Explore the vast range of titles available.

Plastic pollution has emerged as a significant global issue, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives and effective recycling methods. Concurrently, the cactus plant offers a promising source of bio‐based materials, particularly due to its resilience in harsh environments. This study focused on the performance characterization of cactus powder mixed with recycled high‐density polyethylene (rHDPE) pellets for filament production suitable for 3D printing using the Fused Filament Fabrication method. The physical properties of both cactus and rHDPE were investigated, and composite filaments were prepared from 5%, 10%, and 15% cactus powder alongside rHDPE. Performance evaluation of the composite filaments was conducted using a Universal Testing Machine. Additionally, the chemical composition of cactus powder was analyzed, and the particle size distribution was determined. The combination of HDPE pellets and cactus powder yielded a viable filament, though increasing proportions of cactus reduced the extrusion properties. The tensile strength of pure rHDPE filament was measured at 16.27 MPa, while the tensile strengths for the 5% and 10% cactus composites were 14.97 and 10.74 MPa, respectively. For the printed specimens, the tensile strength was recorded at 13.04 MPa for rHDPE and 8.28 MPa for the 5% cactus composite. The flexural strength results showed 21.77 MPa for rHDPE and 15.64 MPa for the 5% cactus composite. These findings suggest that cactus powder can serve as a valuable additive in developing sustainable 3D printing materials. This study explores the integration of cactus powder with recycled HDPE to develop 3D‐printable bio‐composite filaments. Results show that cactus powder can be incorporated up to 10% to allow better printability while enhancing sustainability. The study provides insights into optimizing material formulations for eco‐friendly additive manufacturing applications.

The current study was aimed at developing BC-Cactus (BCC) composite hydrogels with impressive mechanical features for their potential applications in medical and environmental sectors. BCC composites hydrogels were developed through cactus gel coating on a never dried BC matrix. The FE-SEM micrographs confirmed the saturation of BC fibrils with cactus gel. Additionally, the presence of various functional groups and alteration in crystalline behavior was confirmed through FTIR and XRD analysis. Mechanical testing illustrated a three-times increase in the strain failure and an increase of 1.6 times in the tensile strength of BCC composite. Absorption capabilities of BCC were much higher than pure BC and it retained water for a longer period of time. Additionally, the rewetting and absorption potentials of composites were also higher than pure BC. The composite efficiently adsorbed Pb, Zn, Cu, and Co metals. Biocompatibility studies against human HaCat cell line indicated much better cell adhesion and proliferation of BCC compared to BC. These findings advocate that the BCC composite could find applications in medical, pharmaceutical and environmental fields.

Dragon fruit, also called pitaya or pitahaya, is in the family Cactaceae. It is found in two genera: ‘Selenicereus’ and ‘Hylocereus’. The substantial growth in demand intensifies dragon fruit processing operations, and waste materials such as peels and seeds are generated in more significant quantities. The transformation of waste materials into value-added components needs greater focus since managing food waste is an important environmental concern. Two well-known varieties of dragon fruit are pitaya (Stenocereus) and pitahaya (Hylocereus), which are different in their sour and sweet tastes. The flesh of the dragon fruit constitutes about two-thirds (~65%) of the fruit, and the peel is approximately one-third (~22%). Dragon fruit peel is believed to be rich in pectin and dietary fibre. In this regard, extracting pectin from dragon fruit peel can be an innovative technology that minimises waste disposal and adds value to the peel. Dragon fruit are currently used in several applications, such as bioplastics, natural dyes and cosmetics. Further research is recommended for diverging its development in various areas and maturing the innovation of its usage.

An investigation on novel Kulkual fibers that were derived from Ethiopia was carried out in this work. An open-mold casting approach was employed to manufacture a lightweight composite comprising chopped Kulkual fibers and titanium diboride (TiB₂) particles. The primary objective of this study was to scrutinize the interfacial dynamics of the composites upon inclusion of the reinforcements, focusing on compression, hardness, and water absorption characteristics. The incorporation of both TiB₂ and Kulkual fibers markedly augmented the inherent properties of the epoxy matrix, evident in compression testing. Notably, composites containing 5 vol% of fibers exhibited a significantly higher modulus of 87 MPa, while those with 5 vol% of fibers demonstrated an impressive strength of 90 MPa. Vickers hardness assessments revealed composites containing 5 vol% of fibers displaying a superior hardness value of 45 HV. Subsequent water absorption tests with different types of water unveiled a Fickian behavior, characterized by an initial exponential increase in the absorption rate within the first 50 h. The incorporation of Kulkual fibers amplified this intake rate, particularly evident at the 10 vol% level, which eventually reached saturation after 200 h. Collectively, these findings underscore the optimal efficacy of fiber addition up to 5 vol% in enhancing composite properties, suggesting a threshold beyond which further increments may not yield proportional benefits.

During the last decade new models for bending stiffness prediction of damaged composite laminates have been proposed in the literature advancing the earlier developed engineering approaches in accuracy and in complexity. However, experimental data for validation of complex analytical or engineering models are almost non-existent in the literature. In the present work a detailed experimental study was performed to investigate the bending stiffness reduction of composite cross-ply laminates with evolving micro-damage. Intralaminar cracks and local delaminations in the bottom surface 90-degree layer of carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy cross-ply laminates were introduced in 4-point bending tests. Digital Image correlation (DIC) technique was used to experimentally determine the midplane curvature. The accuracy of beam theory for bending stiffness determination was assessed. The measured bending stiffness reduction with respect to transverse crack density was also compared with FEM predictions. The results show that the beam theory gives slightly underestimated curvature at low deflections, whereas at large deflections the beam theory overestimates the curvature and the moment–curvature relation becomes nonlinear. Nevertheless, the overall agreement between beam theory and DIC-based results is still very good, which leads to conclude that beam theory based data reduction schemes have sufficient accuracy for predicting bending stiffness even for highly damaged laminates.

In this study, an efficient and cost-effective nanocomposite material based on Opuntia ficus indica (cactus) powder modified with iron oxide nanoparticles was developed as an adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB), a common water pollutant. The nanocomposite was synthesized through the co-precipitation method of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Batch adsorption experiments were conducted over 24 h, varying different operational conditions, such as pH, temperature and initial pollutant concentration. Furthermore, a Box–Behnken design was employed to develop an empirical model for predicting removal efficiency and optimizing the adsorption conditions. The effects of adsorption variables including contact time (1–60 min), initial MB concentration (20–100 mg/L), pH (2–12), adsorbent dosage (2–6 g/L) and temperature (25–55 °C) on the removal capacity were examined. Under optimal conditions, the maximum removal efficiency of MB reached approximately 96%, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 174 mg/g, as predicted by the Langmuir model. The synthesized cactus/iron oxide nanocomposite demonstrated significant potential as an adsorbent for treating MB-contaminated water.

Lime mortar is one of the oldest building materials. In Mexico, ingredients added to it to enhance its properties may include cactus mucilage, among others. We have evaluated the effect of adding, at two different concentrations, mucilage from Opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pear), Acanthocereous tetragonus (fairy castle cactus), and Hylocereus undatus (pitahaya or dragon fruit) in the accelerated carbonation of hydrated lime. The carbonation kinetics were followed by spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform mid-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that mucilage promoted carbonation, functioning as a positive catalyst. Analysis of the infrared (IR) absorption corresponding to the in-plane asymmetric stretching v 3 of the CO 3 2 - anion indicated that the carbonation rate increased with the percentage of mucilage, being directly dependent on the concentration of Opuntia and Acanthocereous mucilage at both concentration levels tested. SEM observations confirmed that the inclusion of mucilage promoted the creation of the aragonite polymorph of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ). Graphical abstract

Cactus mucilage, particularly from Opuntia ficus‐indica, has attracted increasing scientific and industrial interest due to its unique physicochemical, structural, and functional properties. It is a heteropolysaccharide matrix enriched with uronic acids and bioactive compounds, providing high water‐binding capacity, gelling ability, pseudoplastic flow behavior, and notable film‐forming potential. These characteristics make mucilage versatile for applications in food, nutrition, and sustainable materials, although its performance remains sensitive to pH, temperature, and ionic strength. In food science and human health, cactus mucilage demonstrates safety and bioactivity. Clinical and preclinical evidence support the tolerability of daily intakes of up to 5 g of dehydrated nopal powder, while traditional diets indicate even higher safe levels. Functionally, mucilage contributes to food preservation by enhancing barriers against moisture, oxygen, and microbial contamination. Mucilage‐based films prolong shelf life through UV‐blocking and antimicrobial effects, and their functionality can be further enhanced by incorporating antioxidants, probiotics, or other natural additives. Beyond food, cactus mucilage shows promise as a biodegradable substitute for petroleum‐based plastics, aligning with sustainability initiatives. Its film‐forming, UV‐blocking, and antioxidant properties support the development of active packaging systems, while blending with other biopolymers improves strength and flexibility. Broader industrial applications include water purification through heavy metal removal, oil spill remediation, and enhancing durability and corrosion resistance in construction materials. Despite this potential, commercialization faces challenges including compositional variability, lack of standardized extraction methods, optimization of mechanical performance, and issues of scalability. In regions such as Ethiopia, valorization of cactus mucilage offers an opportunity to reduce plastic dependence, foster local industries, and create new economic opportunities. Globally, cactus‐based biopolymers contribute to Sustainable Development Goals on responsible consumption (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and health (SDG 3). Continued research on safety, standardization, and cost‐effective production will be vital to fully realize its potential. Cactus mucilage, particularly from Opuntia ficus‐indica, exhibits remarkable film‐forming, UV‐blocking, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, making it a sustainable alternative to petroleum‐based plastics. Its applications span food preservation, edible coatings, and smart packaging systems, as well as industrial uses in construction, corrosion inhibition, and water purification. Despite promising sustainability benefits, challenges remain in scaling extraction methods, standardizing formulations, and ensuring cost‐effective commercialization.

Natural polymers have been widely investigated for the development of eco-friendly materials. Among these bio-polymers, cactus mucilage is attracting increasing interest regardless of the plant species or the plant organ used for extraction. Mucilage, which is a highly branched heteropolysaccharide, has been previously studied for its chemical composition, structural features, and biotechnological applications. This review highlights the mucilage application in the food packaging industry, by developing films and coatings. These cactus-based biomaterials will be discussed for their functional properties and their potential in preserving food quality and extending shelf life.

The purpose of this study was to develop and describe the mechanical, wear, and electrical characteristics of epoxy composites reinforced with opuntia cladode short fiber (OCF) and fumed silica (FS). The primary objective of this study was to determine how the addition of silane treated fumed silica particle improves the load bearing and wear properties of novel opuntia cladode fiber-epoxy composite. The cladode of the opuntia plant was used to create the opuntia fiber, whereas fumed silica was purchased in its finished form. The laminates were made using a manual layup method and tested as per ASTM specifications. According to the end results the tensile strength, flexural strength, impact toughness, hardness, and adhesion strength were all found to rise by 35.2%, 31.4%, 91.4%, 1.3%, and 6.2%, respectively, for composite designation E0 having 30 vol.% of OCF. Similar improvements were seen in load bearing and dielectric characteristics after adding 2 vol. % of fumed silica. The sp. wear rate was measured at 0.0174 mm 3 /Nm after 30% OCF was added to the composite E0. The 2.0 vol.% fumed silica composite also has the lowest COF and sp. Wear rate, at 0.44 and 0.005 mm 3 /Nm, respectively. When calculating the maximum dielectric constant and dielectric loss, the N4 composite was found to have values of 6.8 and 1.4, respectively. The SEM fractography proves that the silane-treatment enhanced the dispersion of fumed silica in the matrix and reinforced the fiber-matrix contact. These properties enhanced natural fibre composites could be used in transportation sector to aerospace and consumer electronic divisions where product size and weight is highly concern.