Polymers from Renewable Resources, 2nd Volume

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has estimated that approximately one-third of the food produced for human consumption is still lost or wasted annually. In this context, the polymeric materials used as food packaging play a key role in reducing food waste and providing food preservation while avoiding external contamination. Polymer packaging usage occupies the maximal share of polymer implementations and remains highly challenging in waste management and environmental pollution elimination. Unfortunately, when traditional plastic food packaging is used, we still follow a linear economy with a huge loss of energy and consumption of non-renewable resources as well as catastrophically polluting the environment. The most interesting challenge of the near future will, therefore, be to use the food waste inevitably created and renewable resources to obtain new bio-based and biodegradable materials, with chemical, physical, mechanical and gas transport characteristics being suitable for the food to be preserved, inserting packaging in a context of a circular economy. In the framework of circular bioeconomy, owing to the distinct advantages over traditional petrol-based polymers, nowadays, bio-based plastics constitute a small but growing segment of the global polymer market, namely, 0.6% (2.4 million ton) with the prospect to achieve 7.6 million ton (>2%) in 2026 [https://www.european-bioplastics.org/market/]. Among them, biodegradable polymers such as PHB, PHA, PLA, polysaccharides and others make up >1.5 million ton (64% of total biopolymers’ output) currently and is expected to gain 5.3 million tons (70%) in the same 2026. The number of papers published in the previous issue (19 manuscripts) encourages us to continue with the next second collection which will again cover the actual topics related to bioplastics from renewable resources, including innovative raw materials, polymerization processes, full characterization, functionality performance, transport phenomena, final application and, of course, life cycle assessment analysis on materials and processes. Research articles, reviews, short communications and case studies on this topic are welcome, with the main aim of sharing academic and industrial efforts related to new and innovative sustainable materials and technologies.

Dr. Valentina Siracusa
Prof. Dr. Nadia Lotti
Dr. Michelina Soccio
Prof. Dr. Alexey L. Iordanskii
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Polymers polymers	4.7	8.0	2009	14.5 Days	CHF 2700
Polysaccharides polysaccharides	4.7	7.2	2020	24 Days	CHF 1000
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	19.7 Days	CHF 2400
Sustainable Chemistry suschem	-	-	2020	32.3 Days	CHF 1000
Molecules molecules	4.2	7.4	1996	15.1 Days	CHF 2700

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17 pages, 2756 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Biopolymer from Annona muricata Residues as a Potential Sustainable Raw Material for Industrial Applications

by Igor F. S. Ramos, Samuel C. Dias, Talissa B. C. Lopes, Francisco T. dos S. Silva Júnior, Ricardo de Araújo, Stanley J. C. Gutierrez, Claudia Pessoa, Josy A. Osajima, Marcia S. Rizzo, Edson C. Silva-Filho, Manuela Amorim, Óscar Ramos, Alessandra B. Ribeiro and Marcilia P. Costa

Polysaccharides 2024, 5(4), 523-539; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides5040033 - 26 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1540

Abstract

Annona muricata is a fruit species belonging to the Annonaceae family, which is native to the warmer tropical areas of North and South America. A large amount of discarded residue from A. muricata is of interest for obtaining new industrial inputs. To propose [...] Read more.

Annona muricata is a fruit species belonging to the Annonaceae family, which is native to the warmer tropical areas of North and South America. A large amount of discarded residue from A. muricata is of interest for obtaining new industrial inputs. To propose the applications of the biopolymer from A. muricata residues (Biop_AmRs), this study aimed to characterize this input chemically and functionally, as well as to evaluate its potential for hemocompatibility and cytotoxicity activity in vitro. Biop_AmRs is an anionic heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose, arabinose, xylose, galactose, mannose, uronic acid, and proteins. This biopolymer exhibited a semicrystalline structure and good thermal stability. Biop_AmRs exhibited excellent water holding capacity, emulsifying properties, and mucoadhesiviness and demonstrated hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility on the L929 cell line. These results indicate possible applications for this biopolymer as a potential environmentally friendly raw material in the food, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and cosmetic industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Polymers from Renewable Resources, 2nd Volume)

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15 pages, 6781 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Ultrasound-Assisted Process to Increase the Hydrophobicity of Cellulose from Oat Hulls by Surface Modification with Vegetable Oils

by Gina A. Gil-Giraldo, Janaina Mantovan, Beatriz M. Marim, João O. F. Kishima, Natália C. L. Beluci and Suzana Mali

Polysaccharides 2024, 5(3), 463-477; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides5030029 - 5 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1081

Abstract

Cellulose obtained from oat hulls by bleaching with peracetic acid was modified, employing an ultrasound method that resulted in an esterification reaction with different vegetable oils (soybean, sunflower, and coconut) to produce modified cellulose (MC) with increased hydrophobicity. MC samples were characterized by [...] Read more.

Cellulose obtained from oat hulls by bleaching with peracetic acid was modified, employing an ultrasound method that resulted in an esterification reaction with different vegetable oils (soybean, sunflower, and coconut) to produce modified cellulose (MC) with increased hydrophobicity. MC samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and their wettability and oil and water absorption capacities. FTIR indicated that the reaction occurred with all oils, which was observed by forming a new band associated with ester carbonyl groups at 1747 cm⁻¹. The modification did not affect the crystalline structure or surface morphology of the cellulose. MC samples modified with all oil sources showed a 6 to 9-fold decrease in water absorption capacity, a 3-fold increase in oil absorption capacity, and a higher affinity for nonpolar solvents. The modified samples adsorbed lower amounts of water at a slower rate. Different oil sources did not affect the main properties of MC. The ultrasonication-assisted process was not only effective in modifying cellulose by esterification with vegetable oils but was also an eco-friendly and simple strategy that does not require toxic reagents, providing reassurance of its sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Polymers from Renewable Resources, 2nd Volume)

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16 pages, 5643 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation and Modeling of Polylactide Photodegradation under Ultraviolet Irradiation: Bio-Based Polyester Photolysis Mechanism

by Sergey Lomakin, Yurii Mikheev, Sergey Usachev, Svetlana Rogovina, Lubov Zhorina, Evgeniya Perepelitsina, Irina Levina, Olga Kuznetsova, Natalia Shilkina, Alexey Iordanskii and Alexander Berlin

Polymers 2024, 16(7), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070985 - 4 Apr 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1924

Abstract

In our study, we investigated the accelerated aging process of PLA under 253.7 nm UV-C irradiation with the use of the GPC, NMR, FTIR, and DSC methods and formal kinetic analysis. The results of GPC and DSC indicated a significant degree of destructive [...] Read more.

In our study, we investigated the accelerated aging process of PLA under 253.7 nm UV-C irradiation with the use of the GPC, NMR, FTIR, and DSC methods and formal kinetic analysis. The results of GPC and DSC indicated a significant degree of destructive changes in the PLA macromolecules, while spectroscopic methods NMR and FTIR showed maintenance of the PLA main structural elements even after a long time of UV exposure. In addition to that, the GPC method displayed the formation of a high molecular weight fraction starting from 24 h of irradiation, and an increase in its content after 144 h of irradiation. It has been shown for the first time that a distinctive feature of prolonged UV exposure is the occurrence of intra- and intermolecular radical recombination reactions, leading to the formation of a high molecular weight fraction of PLA decomposition products. This causes the observed slowdown of the photolysis process. It was concluded that photolysis of PLA is a complex physicochemical process, the mechanism of which depends on morphological changes in the solid phase of the polymer under UV radiation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Polymers from Renewable Resources, 2nd Volume)

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12 pages, 984 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Lignocellulose Nanofibril from Desilicated Rice Hull with Carboxymethylation Pretreatment

by Audrey Zahra, Seo-Kyoung Lim and Soo-Jeong Shin

Polysaccharides 2024, 5(1), 16-27; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides5010002 - 22 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1605

Abstract

Rice hulls have a high-value potential, and the lignocellulose components are underutilized compared to other biomass resources. Pretreatments such as carboxymethylation of the degree of substitutions (DS) are used to prepare lignocellulose nanofibril (LCNF) from desilicated rice hull (DSRH). High-pressure homogenization (HPH) and [...] Read more.

Rice hulls have a high-value potential, and the lignocellulose components are underutilized compared to other biomass resources. Pretreatments such as carboxymethylation of the degree of substitutions (DS) are used to prepare lignocellulose nanofibril (LCNF) from desilicated rice hull (DSRH). High-pressure homogenization (HPH) and grinding are used to process nano fibrillation. The composition of LCNF DS of desilicated rice hull was identified using ¹H NMR for polysaccharide composition and DS determination, acetone and hot water extraction to evaluate extractives, and Klason lignin for lignin content. LCNF was prepared using various DS from 0.2 until DS 0.4. The results showed that LCNF DS has a more than −30 mV zeta potential, suitable for stable nanoemulsion formulations. The particle size of LCNF DS decreases with an increasing carboxyl content in the hydrogel and an increasing number of passes through grinding and high-pressure homogenization, of which LCNF DS 0.4 had the smallest width and length. Mechanical processes further reduced the size. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Polymers from Renewable Resources, 2nd Volume)

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22 pages, 4520 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Approach for Glycero-(9,10-trioxolane)-Trialeate Incorporation into Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(ɛ-caprolactone) Blends for Biomedicine and Packaging

by Olga V. Alexeeva, Anatoliy A. Olkhov, Marina L. Konstantinova, Vyacheslav V. Podmasterev, Tuyara V. Petrova, Levon Yu. Martirosyan, Olga K. Karyagina, Sergey S. Kozlov, Sergey M. Lomakin, Ilya V. Tretyakov, Valentina Siracusa and Alexey L. Iordanskii

Polymers 2024, 16(1), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16010128 - 30 Dec 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1569

Abstract

The product of ozonolysis, glycero-(9,10-trioxolane)-trioleate (ozonide of oleic acid triglyceride, [OTOA]), was incorporated into polylactic acid/polycaprolactone (PLA/PCL) blend films in the amount of 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40% w/w. The morphological, mechanical, thermal and antibacterial properties of the [...] Read more.

The product of ozonolysis, glycero-(9,10-trioxolane)-trioleate (ozonide of oleic acid triglyceride, [OTOA]), was incorporated into polylactic acid/polycaprolactone (PLA/PCL) blend films in the amount of 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40% w/w. The morphological, mechanical, thermal and antibacterial properties of the biodegradable PLA/PCL films after the OTOA addition were studied. According to DSC and XRD data, the degree of crystallinity of the PLA/PCL + OTOA films showed a general decreasing trend with an increase in OTOA content. Thus, a significant decrease from 34.0% for the reference PLA/PCL film to 15.7% for the PLA/PCL + 40% OTOA film was established using DSC. Observed results could be explained by the plasticizing effect of OTOA. On the other hand, the PLA/PCL film with 20% OTOA does not follow this trend, showing an increase in crystallinity both via DSC (20.3%) and XRD (34.6%). OTOA molecules, acting as a plasticizer, reduce the entropic barrier for nuclei formation, leading to large number of PLA spherulites in the plasticized PLA/PCL matrix. In addition, OTOA molecules could decrease the local melt viscosity at the vicinity of the growing lamellae, leading to faster crystal growth. Morphological analysis showed that the structure of the films with an OTOA concentration above 20% drastically changed. Specifically, an interface between the PLA/PCL matrix and OTOA was formed, thereby forming a capsule with the embedded antibacterial agent. The moisture permeability of the resulting PLA/PCL + OTOA films decreased due to the formation of uniformly distributed hydrophobic amorphous zones that prevented water penetration. This architecture affects the tensile characteristics of the films: strength decreases to 5.6 MPa, elastic modulus E by 40%. The behavior of film elasticity is associated with the redistribution of amorphous regions in the matrix. Additionally, PLA/PCL + OTOA films with 20, 30 and 40% of OTOA showed good antibacterial properties on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Raoultella terrigena (Klebsiella terrigena) and Agrobacterium tumefaciens, making the developed films potentially promising materials for wound-dressing applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Polymers from Renewable Resources, 2nd Volume)

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19 pages, 2585 KiB  

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluation of the Interface Strength in the Abaca-Fiber-Reinforced Bio-Polyethylene Composites

by Faust Seculi, Francesc X. Espinach, Fernando Julián, Marc Delgado-Aguilar, Pere Mutjé and Quim Tarrés

Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2686; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122686 - 15 Jun 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2564

Abstract

Bio-based polymers, with any of their constituents based on nonrenewable sources, can answer the demands of society and regulations regarding minimizing the environmental impact. The more similar such biocomposites are to oil-based composites, the easier the transition, especially for companies that do not [...] Read more.

Bio-based polymers, with any of their constituents based on nonrenewable sources, can answer the demands of society and regulations regarding minimizing the environmental impact. The more similar such biocomposites are to oil-based composites, the easier the transition, especially for companies that do not like the uncertainty. A BioPE matrix, with a structure similar to that of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE), was used to obtain abaca-fiber-reinforced composites. The tensile properties of these composites are displayed and compared with commercial glass-fiber-reinforced HDPE. Since the strength of the interface between the reinforcements and the matrix is responsible for the exploitation of the strengthening abilities of the reinforcements, several micromechanical models were used to obtain an estimation of the strength of the interface and the intrinsic tensile strength of the reinforcements. Biocomposites require the use of a coupling agent to strengthen their interface, and once an 8 wt.% of such coupling agent was added to the composites, these materials returned tensile properties in line with commercial glass-fiber-reinforced HDPE composites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Polymers from Renewable Resources, 2nd Volume)

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