Different factors such as growing environmental awareness due to the increasing negative impact of persistent plastic wastes, the uncontrollable price variations of the raw material and the rapid depletion of  reserves have increased the interest in research regarding polymers derived from renewable sources to replace petroleum-based materials. One of the earth’s most abundant macromolecules is cellulose. The production of cellulose from another resource replaces and reduces the demand from plants, the other resource being cellulose from a bacterial system. Bcaterial cellulose film were produced by fermenting apple waste (apple pomace) from cider production donated by Herrljunga Cider in Herrljunga, Sweden and expired fruit juice, produced by LoveJuice Indonesia, containing a mixture of fruits, mainly apple. As inoculum for the fermentations two different Kombucha cultures were used. To optimize the fermentation conditions, factors such as nitrogen source, sugar content, temperature, pH, surface area, sterilization of the substrate, culture condition and fermentation time was varied to obtain the desired result. The bacterial cellulose films were dried at 50-70 °C in an oven, air-dried or freeze-dried to evaluate the impact of drying technique on the final material. The behavior of the microorganism during fermentation was monitored by sampling and observation. The consumption rate of carbohydrates was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The properties of the obtained biofilms were analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile testing and determination of cellulose content in the obtained biofilms. Two different sugar concentrations (35 g/l and 70 g/l) and three different caffeine concentrations (0 g/l, 150 g/l and 225 g/l) as nitrogen source were investigated to determine the best condition. A control batch of conventional (black tea and 70 g/l table sugar) Kombucha was used as reference. The highest tensile strength (50 MPa) and thermal stability was observed in the biofilms with the highest yield that had been dried in oven. The biofilms obtained by fermenting apple pomace from the cider industry showed the highest tensile strength and highest thermal stability in comparison to fermenting expired fruit juice. The biofilm obtained by fermenting apple waste(sugar concentration 70 g/l) in combination with sterilizing the substrate without adding any nitrogen source, dried in an oven and purified using 0,1 M NaOH resulted in the highest tensile strength, highest thermal stability and the purest biofilm from a visual aspect. The highest yield was observed in the fermentation of apple pomace (sugar concentration 70 g/l) from the cider industry without sterilization of the initial media with an addition of nitrogen of approximately 450 mg/l). The optimal fermentation period was observed to be 14-15 days, at 25-28 °C under static conditions using a glass vessel with a diameter of 20 cm and an initial pH of 5,5.

This thesis discusses the mesoscopic physics of two examples for soft condensed matter: (i) aeolian sand transport and the ensuing structure formation and (ii) solutions of stiff biopolymers. It emphasizes the impact of a heterogeneous mesoscale structure on the macroscopic phenomenology. For the aeolian sand transport, we start with a coarse-grained description of the collisions between mobile grains and the sand bed. Combining the collision geometry with basic physical principles, like momentum and energy conservation, we derive the full splash statistics as a function of impact velocity and impactor--bed grain-size ratio. This serves as a starting point for attacking the complicated transport statistics of wind-blown sand. Two approaches are proposed: first, a two-species approximation that distinguishes between high-energy rebounding grains and low-energy bed ejecta, second, a statistical description that resolves the full distribution of grain trajectories. While the former provides an ideal framework to accurately predict macroscopic averages, the latter resolves the heterogeneous mesoscale structure of the transport layer. Both approaches are shown to be in excellent agreement with various laboratory and field data. We moreover establish a new perspective on the transport's saturation transients that illustrates the crucial influence of the intermittent turbulent wind fluctuations in the field, thereby resolving a long-standing debate. Eventually, we address the formation of megaripples, an aeolian bedform that is made from strongly polydisperse sand. Combining our proposed theory with long-term field measurements, we clarify the importance of wind-driven sand sorting and, again, intermittent turbulent fluctuations. Our approach suggests to describe the megaripples as down-scaled dunes, as indeed support by various field data for their morphology and migration. In the second part of the thesis, we consider the mesoscale structure and its influence on the viscoelastic response of entangled biopolymer solutions. Their mechanics is determined by the topological entanglements of the filamentous polymers that cannot pass through each other. The tube model for semiflexible polymers represents this effect on a mean-field level, where test filament is confined to a tube-like cage formed by surrounding polymers. We employ it to investigate the solution's mesoscale packing structure and its change under finite shear deformations. Comparing our predictions with systematic computer simulations and experiments, we find the tube deformations to relax quickly after the deformation, while tube alignment and hairpin conformations are found to be long lived. In a second step, we propose a new perspective on the entangled solution's dynamics. Accounting for the nonaffine response at the level of the test filament, and assuming sticky or frictional polymer contacts, we argue that soft bending deformations of the filaments can couple to stiff axial stretching modes. This allows us to explain various experimentally observed similarities of the entangled solutions to crosslinked networks, like the increasing elastic modulus with increasing length and bending rigidity of the filaments or the softening--stiffening transition as a function of polymer concentration, polymer length, deformation rate, and various solvent properties.:I Aeolian sand transport and megaripple formation 1 Introduction 2 The splash process 3 Aeolian sand transport 4 Structure formation 5 Outlook Bibliography II Solutions of stiff biopolymers 6 Introduction 7 Entangled solutions 8 Viscoelastic response Appendix Bibliography Acknowledgments

L'amylose est un homopolymère quasi-linéaire d'unités glucosyles liées en α(1,4) qui, extrait de l'amidon natif, possède la propriété remarquable de former des complexes cristallins avec une grande variété de petites molécules organiques. Ces complexes sont regroupés sous le terme générique d'amylose V. Nous avons testé la capacité de 120 composés à induire la cristallisation de l'amylose à partir de solutions aqueuses diluées. La morphologie et la structure des cristaux lamellaires formés ont été caractérisés par microscopie électronique en transmission ainsi que par diffraction des électrons et des rayons X. Les données révèlent que les structures de ces complexes peuvent être classées en 10 familles dont 5 sont décrites pour la première fois. Des spectres de résonnance magnétique nucléaire du solide du 13C montrent clairement que l'hélicité de l'amylose V est corrélée à la résonnance du carbone C1 qui se déplace vers les champs faibles lorsque le nombre d'unités glucosyles par tour augmente. Des modèles géométriques préliminaires ont été proposés pour tous les allomorphes, la structure de cristaux de V1-butanol ayant été analysée en détail en combinant des calculs de conformation et d'énergie d'empilement avec un affinement de structure de polymère cristallin classique. Tous les allomorphes contiennent des simples hélices d'amylose d'ordre 6, 7 ou 8 et les molécules invitées peuvent être localisées dans ces hélices, entre elles ou les deux. Chaque type d'allomorphe peut être obtenu avec différents complexants et la conformation de l'hélice d'amylose dépend de la taille du complexant. De plus, un ligand donné est susceptible d'induire la formation de plusieurs allomorphes. Le polymorphisme cristallin de l'amylose serait donc une caractéristique plus générale que ce qui avait été rapporté auparavant. La propension au polymorphisme dépend non seulement de la nature du complexant mais aussi des conditions de cristallisation. Le degré de polymérisation de l'amylose, sa concentration et celle du complexant, la température de mélange ou de cristallisation et la composition du solvant ont un impact significatif sur la formation de cristaux et la structure de l'amylose V. Par ailleurs, nous avons utilisé des complexes avec l'ibuprofène comme modèle afin d'évaluer le potentiel de l'amylose V comme système de délivrance de principes actifs. Différentes fractions d'ibuprofène, probablement corrélées aux positions possibles de la molécule dans le cristal, sont sélectivement relarguées en variant le pH du milieu de dissolution. Puisque le relargage intervient principalement à pH élevé, ces complexes d'inclusion sont donc potentiellement intéressants pour cibler une libération intestinale et pourraient donc améliorer l'effet thérapeutiques de l'ibuprofène. / Amylose, a mostly linear homopolymer of α(1,4)-linked glucosyl units extracted from native starch, has the remarkable property to form "V-amylose" crystalline complexes with a variety of small organic molecules. We have tested the ability of 120 compounds to induce the crystallization of amylose from dilute aqueous solutions. The morphology and structure of the resulting lamellar crystals were characterized by transmission electron microscopy as well as electron and X ray diffraction. The data revealed that the structures of the complexes could be classified into 10 families, 5 of which were described for the first time. In addition, 13C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectra clearly showed that the helicity of V-amylose was correlated with the resonance of carbon C1 that was shifted downfield with increasing number of glucosyl units per turn. Tentative geometrical models were proposed for all allomorphs and the structure of V1-butanol was analyzed in more details by combining conformational and packing energy calculations with classical crystalline polymer structure refinement. All allomorphs contained 6-, 7- or 8-fold amylose single helices and the guest molecules could be located inside these helices, in-between, or both. Each allomorph could be obtained with different complexing agents and the helical conformation was found to depend on the size of the complexing agent. In addition, a given ligand could induce the formation of several allomorphs, suggesting that the polymorphism of V-amylose crystals is a more general characteristic than what was previously reported. The propensity for polymorphism is not only related to the nature of the complexing agent but also to the crystallization conditions. The degree of polymerization of amylose, its concentration and that of the complexing agent, the temperature of mixing and crystallization, and the solvent composition have a significant impact on the formation and crystal structure of V-amylose. In addition, crystalline complexes prepared with ibuprofen were used as a model to evaluate the potential of V-amylose as a delivery system of bioactive molecules. Different fractions of ibuprofen, likely correlated with the different locations of the guest in the crystal, were selectively released by varying the pH of the dissolution medium. Since the release mainly occurred at high pH, these inclusion complexes appear to be potentially interesting for intestinal targeting and would thus improve the therapeutic effect of ibuprofen.

La cellulose bactérienne (CB) est bien connue pour sa biocompatibilité, moulabilité, pureté et cristallinité ainsi que pour sa structure fibrilleuse nanométrique. Cependant, la production des matériaux par des microorganismes est innovante. La présente thèse initialise ce type de bioproduction dans nos laboratoires. Les bactéries productives de cellulose sont isolées à partir d'un vinaigre Libanais. Plusieurs études cinétiques sont établies. Les isolats sont étudiés dans différents milieux de cultures en variant la source de carbone et la température d'incubation, pour déterminer les conditions optimales recommandées pour la production de meilleurs rendements de CB. La bactérie productive de CB a été étudiée en détails au niveau de son cycle de vie et phases de croissance. La physiologie des cellules a été clarifiée et les mécanismes qui précédent et qui accompagnent la synthèse de CB ont été expliqués. Un modèle mathématique se basant sur l'équation logistique est employé pour standardiser les paramètres étudiés. Le rendement de CB a été accru en appliquant différents chocs aux cellules. Le choc thermique appliqué pendant les étapes précoces d'incubation ainsi que le choc acide ont montré des résultats innovants et accéléré le métabolisme de synthèse de CB. L'aspect environnemental du travail a été valorisé en préparant un milieu de culture extraits des fruits et légumes endommagés. En termes d'application, la CB a été utilisée pour produire des papiers et des papiers résistants à l'eau et comme additive dans un prototype d'industrie de papier. Ainsi des composites de cellulose/Liquides ioniques ont été produits afin de performer des matériaux à haute constante diélectriques / Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a wellknown polymer of this family. Its main attractive properties are the biocompatibility, moldability, purity, crystallinity and fibrillar structure at the nanoscaled level. The production of such materials by microorganisms is an innovative procedure. In order to trigger this production procedure in our laboratories, the present thesis was the preliminary step to go through this huge micro-world. In the first step, we isolated cellulose producers from Lebanese vinegar. Kinetic studies were established to clarify the profile of the producer and to optimize cellulose production. The isolates were studied under different incubation temperatures in different microbiological media and at different carbon sources levels to determine optimal conditions for BC production. In the second step, cellulose producer was studied concerning bacterial phases and life cycles. Cells physiologies were clarified and mechanisms that accompany cellulose formation on the top of cultures were discussed. A mathematical model was set basing on Logistic equation to standardize the parameters. Then, cellulose yield was enhanced by different cells choc methods. Thermal choc was applied on cultures during earlier stages of incubation. Moreover, acids were used as doping agents to the culture media. In parallel, to satisfy the eco-friendly aspect of the work, bacterial cellulose production was optimized using fruits and vegetables wastes juice. Papers and waterproof papers were produced using BC. BC was also used as an additive in industrial paper making and was found to enhance mechanical resistance of the papers. In addition, a high-K material was performed using bacterial cellulose and ionic liquids

En av grundpelarna i alla hållbara system är införandet av en cirkulär ekonomi, som främjar återanvändning och återvinning av material. Plast är en av i utmaning i detta avseende på grund av den stora produktionsvolymen variation i sorter och långsamma nedbrytn. Ett förslag till lösning på dessa problem, som det har forskats allt mer om under de senaste decennierna, är att ersätta syntetiska plaster med lämpliga biobaserade alternativ. Detta arbete syftade till att utforska två möjligheter i detta avseende, (1) Transparent trä (TW) och (2) Lim för trä från en förnybar källa.  Utvärderingen av chitosan som ersättning för de syntetiska delarna av dessa material var det primära syftet med denna studie. TW utnyttjar de inneboende önskvärda egenskaperna hos trä och ökar dess användningsområden genom att ändra dess optiska egenskaper, men behöver en impregneringsmatris, som är en syntetisk polymer, för sin tillverkning. I detta arbete studerades variationen av kitosanimpregnering med tryck och torkningsförhållanden. Mikroskopi, gravimetri, kontaktvinkel och dynamisk mekanisk analys användes för att mäta effektiviteten hos de utvecklade metoderna. Alternativ till syntetiska lim för trä och träkompositer behövs på grund av problem med toxicitet. Chitosans användbarhet som lim för trä har dokumenterats i stor utsträckning. Det har dock inte gjorts så mycket arbete med trälaminat, som valdes som en ett sekundärt fokus för detta arbete. Testning av limmet utfördes med hjälp av skjuvmätningar. Resultaten visade att kitosan, istället för att infiltrera trästrukturen, främst deponerades på dess yta och specifika tester för att bestämma laminatets hållfasthet föll utanför ramen för denna studie. / One of the mainstays of any sustainable system is the implementation of a circular economy, which promotes the reuse and recycling of materials. Plastics are one of the most problematic entities in this regard because of the sheer scale of production, their variety, and their recalcitrant nature. A proposed solution to this problem, one which has seen increasing research in the past decades, is replacing synthetic plastics with suitable bio-based alternatives. This work aimed to explore two possibilities in this regard, (1) Transparent wood (TW) and (2) Adhesives for wood. Evaluating the utility of chitosan as a replacement for the synthetic portions of these materials was the primary aim of this study. TW utilizes the inherently desirable properties of wood and increases its avenues of application by changing its optical properties but needs an impregnation matrix, which is a synthetic polymer, for fabrication. This work studied the variation of chitosan impregnation with pressure and drying conditions. Microscopy, gravimetry, water contact angle and dynamic mechanical analysis were used to gauge the efficacy of our methods. Alternatives to synthetic adhesives for wood and wood-composites are needed because of their associated problems with toxicity. Chitosan’s utility as an adhesive for wood has been documented to a considerable extent. However, not much work has been done with wood laminates, which were chosen as a secondary focal point of this work. Adhesive testing was carried out via lap-shear measurements. Results indicated that chitosan, instead of infiltrating the wood structure, was primarily deposited on its surface and specific tests for determining laminate strength fell out of the scope of this study.

No description available.

No description available.

Biopolymer networks play a major role as part of the cytoskeleton. They provide stable structures and act as a medium for signal transport. These features encourage the application of such networks as organic computation devices. While research on this topic is not advanced yet, previous results are very promising. The protein actin in particular appears advantageous. It can be arranged to various stable structures and transmit several signals. In this study aster shaped networks were self-assembled via entropic forces by the crowding agent methyl cellulose. These networks are characterised by a regular and uniquely thick bundle structure, but have so far only been accounted in droplets of 100 μm diameter. We report now regular asters in an area of a few mm2 that could be observed even after months. Such stability outside of an organism is striking and underlines the great potential actin aster networks display.

Ces travaux de recherche ont porté sur l'élaboration et la compatibilisation de mélanges de matériaux biosourcés à base d'amidon plastifié et de poly (acide lactique). La transformation de l'amidon natif en amidon plastifié est réalisable par extrusion en utilisant des plastifiants. Dans notre étude, les propriétés finales de l'amidon plastifié ont été contrôlées en faisant varier les conditions du procédé (température, temps de séjour, vitesse de rotation des vis) et du matériau (nature et teneur en plastifiant). La plastification de l'amidon par l'eau, le glycérol, le sorbitol et l'acide citrique a ainsi été étudiée. Les mélanges d'amidon plastifié et le poly (acide lactique)(PLA) ont été préparés et caractérisés dans la deuxième partie du travail. Afin d'améliorer la compatibilité de ces polymères, une voie consiste à incorporer un copolymère dans le mélange.Dans ce travail, le copolymère utilisé est un copolymère (Amylose-g-PLA) constitué d'une dorsale amylose et de greffons poly (acide lactique). Une polymérisation en trois étapes a été utilisée pour la synthèse du copolymère dans le but de contrôler la taille et le nombre de greffons de PLA. Deux types de copolymère ont été préparés : le type 1 contenant un nombre élevé de greffons de faible masse molaire et le type 2 contenant un nombre limité de greffons de haute masse molaire. L'efficacité de l'addition de ces copolymères Amylose-g-PLA dans les mélanges (PLA et amidon plastifié) est étudiée dans la dernière partie de ce travail. Une comparaison entre la morphologie et les propriétés mécaniques des mélanges préparées avec ces différents copolymères révèle l'efficacité plus élevée du copolymère de type 1 / This study dealt with the development and the compatibilization of the blends of plasticized starch and polylactic acid. The transformation of native to plasticized starch is possible by extrusion in the presence of plasticizers. In this work, the final properties of plasticized starch are controlled by changing process parameters (temperature, extrusion time, screw's rotation speed) and nature and quantity of plasticizers. Plasticization of starch by water, glycerol, sorbitol and citric acid is studied. The blends of plasticized starch and poly (lactic acid) (PLA) are prepared and characterized in the second part of this work. To improve the compatibility of the blend, one way is the addition of a copolymer to the mixture to stabilize the dispersed phase in the matrix. The copolymer used in this work (Amylose-g-PLA) is constituted of amylose backbone and poly (lactic acid) (PLA) grafts. The number and the size of the grafted chains of PLA have been controlled by a three step process polymerization. Two copolymer structures have been prepared: type1, containing high numbers of low molar weight PLA grafts and type 2, lower numbers of high molar weight PLA grafts. In the final part, efficiency of these copolymers (Amylose-g-PLA) in these blends is studied. The comparison between morphology and mechanical properties of blends prepared with these copolymers, demonstrate the higher efficiency of type1 copolymer

La technologie d’identification radiofréquence (RFID) se décline aujourd’hui dans des milliers d’applications. Parmi elles nous pouvons citer les applications de gestion logistique des palettes/cartons dans les entrepôts industriels (RFID UHF) ainsi que l’identification des abonnés dans les réseaux de transports urbains (RFID HF). Depuis quelques années, des contributions scientifiques autour des technologies d’identification radiofréquence (RFID) avec un couplage capteur sont de plus en plus visibles. L’intérêt grandissant pour ce type de technologie s’appuie sur la possibilité d’une utilisation en masse de capteurs bon marchés pouvant être intégrés sur chaque objet. On parle alors d’objet connecté ou d’internet des objets (IoT). Dans cette thèse, nous nous focalisons sur l’étude et le développement d’un capteur RFID passif fonctionnant en bande UHF. Cette orientation technologique est dictée par l’application visée, l’agro-alimentaire, qui requiert des coûts de fabrication les plus faibles possibles et une distance de lecture supérieure au mètre. Pour l’élément sensible, nous utilisons un bio-polymère, plus précisément le gluten de blé dont les propriétés diélectriques en fonction de l’humidité relative ont été étudiées précédemment. Nous nous attachons à traiter toutes les problématiques liées à la communication entre un lecteur et un capteur RFID passif, l’objectif ultime de cette thèse étant de récupérer une information capteur à l’aide d’un lecteur RFID conventionnel respectant les standards du domaine et les directives radio en vigueur dans les différentes régions du monde. Pour valider cette étude, nous mettons en œuvre des capteurs-RFID pour réaliser un démonstrateur d’emballage « intelligent » permettant le suivi de la qualité des aliments. / Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is available today in thousands of applications. Among them we can mention the logistics management applications pallets / cardboard in industrial warehouses (RFID UHF) and the identification of subscribers in urban transport networks (RFID HF). In recent years, scientific contributions around the radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies with a sensor coupling are increasingly visible. The growing interest in this type of development rely heavily on a mass use of inexpensive sensors that can be integrated on each object.It is calledconnected objects or Internet of Things (IoT). In this thesis, we focus on the study and development of a passive RFID sensor operating in UHF band. This technological orientation is dictated by the targeted application, the food industry, which requires the lowest possible manufacturing costs and a reading distance greater than one meter. For the sensitive element, we use a biopolymer, specifically wheat gluten whose dielectric properties as a function of relative humidity have been studied previously. We are committed to dealing with all the issues related to the communication between a reader and a passive RFID sensor, the ultimate objective of this thesis being to get a sensor information using a conventional RFID reader complying with the standards and the radio directives imposed in different regions of the world. To validate this study, we are implementing RFID sensors to create a smart packaging demonstrator for monitoring the quality of food.