This review paper is related to the utilization on bacterial cellulose in many applications. The polymer produced from bacterial cellulose possessed a very good physical and mechanical properties, such as high tensile strength, elasticity, absorbency. The polymer from bacterial cellulose has a significantly higher degree of polymerization and crystallinity compared to those derived from plant. The collection of selected literature review shown that bacterial cellulose produced are in the form pure cellulose and can be used in many of applications. These include application in various industries and sectors of the economy, from medicine to paper or electronic industry.

Preliminary studies are presented showing to what extent nutrients available in the growth environment of Kombucha microorganisms affect the physical and mechanical properties of synthesized cellulose. With an increase in the amount of sucrose in the growth medium and with the presence of additional nutrients, peptone and tea extract, the thickness and strength of the biopolymer increased, while elongation was reduced. The best physical and mechanical parameters were obtained for bacterial cellulose from cultures with the addition of 10% sucrose and 0.25% peptone content. The increase in elongation correlated with the decrease in the degree of polymerization, which means that in media rich in nutrients, the number of molecules building the polymer decreases. The presented data is important in order to select ingredients that will help synthesize bacterial cellulose with the desired physio-mechanical properties.

Black poplar (Populus nigra L.) was thermally modified in superheated steam at 160 °C, 190 °C, and 220 °C for 2 h. The research identified correlations between the chemical composition and selected mechanical properties of thermally modified wood. The higher treatment temperatures significantly lowered the modulus of rupture (MOR) and the Brinell hardness (BH). These correlations were particularly apparent at higher temperatures (190 °C and 220 °C) when thermally modified wood experienced stronger hemicelluloses degradation, which was indicated by an increase in the content of non-structural substances. The wood properties including compressive strength parallel to the grain (CS), modulus of elasticity during bending (MOE), and compressing (MCS) were affected less by the chemical changes caused by the thermal processing of wood. Moreover, the level of wood moisture content also affected these changes.

The purpose of this study was to prepare an active, nontoxic, and biodegradable film using gelatin and chitosan including rosemary ethanol extract (EE) and essential oil (EO) to improve its physicochemical and antibacterial properties. Films with the highest mechanical properties were acquired using a polymer composition of 4 g gelatin, 3.75 g glycerol, and 1 g chitosan. This composition provided the highest elongation at break (50.10%) and tensile strength (20.61 MPa). The chemical composition of enriched films with rosemary EO was rich in 1,8‐cineole, camphor, camphene, and α‐pinene. The enriched films with rosemary EE were mainly characterized by the predominance of rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid. Mechanical results showed that the incorporation of rosemary EE and EO caused a significant increase in tensile strength, whereas a significant decrease was observed in elongation at break. With the increase of EE and EO concentrations, the water vapor permeability of films decreased while water resistance increased. Moreover, water contact angle analysis showed that the incorporation of rosemary EE and EO made this enriched film more hydrophobic. Fourier transform–infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between component functional groups, enhancing the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the enriched films with rosemary EE and EO. Optical results showed that the incorporation of rosemary EE and EO provoked variations in color, light transmission, and transparency of films. The changes of the surface of these films were confirmed by film microstructure analyses with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The antibacterial activity of enriched films with EO and EE was determined against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Campylobacter jejuni, and Salmonella enterica. In fact, the enriched films with EO and EE showed potential coatings for controlling the most common food‐borne bacterial growth during the food storage. Practical applications Novel techniques of prolonging the shelf life of food products have been evaluated by using the active packaging based on gelatin and chitosan film enriched with natural antibacterial agents from the plant such as phenolics compounds and essential oils. However, there are several problems connected with the strength of such materials. Therefore, the aim of this study was to improve the mechanical properties of control gelatin–chitosan film and to evaluate the influence of the incorporation of rosemary essential oil and extract into the gelatin–chitosan film in order to obtain an active material having antibacterial capacities.

Praca omawia metody wykrywania i ilościowego oznaczania związków cyjanogennych w roślinach. Charakteryzuje właściwości i znaczenie toksykologiczne oraz farmakologiczne wybranych substancji cyjanogennych.