Alternative polymer feedstocks are highly desirable to address environmental, social, and security concerns associated with petrochemical-based materials. Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) has emerged as one critical feedstock in this regard because it is an abundant and ubiquitous renewable resource. LCB can be deconstructed to generate valuable fuels, chemicals, and small molecules/oligomers that are amenable to modification and polymerization. However, the diversity of LCB complicates the evaluation of biorefinery concepts in areas including process scale-up, production outputs, plant economics, and life-cycle management. We discuss aspects of current LCB biorefinery research with a focus on the major process stages, including feedstock selection, fractionation/deconstruction, and characterization, along with product purification, functionalization, and polymerization to manufacture valuable macromolecular materials. We highlight opportunities to valorize underutilized and complex feedstocks, leverage advanced characterization techniques to predict and manage biorefinery outputs, and increase the fraction of biomass converted into valuable products.
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null (Ed.)Fossil fuels are a cheap and abundant feedstock for polymeric materials that have enabled innumerable quality-of-life improvements. Yet, their declining supply and non-renewable nature have driven the pursuit of bio-based alternatives. Lignin represents the largest natural source of aromatic carbon on the planet, and thus, lignin-derived products have emerged as critical elements in the next generation of polymers. The relative abundance, large concentration of functional handles, and thermal stability of lignin make it an attractive target for bio-based polymers. However, the valorization of lignin to high-performance and cost-competitive materials remains a challenge. In this review, developments in the translation of lignin into value-added macromolecular components are discussed. Strategies to incorporate bulk lignin in polymer blends and composites are introduced with a focus on applications. Furthermore, recent advances in the preparation of higher-value thermoplastics, thermosets, and vitrimers from deconstructed lignin products are highlighted from a synthetic perspective. Finally, key hurdles and future opportunities in lignin valorization are explored.more » « less
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Abstract Objectives There is a dearth of research on suicidal thoughts and behaviors among eating disorder patients diagnosed with binge eating disorder (BED) or other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED). This pilot study evaluated presence and severity of suicidal thoughts and behaviors by eating disorder diagnosis in a transdiagnostic clinical eating disorder sample.
Methods Participants were individuals (
N = 257; 91.1% female; 94.6% Caucasian) currently receiving eating disorder treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), BED, or OSFED. Participants completed online measures of variables.Results Lifetime and current presence and severity of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were statistically similar among diagnostic groups.
Conclusion Though largely overlooked, treatment‐utilizing individuals with BED and OSFED may experience elevated rates and severity of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, like those with AN and BN. Attention to suicide‐related risk assessment and management is needed when treating individuals with eating disorders, regardless of diagnosis.
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Abstract Objective Research has established pairwise relationships between suicidal ideation (SI), low Body Trust, elevated agitation, and eating disorders, but knowledge of how these aspects relate in a single model is lacking. This study tested an indirect pathway with low Body Trust relating to severity of SI via agitation in a clinical eating disorder sample.
Method Participants (
N = 319; 92.8% female; 93.4% Caucasian; mean age 21.8 years) were adults currently receiving specialized eating disorder treatment (44.3% intensive outpatient or higher level‐of‐care) who completed online self‐report measures of study variables. The PROCESS macro was utilized to test proposed pathways.Results Low Body Trust was significantly directly associated with increased severity of current SI, both before (
B = −.89,p < .001) and after (B = −.51,p = .001) accounting for the indirect effect through agitation, also significant (B = −.37,SE = .06, CI −.52 to −.26).Discussion Perception of the body as unsafe may be related to agitation, and this intolerable sensation of trapped arousal could contribute to a desire to die. Future work should investigate these relationships prospectively to determine the relevance of Body Trust for assessment and treatment of suicide‐related factors among individuals with eating disorders.
