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Sustainable Electrospinning Processes and Green Solvents

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Circular and Green Sustainable Polymer Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 723

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Interaktion 1, 33619 Bielefeld, Germany
Interests: magnetism; spintronics; optics; biopolymers; electrospinning; dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs); smart textiles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor Assistant
School of Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
Interests: textiles; 3D printing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Electrospinning enables the production of nanofiber mats from diverse polymers and polymer blends, often with embedded metallic, ceramic, or other nanoparticles. Many materials or material combinations, however, require the use of toxic solvents. Moreover, water-soluble polymers must be crosslinked for most applications, a process which again uses many toxic substances. This is especially critical in the case of biomedical or biotechnological applications, where even small toxic residues may strongly influence wound healing or cell growth.

This Special Issue calls for eco-friendly and low-energy electrospinning techniques employing green solvents, bio-based polymers, and non-toxic crosslinking solutions to address environmental concerns, making nanofibrous membranes more attractive for future applications.

Prof. Dr. Andrea Ehrmann
Guest Editor

Dr. Nonsikelelo Sheron Mpofu
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • green electrospinning
  • nanofibers
  • biopolymers
  • non-toxic solvents
  • non-toxic crosslinking
  • energy calculation
  • carbon footprint
  • life cycle assessment

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 3372 KB  
Article
Characterization and Performance Evaluation of Cotton Fabrics Functionalized via In Situ Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Solanum tuberosum Peel Extract
by Nonsikelelo Sheron Mpofu, Josphat Igadwa Mwasiagi, Cleophas Achisa Mecha and Eric Oyondi Nganyi
Polymers 2025, 17(19), 2598; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17192598 - 25 Sep 2025
Abstract
The functionalization of textiles with nanomaterials through green synthesis offers a promising pathway for sustainable material innovation. This study explores the in situ green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto cotton fabrics using Solanum tuberosum (potato) peel extract as a natural reducing and [...] Read more.
The functionalization of textiles with nanomaterials through green synthesis offers a promising pathway for sustainable material innovation. This study explores the in situ green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto cotton fabrics using Solanum tuberosum (potato) peel extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesis conditions were optimized by varying silver nitrate concentration, extract volume, temperature, pH, and reaction time, after which the optimized protocol was applied for fabric treatment. The presence and distribution of AgNPs were confirmed through UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The treated fabrics demonstrated strong and durable antibacterial performance, with inhibition zones of 23 ± 0.02 against Escherichia coli and 16 ± 0.01 against Staphylococcus aureus. Notably, antibacterial activity was retained even after 20 washing cycles, demonstrating the durability of the treatment. Mechanical testing revealed a 32.25% increase in tensile strength and a corresponding 10.47% reduction in elongation at break compared to untreated fabrics, suggesting improved durability with moderate stiffness. Air permeability decreased by 8.8%, correlating with the rougher surface morphology observed in Scanning Electron Microscopy images. Thermal analysis showed a decrease in thermal stability relative to untreated cotton, highlighting the influence of AgNPs on degradation behavior. Overall, this work demonstrates that potato peel waste, an abundant and underutilized biomass, can be used as a sustainable source for the green synthesis of AgNP-functionalized textiles. The approach provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategy for developing multifunctional fabrics, while supporting circular economy goals in textile engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Electrospinning Processes and Green Solvents)
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