Materials in the Application of Adsorption, Degradation, Catalysis and Water Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

Natural materials derived from polymers are considered the materials of the future, becoming a part of everyday life as a result of their applications in fields such as cosmetics, pharmacy, the food industry, medicine, chemical industry, electronics, and electrotechnics. Their beneficial effect on the protection of the environment, but especially their antimicrobial role, has received the attention of various scientists.

At the same time, it is absolutely necessary to understand their physicochemical properties, such as their shape, size, crystalline structure, solubility, or surface chemistry, in order to establish the role of each property in the manifestation of the antimicrobial effect of the biomaterial.

The research and development of natural polymers have gained significant relevance, conducted by "green chemistry" and sustainability principles that are increasingly being adapted in industry. The characteristics of natural polymers, such as their biocompatibility, precisely designed degradability rate, thermal ability, relatively high strength, low toxicity, controlled crystallinity, adsorption capacity, and hydrophilicity, have made natural polymers extremely useful, especially in biomedical applications, as dietary supplement precursors, antioxidants, or probiotics.

However, increasing amounts of compounds based on biopolymers are used in the food or cosmetic industry, in the production of packaging, in food preservation, or as emulsifying agents. Last but not least, materials based on biopolymers are used as flocculation agents in water purification processes or for the manufacture of reverse osmosis membranes.

Dr. Adina Negrea
Guest Editor

Dr. Nicoleta Sorina Nemeş
Guest Editor Assistant

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