐favourable mechanical and physical properties. Physical, chemical, and biological treatments were examined to determine their effect on the durability and thermal, physical, and mechanical properties. It was observed that plasma treatment for bamboo fibers resulted in interfibral spaces and anchoring mechanisms between the resin and fibers, leading to increased load transfer. Chemical treatment at various concentrations improved the surface smoothness. The best mechanical, physical, thermal, and chemical properties for application as reinforcement in polymer composites were obtained at 6% for alkali treatments. Enzymatic treatment showed a significant impact on the impact and flexural strength of the composites. Factors such as duration, concentration, and extent of treatment need to be established for effective treatment, as prolonged treatments may damage the NFs’ properties. This review comprehensively highlights the potential utilization of current natural fiber treatment methods for the potential of natural fibers as value‐added products for construction materials, considering their economical affordability, production of lightweight materials, sustainability, utilization of readily available waste material, and nature preservation. Furthermore, the three natural fiber treatment approaches for improving fiber‐matrix adhesion are discussed. The physical and mechanical properties of composites are highlighted, which aids in evaluating suitability for construction materials.