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Polymers
Special Issues
Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials: A New Chance for Our Future
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Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials: A New Chance for Our Future

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2019) | Viewed by 21904

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Valentina Siracusa

E-Mail Website1 Website2 Website3
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
Interests: packaging materials; bio-based and biodegradable polymers; bio-based and biodegradable polyesters; green composites; polymerization of biopolymers; processing of bioplastics; sustainable polymer for food preservation; biopolymers for food packaging; edible films; compostable packaging; monomers from renewable resources; polymers from renewable resources; gas barrier properties; life cycle assessment (LCA) study; bioeconomy; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Mehdi Jonoobi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Wood and Paper Science and Technology, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 31585-4313, 31587-77871 Karaj, Iran
Interests: bio-based polymers and their composites; cellulose modification; extrusion processing; foam products from polymers, nanocellulose, and nanocomposites; industrial bio-residue and waste disposal; thermoplastic and thermoset nanocomposites

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

The changing concerns of consumers and industry with regard to environmentally friendly technology on the topics safety, quality, and easy handling properties have further increased the interest of the field’s research community in eco-friendly polymers and plastics for different applications, such as packaging, the biomedical and cosmetic field, as well as for membrane formulation as a new tool for the removal of pollutants from water, wastewater, and air (polymer membrane separation technique). In reality, those materials are mostly obtained from fossil sources, but the depletion of petroleum reserves, the fluctuating price of petroleum-based products, and the stringent environmental regulations due to severe environmental pollution and waste management issues have prompted the use of chemicals derived from renewable resources in both the scientific and industrial communities. Among possible alternatives, polymers and membranes coming from natural compounds like sugar, polysaccharides, cellulose, and waste, especially food waste, are gaining even more interest, thanks to their bio-degradability, renewability, inherent environmental inertness, low price, and specific thermomechanical properties, as well as selectivity and permeability behavior. In addition, nanomaterials are promising candidates for this purpose, considered as the cutting edge of creating the next generation of polymers and polymers membranes.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect the results concerning the synthesis, characterization, and structure–property relationship of those eco-friendly polymers and polymer membranes in order to reach the perfect optimization of their properties for their potential future application in every field of interest.

Prof. Valentina Siracusa
Prof. Mehdi Jonoobi
Guest Editors

Keywords

  • biopolymers
  • biodegradable polymers
  • bio-based polymers
  • sustainable polymers
  • polymers from waste
  • bio-polyesters
  • eco-friendly materials
  • cellulose membrane
  • polymer filtration for water purification
  • polymer filtration for air purification
  • nanocomposite membrane based on cellulose
  • polymer for biomedical application
  • nanocomposite for cosmetic application
  • structure–property relations
  • gas barrier behavior

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 5322 KiB  
Article
Degradable Controlled Release Fertilizer Composite Prepared via Extrusion: Fabrication, Characterization, and Release Mechanisms
by Siwen Bi, Vincenzo Barinelli and Margaret J. Sobkowicz
Polymers 2020, 12(2), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12020301 - 2 Feb 2020
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6959
Abstract
In this work, biodegradable polymers were melt compounded with urea phosphate to fabricate “smart fertilizers” for sustainable agriculture. Urea phosphate (UP) is typically applied as a water-soluble fertilizer to treat phosphorus deficiency in high pH soils. Due to the low diffusion rate of [...] Read more.
In this work, biodegradable polymers were melt compounded with urea phosphate to fabricate “smart fertilizers” for sustainable agriculture. Urea phosphate (UP) is typically applied as a water-soluble fertilizer to treat phosphorus deficiency in high pH soils. Due to the low diffusion rate of phosphate through slow-release fertilizer coatings, phosphate supply has been considered the “bottleneck” for nitrogen–phosphorous–potassium (NPK) nutrients supply. We study the influence of polymer matrix structure on release kinetics in deionized water using novel polyesters including poly (hexamethylene succinate) (PHS), poly (30% butylene succinate-co-70% hexamethylene succinate) (PBHS 30/70), and PBHS 70/30. Melt processed composites of UP and polyester were analyzed to determine UP loading efficiency and dispersion and distribution of the salt in the polymer matrix. A combined empirical model involving diffusion and erosion mechanisms was found have a good agreement with the experimental release curve. This work provides a solution for environmentally friendly controlled release phosphate fertilizer with good release performance using bio-based and biodegradable polymers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials: A New Chance for Our Future)
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20 pages, 8918 KiB  
Article
Effect of Eco-Friendly Cellulose Nanocrystals on Physical Properties of Cement Mortars
by Danuta Barnat-Hunek, Małgorzata Grzegorczyk-Frańczak, Monika Szymańska-Chargot and Grzegorz Łagód
Polymers 2019, 11(12), 2088; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11122088 - 13 Dec 2019
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4311
Abstract
Nanocellulose, being a material with nanodimensions, is characterized by high tensile strength, high modulus of elasticity, low thermal expansion, and relatively low density, as well as exhibiting very good electrical conductivity properties. The paper presents the results of research on cement mortars with [...] Read more.
Nanocellulose, being a material with nanodimensions, is characterized by high tensile strength, high modulus of elasticity, low thermal expansion, and relatively low density, as well as exhibiting very good electrical conductivity properties. The paper presents the results of research on cement mortars with the addition of nanocrystals cellulose, applied in three different amounts (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) by weight of cement, including: physical and mechanical properties, frost resistance and resistance against the detrimental effect of salt, and microstructure examination (SEM). Along with an increase in amount of admixture, the weight loss following frost resistance and salt crystallization tests is reduced. Studies have shown that the addition of nanocrystalline cellulose improves the compressive and flexural strength by 27.6% and 10.9%, respectively. After 50 freezing and thawing (F–T) cycles for the mortars with 1.5% nanocellulose admixture, an improvement in frost resistance by 98% was observed. In turn, the sulfate crystallization tests indicated a 35-fold decrease in weight loss following 1.5% nanopolymer addition to the mortar. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials: A New Chance for Our Future)
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Review

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16 pages, 716 KiB  
Review
Chitosan Composites in Packaging Industry—Current Trends and Future Challenges
by Victor G. L. Souza, João R. A. Pires, Carolina Rodrigues, Isabel M. Coelhoso and Ana Luísa Fernando
Polymers 2020, 12(2), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12020417 - 11 Feb 2020
Cited by 117 | Viewed by 9225
Abstract
Chitosan-based composites play an important role in food packaging applications and can be used either as films or as edible coatings. Due to their high costs and lower performance (i.e., lower barrier against water vapor, thermal, and mechanical properties) when compared to the [...] Read more.
Chitosan-based composites play an important role in food packaging applications and can be used either as films or as edible coatings. Due to their high costs and lower performance (i.e., lower barrier against water vapor, thermal, and mechanical properties) when compared to the traditional petroleum-based plastics, the use of such biopolymers in large-scale is still limited. Several approaches of chitosan composites in the packaging industry are emerging to overcome some of the disadvantages of pristine polymers. Thus, this work intends to present the current trends and the future challenges towards production and application of chitosan composites in the food packaging industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials: A New Chance for Our Future)
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