@article{farhat_venditti_becquart_ayoub_majesté_taha_mignard_2019, title={Synthesis and Characterization of Thermoresponsive Xylan Networks by Diels–Alder Reaction}, volume={1}, ISSN={2637-6105 2637-6105}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.9b00095}, DOI={10.1021/acsapm.9b00095}, abstractNote={The last several decades have witnessed notable research in natural and biodegradable polymers for applications that interact with humans or the environment. This research describes the synthesis and characterization of temperature sensitive hemicellulose-based gels. Xylan type hemicellulose was converted into a thermoplastic material via the grafting of short polycaprolactone tails to enhance the material processability. The thermoplastic xylan (xylan-grafted-poly(caprolactone) was functionalized with different amounts of furan rings and allowed to react with bismaleimide through Diels–Alder reaction. The temperature dependent bonding/debonding of the designed networks was evaluated by solubility and rheological assessments. The results indicated that the temperature at which the networks disassemble varies based on the amount of the furan moieties in the initial copolymer and can range between 108.6 and 127.6 °C. The designed networks display promising molecular and synthetic features for the production...}, number={4}, journal={ACS Applied Polymer Materials}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Farhat, Wissam and Venditti, Richard and Becquart, Frederic and Ayoub, Ali and Majesté, Jean-Charles and Taha, Mohamed and Mignard, Nathalie}, year={2019}, month={Mar}, pages={856–866} }
 @article{farhat_venditti_ayoub_prochazka_fernández-de-alba_mignard_taha_becquart_2018, title={Towards thermoplastic hemicellulose: Chemistry and characteristics of poly-(ε-caprolactone) grafting onto hemicellulose backbones}, volume={153}, ISSN={0264-1275}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2018.05.013}, DOI={10.1016/j.matdes.2018.05.013}, abstractNote={Hemicellulose is a highly available polysaccharide but with poor industrial applications attributed mainly to difficulties in processability, owing to extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In the current study, hemicellulose was subjected to a chemical modification by ring-opening graft polymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) to improve its processability for value-added applications. Hemicellulose-graft-poly-(ε-caprolactone) (HCgPCL) copolymers were synthesized using 1,5,7-triazabicyclodecene [4.4.0] (TBD) as an organic catalyst. The extent and length of grafted PCL sidechains in HCgPCL copolymers were controlled by adjusting the molar ratios of CL monomer to anhydroxylose residues. The various characterization analysis of the physicochemical and mechanical properties of HCgPCL materials revealed a successful grafting. The NMR analyses indicated that the degree of polymerization (DP) of the grafted PCL can range between 1.82 and 4.26 based on the changes in the molar ratio of the reactants. Furthermore, results indicated that the mechanical and the hydrophobic properties of the materials were enhanced by PCL grafting onto hemicellulose. Finally, biodegradability measurements indicated a remarkable (95.3–99.7%) materials biodegradation. We anticipate that the HCgPCL copolymers will have great potential to be an eco-friendly part of the bioplastic industry.}, journal={Materials & Design}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Farhat, Wissam and Venditti, Richard and Ayoub, Ali and Prochazka, Frederic and Fernández-de-Alba, Carlos and Mignard, Nathalie and Taha, Mohamed and Becquart, Frederic}, year={2018}, month={Sep}, pages={298–307} }
 @article{farhat_venditti_quick_taha_mignard_becquart_ayoub_2017, title={Hemicellulose extraction and characterization for applications in paper coatings and adhesives}, volume={107}, ISSN={0926-6690}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.05.055}, DOI={10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.05.055}, abstractNote={Hemicellulose materials are arguably the second most abundant renewable component of lignocellulosic biomass after cellulose. They are relatively under-utilized hetero-polysaccharides present in lignocellulosic biomass. In this research an alkaline treatment was optimized for extraction of polymeric hemicellulose from fully bleached hardwood pulp (B-HWP) and partially delignified switchgrass (SWG). The hemicellulose extracted from B-HWP was relatively pure with zero percent lignin and 89.5% xylose content whereas the partially delignified SWG hemicellulose contained about 6-3% lignin and 72–82% xylose, depending on the NaOH concentration during extraction (3–17% NaOH solution). A maximum molecular weight of SWG hemicellulose of 64,300 g/mol was achieved for the 10% NaOH solution extraction, whereas the MW of B-HWP hemicellulose at 10% NaOH solution extraction was lower at 49,200 g/mol. We have demonstrated that the residual lignin in SWG hemicellulose lowered the system Tg and this might be utilized as a way to increase the applications of hemicellulose in high value biomaterials. Furthermore, the hemicellulose could be crosslinked with zirconium to develop a water resistant gel for coating or adhesive applications. Our results showed that the loading stress required to break an hemicellulose based adhesive connection between two paper surfaces was 0.89, 2.02, 2.75, 3.46, and 3.11 (MPa) for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% AZC samples, indicating that up to about 8% AZC crosslinker in the hemicellulose increases the adhesive behavior of the material.}, journal={Industrial Crops and Products}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Farhat, Wissam and Venditti, Richard and Quick, Ashley and Taha, Mohamed and Mignard, Nathalie and Becquart, Frederic and Ayoub, Ali}, year={2017}, month={Nov}, pages={370–377} }
 @article{farhat_venditti_mignard_taha_becquart_ayoub_2017, title={Polysaccharides and lignin based hydrogels with potential pharmaceutical use as a drug delivery system produced by a reactive extrusion process}, volume={104}, ISSN={0141-8130}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.06.037}, DOI={10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.06.037}, abstractNote={Currently, there is very strong interest to replace synthetic polymers with biological macromolecules of natural source for applications that interact with humans or the environment. This research describes the development of drug delivery hydrogels from natural polymers, starch, lignin and hemicelluloses by means of reactive extrusion. The hydrogels show a strong swelling ability dependent on pH which may be used to control diffusion rates of water and small molecules in and out of the gel. Also the hydrogels degradation rates were studied in a physiological solution (pH 7.4) for 15days. The results indicated that for all three macromolecules, lower molecular weight and higher level of plasticizer both increase the rate of weight loss of the hydrogels. The degradation was extremely reduced when the polymers were extruded in the presence of a catalyst. Finally the dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that the degradation of the hydrogels induce a significant reduction in the compressive modulus. This study demonstrates the characteristics and potential of natural polymers as a drug release system.}, journal={International Journal of Biological Macromolecules}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Farhat, Wissam and Venditti, Richard and Mignard, Nathalie and Taha, Mohamed and Becquart, Frederic and Ayoub, Ali}, year={2017}, month={Nov}, pages={564–575} }
 @article{farhat_venditti_hubbe_taha_becquart_ayoub_2017, title={A Review of Water-Resistant Hemicellulose-Based Materials: Processing and Applications}, volume={10}, ISSN={1864-5631}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201601047}, DOI={10.1002/cssc.201601047}, abstractNote={AbstractHemicelluloses, due to their hydrophilic nature, may tend to be overlooked as a component in water‐resistant product applications. However, their domains of use can be greatly expanded by chemical derivatization. Research in which hydrophobic derivatives of hemicelluloses or combinations of hemicelluloses with hydrophobic materials are used with to prepare films and composites is considered herein. Isolation methods that have been used to separate hemicellulose from biomass are also reviewed. Finally, the most useful pathways to change the hydrophilic character of hemicelluloses to hydrophobic are reviewed. In this way, the water resistance can be increased and applications of targeted water‐resistant hemicellulose developed. Several applications of these materials are discussed.}, number={2}, journal={ChemSusChem}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Farhat, Wissam and Venditti, Richard A. and Hubbe, Martin and Taha, Mohamed and Becquart, Frederic and Ayoub, Ali}, year={2017}, month={Jan}, pages={305–323} }