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Polymers
Special Issues
Preparation and Application of Biodegradable Polymeric Materials
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Preparation and Application of Biodegradable Polymeric Materials

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomacromolecules, Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2024 | Viewed by 2709

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Juliana Botelho Moreira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Unit, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: biomass; bionanotechnology; bionanocomposites; electrospinning; food packaging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric materials have been widely used in the food industry for packaging development due to their performance and ease of production. However, the environmental pollution caused by plastics has driven the search for biodegradable polymeric materials. These polymers have advantages over synthetic polymers, such as reducing the negative impact on the environment, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. On the other hand, biodegradable polymers may have low viscosity, poor mechanical properties, and thermal sensitivity. Thus, innovative technologies and processes should be further explored to produce biodegradable materials competitive with petrochemical polymeric materials to meet the growing demand for safe food and reduce production costs. In this sense, reinforcement in polymeric matrices from nanofillers has been proposed. The interaction between the nanoscale reinforcement and the polymeric matrix improves the properties of several biodegradable polymeric materials. The main objective of this Special Issue is to present the latest advances in the applications and potential of biodegradable polymers in the production of food packaging, reporting innovative techniques for the production and characterization of polymeric materials, strategies to improve the properties of biodegradable polymers, as well as the main challenges and future perspectives in the food packaging area.

Dr. Juliana Botelho Moreira
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodegradability
  • biopolymer-based films
  • characterization techniques
  • nanofillers
  • physicochemical properties
  • sustainability

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 5511 KiB  
Article
Biocomposite Based on Polylactic Acid and Rice Straw for Food Packaging Products
by Piyaporn Kampeerapappun, Narongchai O-Charoen, Pisit Dhamvithee and Ektinai Jansri
Polymers 2024, 16(8), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16081038 - 10 Apr 2024
Viewed by 456
Abstract
Plastic containers, commonly produced from non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), raise significant environmental concerns due to their persistence. The disposal of agricultural waste, specifically rice straw (RS), through burning, further compounds these environmental issues. In [...] Read more.
Plastic containers, commonly produced from non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), raise significant environmental concerns due to their persistence. The disposal of agricultural waste, specifically rice straw (RS), through burning, further compounds these environmental issues. In response, this study explores the integration of polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable material, with RS using a twin-screw extruder and injection process, resulting in the creation of a biodegradable packaging material. The inclusion of RS led to a decrease in the melt flow rate, thermal stability, and tensile strength, while concurrently enhancing the hydrophilic properties of the composite polymers. Additionally, the incorporation of maleic anhydride (MA) contributed to a reduction in the water absorption rate. The optimized formulation underwent migration testing and met the standards for food packaging products. Furthermore, no MA migration was detected from the composite. This approach not only provides a practical solution for the disposal of RS, but also serves as an environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional synthetic plastic waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Application of Biodegradable Polymeric Materials)
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12 pages, 2738 KiB  
Article
Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Materials: Tailoring Carbon Dioxide-Based Polycarbonate with POSS-SH Crosslinking
by Yue Li, Jianyu Liu, Rui Qu, Hongyi Suo, Miao Sun and Yusheng Qin
Polymers 2024, 16(7), 983; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070983 - 4 Apr 2024
Viewed by 524
Abstract
A novel functional polycarbonate (PAGC), characterized by the presence of double bonds within its side chain, was successfully synthesized through a ternary copolymerization of propylene oxide (PO), allyl glycidyl ether (AGE), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes octamercaptopropyl (POSS-SH) was [...] Read more.
A novel functional polycarbonate (PAGC), characterized by the presence of double bonds within its side chain, was successfully synthesized through a ternary copolymerization of propylene oxide (PO), allyl glycidyl ether (AGE), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes octamercaptopropyl (POSS-SH) was employed as a crosslinking agent, contributing to the formation of organic–inorganic hybrid materials. This incorporation was facilitated through thiol-ene click reactions, enabling effective interactions between the POSS molecules and the double bonds in the side chains of the polycarbonate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed a homogeneous distribution of silicon (Si) and sulfur (S) in the polycarbonate matrix. The thiol-ene click reaction between POSS-SH and the polycarbonate led to a micro-crosslinked structure. This enhancement significantly increased the tensile strength of the polycarbonate to 42 MPa, a notable improvement over traditional poly (propylene carbonate) (PPC). Moreover, the cross-linked structure exhibited enhanced solvent resistance, expanding the potential applications of these polycarbonates in various plastic materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Application of Biodegradable Polymeric Materials)
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Graphical abstract

14 pages, 9884 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Poly(Lactic Acid)@TiO2 Electrospun Membrane Decorated with Metal–Organic Frameworks for Efficient Air Filtration and Bacteriostasis
by Minggang Lin, Jinlin Shen, Qiaonan Qian, Tan Li, Chuyang Zhang and Huan Qi
Polymers 2024, 16(7), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070889 - 24 Mar 2024
Viewed by 713
Abstract
The development of high-performance filtration materials is essential for the effective removal of airborne particles, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) anchored to organic polymer matrices are considered to be one of the most promising porous adsorbents for air pollutants. Nowadays, most air filters are [...] Read more.
The development of high-performance filtration materials is essential for the effective removal of airborne particles, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) anchored to organic polymer matrices are considered to be one of the most promising porous adsorbents for air pollutants. Nowadays, most air filters are generally based on synthetic fiber polymers derived from petroleum residues and have limited functionality, so the use of MOFs in combination with nanofiber air filters has received a lot of attention. Here, a conjugated electrostatic spinning method is demonstrated for the one-step preparation of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibrous membranes with a bimodal diameter distribution and the anchoring of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) by the introduction of TiO2 and in situ generation to construct favorable multiscale fibers and rough structures. The prepared PLA/TZ maintained a good PM2.5 capture efficiency of 99.97%, a filtration efficiency of 96.43% for PM0.3, and a pressure drop of 96.0 Pa, with the highest quality factor being 0.08449 Pa−1. Additionally, ZIF-8 was uniformly generated on the surface of PLA and TiO2 nanofibers, obtaining a roughened structure and a larger specific surface area. An enhanced filtration retention effect and electrostatic interactions, as well as active free radicals, can be generated for the deep inactivation of bacteria. Compared with the unmodified membrane, PLA/TZ prepared antibacterial characteristics induced by photocatalysis and Zn2+ release, with excellent bactericidal effects against S. aureus and E. coli. Overall, this work may provide a promising approach for the development of efficient biomass-based filtration materials with antimicrobial properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Application of Biodegradable Polymeric Materials)
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