Divya Indran

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Post Doctoral Researcher at King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok

Cellulose, an abundant biopolymer, is present in an extensive variety of materials derived from plants. At this time, waste management is the predominant subject of scientific investigation. Presently, the utilisation of phytochemical-rich plants is widespread. We conducted our research utilising Ocimum tenuiflorum leaves with just an eye toward th...

This study presents a detailed synthesis, characterization, and analysis of bioplasticizers derived from Thespesia populnea leaf powder (TPLP) towards developing sustainable biomaterials. Comprehensive characterization of TPLP across various analytical techniques reveals its diverse properties and potential applications. Fourier-transform infrared...

New natural cellulosic materials used to make high-performance bio-based composites are attracting a lot of attention due to their enhanced properties. This study aimed to investigate micro-sized cellulosic fillers produced from Mangifera indica (Mango) leaves (MIL) with respect to their morphological and physicochemical properties, thermal behavio...

Fiber metal laminates (FMLs) have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional impact resistance, making them attractive for various structural applications. This review presents recent advancements in understanding the impact behavior of FMLs under low- and high-velocity impact scenarios. Low-velocity impacts, commonly encountered durin...

In this research, microcrystalline cellulose was extracted from Terminalia catappa plant leaves (TCLC) through various chemical methods such as neutralization, alkalization, slow pyrolysis, acid hydrolysis, and bleaching. Thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and Fourier transform spectroscopy were employed to...

The agro-waste materials possess a wide range of prospective applications, especially after the recycling process. In many areas, plants grown without water are rich in cellulosic fibre throughout all parts. In this regard, cellulose was extracted from the plant Cissus quadrangularis Linn stem in this investigation. To optimise the efficiency of ce...

Natural lignocellulosic fibers possess distinct capacities and properties from various perspectives. To utilize natural fibers most effectively, particularly in high-quality applications, it is essential to have a solid understanding of their fundamental qualities. This study isolates ultrastrong fibers from the vascular tissues of the Senna alata...

Introduction to polymer composites - Historical aspects and building blocks

The present surge in environmental consciousness has pushed for the use of biodegradable plasticizers, which are sustainable and abundant in plant resources. As a result of their biocompatibility and biodegradability, Calotropis gigantiea leaf plasticizers (CLP) serve as viable alternatives to chemical plasticizers. First time, the natural plastici...

The current growing environmental awareness has forced the use of biodegradable plasticizers, which are sustainable and abundant in plant resources. Rose petal plasticizers (RPP) act as an actual substitute for chemical plasticizers in this situation as they are biocompatible and biodegradable. Chemical procedures like amination, alkalization, and...

In response to the increasing demand for diesel fuel and its shortage, biodiesel has emerged as a potential alternative. This review thoroughly examines the physicochemical characteristics of biodiesel from several generations using a variety of feedstocks. The study reveals that biodiesel with low concentrations of poly-unsaturated fatty acid meth...

Water hyacinth, an invasive species in natural water habitats, poses ecological challenges but also holds promise as a biofuel resource due to its abundant biomass. To optimize sugar yield for biofuel production, this study focuses on pretreating water hyacinth with acetic acid (AC) using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Comparing AC, hydrochlor...

Polymer composite materials have excellent wear performance due to their specific strength and specific modulus. The wear performance of a material is essential in material industries to identify the compactness and sustainability for a specific application. Fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite materials satisfied most of the requirements. It...

The growing demand for sustainable materials is driving the adoption of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from renewable plant sources. This study investigated the isolation of MCC from Rosa indica petal (RIP) waste via acid hydrolysis. RIP was pretreated with alkali extraction and bleaching prior to acid hydrolysis. Chemical analysis revealed the c...

Due to the extreme threats as environmental and health issues caused by the petroleum-based leachable plasticizers, researchers among different domains are more interested in finding unique biodegradable plasticizers from natural sources. The present study used Nelumbo nucifera leaf to extract novel biopolymers as viable substitutes for chemical pl...

Integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) and natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites (NFPCs) can revolutionize monitoring and maintaining composites. By incorporating sensors and wireless communication technology into the composites, real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance can be achieved. This review provides a comprehensive overview o...

Plasticizers are frequently employed as additives due to the poor strength of polymers. Many plasticizers are currently available in liquid form and as compounds derived from fossil fuels. These materials are not appropriate for the environment, which may have negative consequences on humans and other resources. Comparing liquid plasticizers to sol...

This review provides a thorough analysis of the progress made in smart polymer composite materials, which have recently been seen as potential game-changers in areas such as construction, aerospace, biomedical engineering, and energy. This article emphasizes the distinctive characteristics of these materials, including their responsiveness to stimu...

Researchers are focusing their efforts on developing high-performance bio-based composites due to increased interest in the production of natural fiber-based polymer composites utilizing novel cellulosic fillers. The primary goal of this study is to comprehend physicochemical and morphological characteristics, crystallinity, and thermal behavior of...

Water pollution is a global issue because of potentially lethal toxins. Polymeric nanomaterials are making their way into water treatment processes and are being utilized to efficiently remove a variety of pollutants. Polymeric nanomaterials are a popular option for a solution because they have a high adsorption capacity and a high surface charge....

Finding new cellulosic materials is an absolute necessity at this time since it is the way to guarantee the manufacture of quality improved materials that can be used in the bio basedfilms for food packaging applications. This study is carried out with the intention of extracting micro-sized cellulose filler that was derived from Valoniopsis pachyn...

The identification of novel cellulosic materials is imperative at the moment to ensure high-quality materials for building polymer composites that possess high-performance. This study was conducted to explore the specific properties of a novel micro-sized cellulosic fillers obtained from Nelumbo nucifera leaves and thereby to establish its feasibil...

Leachable plasticizers made of petroleum are causing growing environmental and health concerns because they are so dangerous to the environment. Therefore, searching for novel biodegradable plasticizers is of increasing interest of researchers across different domains. So, there is a need to develop bio-based plasticizers from natural sources. With...

Bio-based materials with high-performance are being explored extensively at the moment for improving the specific properties of reinforced polymer composites and thereby to extend the life-span of composite-based goods. Bio-fillers are one of the sought materials in the polymer composite industry for use in a wide range of matrix systems. At the sa...

In this study, the surface of the raw Musa acuminata peduncles fiber (MAPF) was modified by using a 5 (w/v) % alkali solution. MAPF was immersed in an alkali solution for different soaking durations such as 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 min. After the alkalization, chemical analyses were conducted for raw and alkalized fibers. The outcome of the chemical...

Plasticizers are additives used to ensure flexibility to polymer blends and thereby to increase their processability. As the typical plastic component phthalates and other fossil-based components contribute environmental issues since such compounds are not biodegradable. To overcome these problems, researchers began to focus on biodegradable thermo...

Cellulose present in natural plant sources has better potentials to replace traditional synthetic fibers. However, a lack of knowledge and awareness on cellulose hinders efforts to fully utilize this extremely biodegradable resource. This study aims to extract and characterize the microcrystalline cellulose (MC) obtained from Pandanus tectorius lea...

Microcrystalline cellulose, which is widely used in a variety of industries, including those in the food, pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic, and polymer composites sectors, is becoming increasingly valuable as a result of the rising need for fossil-fuel alternatives. These eco-friendly particles are capable of being utilized as filler materials in...

Biodegradable films with better attributes are gaining popularity nowadays. They could replace petroleum-based polymers. This work choose microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from the Borassus flabellifer flower as the filler. Polylactic acid (PLA) was used as the matrix to create biocomposite films via a solution-casting technique. The filler percenta...

Pretreatment is the crucial step in the biorefinery process for the bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to value-added products. Among various chemical pretreatment methods, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are novel green solvents to effectively reduce the recalcitrant nature of the biomass that result in an increase in the sugar and product yie...

Nowadays, cellulose as a potential bioresource has attracted the interest of many industries such as textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, and composite industries. The most common source for cellulose is wood. But the overexploitation of wood as a source of cellulose has created severe ecological and environmental issues. Researchers are continuously...

The hand layup-cum-compression moulding method was employed to create a novel polyester-based hybrid composite by reinforcing basalt/banana fibres with a sesame oil cake-derived cellulose (sesame cake cellulose, SCC) filler, and its mechanical, moisture absorption, thermal and analytical characteristics were investigated as a function of SCC weight...

The interest in developing bio-based composite materials had grown up with the context of maintaining ecological integrity by introducing new eco-friendly materials. The present study investigated the suitability of a novel Furcraea selloa K. Koch leaf fiber (FSLF) for composite reinforcement instead of existing synthetic harmful fiber materials. T...

The lack of fundamental knowledge in providing an eco-friendly surface modification of bast fibers for enhancing the composite’s properties is still a major challenge in creating next generation composite products. The remarkable characteristics of bast fiber composites, which are ideal for manufacturing innovative green materials, have piqued the...

In this research article, a leftover of Cymbopogon flexuosus stem (CFS) collected from the oil extraction industry was examined for its ability as a reinforcing agent in a polymer composite. Anatomical, morphological, physical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics of the CFS fiber were examined. Chemical analysis revealed the presence o...

Nowadays, scientists and researchers working on polymer composites are paying much attention to the discovery of prospective plant fibers in order to build a promising fiber-reinforced polymer composite. The present study investigated the efficacy of using a novel Furcraea selloa K. Koch peduncle fiber in reinforced composites, and the specific com...

Novel natural plant fibers with significant features are to be explored at the moment due to their renewability, degradability, wide range acceptability, economic feasibility, and ecological standards over existing synthetic ones. Since the identification of potential plant fibers are getting much attention of scientists/researchers for the develop...

The viability of using cellulosic Cymbopogon flexuosus root (CFR) fiber waste from the industry as a reinforcing material in a polyester‐reinforced composite was investigated. Initially, CFR anatomy, mechanical, thermal, physio‐chemical, morphological, and spectroscopy behaviors were investigated. Spectroscopy and chemical analysis were evidence fo...

Natural plant fibers and their composites have been extensively used in various sectors for the last few decades, due to their promising potentials that compete with synthetic materials. The biodegradable and renewable nature of plant fibers rely on them as environmentally friendly material with high ecological benefits. The extraction and processi...

Researchers all around the world were focusing on the search for new biomaterials due to their sustainable benefits. Abundance and diversity in natural fibers arouse wide challenges and opportunities for comprehensive research in developing a high-performance environmentally friendly biopolymer composite. Natural fiber composites were considered a...

Use of agricultural waste for biocomposite is one of the main concerns of researchers because the waste is an abundant, economic, and eco-friendly source. Agro wastes of Cymbopogon flexuosus plant shoot (CFPS) from an oil extraction industry was analyzed for its feasibility as reinforcement in a metal matrix composite and as a lignocellulosic fille...

Biogas production from biomass is an eco-friendly approach that offers renewable energy generation, waste recycling, biofertilizer production along with maintaining environmental quality. Anaerobic decomposition is a familiar practice used for biogas production in worldwide, whereas only few substrates were convenient for attaining desired methane...

Currently, plant fibers, acquired from several resources, have been used widely for numerous applications by textile and green composite industries. The highlights of natural fibers include bio-degradable, uninterrupted source, easy and safe handling. The usage of enzymes in the textile industry fosters the development of eco-friendly technologies...

Flours and starches extracted from the tropical tubers underwent freeze-drying and cooking in comparison with fresh cooking. Freeze-dried and cooked starch (FDS) granules were found to have different shapes and collapsed arrangement whereas freshly cooked starch (FCS) granules had the least varied structures. The freeze-dried flours had larger stru...

Today’s industrial scenarios had imposed many academicians and researchers to develop an eco-friendly, sustainable and cost-effective polymer composite material instead of synthetic fibers. The implementation of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites provided a most significant contribution in the development of more biodegradable polymer-base...

Nowadays, studies on natural fibers that possess excellent strength to weight ratio and less degradability has been found as the most attractive area of research in engineering and scientific fields; in fact, natural fiber composites are being extensively substituted for various structural applications. Natural fiber reinforced polymers are the maj...

Untreated and alkali-treated (5% NaOH) Chloris barbata flower fibers (CBFFs) were used to fabricate the composites by hand lay-up method. Novel composite plates were manufactured by changing fiber weight fraction (5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 15 wt.%, 20 wt.%, and 25 wt.%), raw and 5% NaOH treated fibers. The impact of NaOH treatment and fiber weight fraction...

Dry sliding friction and wear behavior, hardness, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of Cissus quadrangularis stem fiber (CQSF)/epoxy resin composite, reinforced with red mud particulate filler were done. The hardness of the material increased by adding red mud filler. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) reveals that the maximum char yield obtained...

In this article, mechanical and tribological characterization of Cissus quadrangularis stem fiber (CQSF)/epoxy resin particulate with and without coconut shell ash (CSA) powder was carried out. The materials were fabricated by the hand lay-up method. Epoxy and 30 wt.% CQSF with 40 mm fiber length were taken to fabricate the base material, and CSA w...

Grewia damine is a flowering plant found in India and Sri Lanka. The fiber taken out from the stem bark of G. damine is found to be novel and selected for characterization study. The G. damine stem bark fiber (GDSF) has rich in cellulose contents (57.78 ± 3.56%). Its lower density (1.378 ± 0.036 g/cm³) makes it fit for use in lightweight applicatio...

This investigation is aimed to analyze the effect of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment on the physical, chemical, structural, thermal and surface topography of Phaseolus vulgaris fibers (PVFs). The surface of raw PVFs was modified by soaking with 5% NaOH solution for 15, 30, 45 and 60 min. The various functional groups of the alkali-treated PVFs (A...

Scenarios focus on the practical behavior of anaerobic decomposition systems to enhance biogas production, in addition to assure economic progression and ecological sustainability. The present study has framed to identify the potential hydrolytic bacteria from five different sources since principally the efficacy of hydrolytic bacteria determines t...

The increasing population and developing science and technology increased human comfort and needs which in turn increased need of burning fuel. Universal resource of this fuel in non-renewable therefore there is a constant search for renewable eco-friendly energy source. Biogas is one such energy which needs greater attention towards effective prod...

Microorganisms play a vital role in processing organic matter and returning the chemical elements into active cycle. In these decomposers are effective in dismantling the complex organic matter through a sequential break down and release of energy. Biogas is one such process which occurs in the absence of oxygen and several groups of microorganism...

Millions of tons of solid waste are generated each year from municipal, industrial and agricultural sources. Unmanaged organic waste fractions from farming, industry and municipalities decompose in the environment, resulting in large-scale contamination of land, water, air and great threat to environmental quality. India alone generates 42 million...