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Processes
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Polymers in Environment Protection Processes
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Polymers in Environment Protection Processes

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2024) | Viewed by 13720

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Joanna Brzeska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Product Quality and Chemistry, Gdynia Maritime University, 83 Morska Str., 81-225 Gdynia, Poland
Interests: polyurethanes; biopolymers; composites; polymer degradability; biomaterials
Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Tercjak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia, San Sebastián, Spain
Interests: bacterial cellulose; bionanocomposites; biohybrid inorganic/organic materials; polymeric materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The utility of polymeric materials is indisputable. There is probably no area of human life in which plastics are not used. However, the associated risk is known – a large amount of generated polymer macro- and microwaste. Our task is to find a solution to this problem and prevent the formation of new garbage. Research on this has been carried out for a long time and many effective solutions have already been implemented.

Another issue is the involvement of polymers in technologies aimed at reducing the burden on the environment and reducing the carbon footprint. Well-known automotive companies have been producing cars made of lightweight composite structural elements for years. This reduces the energy required for the use of vehicles. Moreover, ecological energy technologies using energy from wind, sun, and water are based on light and durable polymer structures. Furthermore, absorption mats and membranes used in water purification processes are made of natural and synthetic polymers.

The assumption of this Special Issue is to present new solutions showing how polymers can be used to protect our common good, which is the natural environment. This issue is intended to collect original papers and reviews of achievements to date in this field showing, at the same time, the direction of polymer use in developments involving environment protection.

This Special Issue “Polymers in Environment Protection Processes” aims to summarize the role of polymers in environmental protection. Polymers are a source of pollution themselves while, at the same time, playing an important role in maintaining a safe environment and improving its condition. The issue topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Polymers involved in water treatment;
  • Polymer composites reducing energy consumption in motor vehicles;
  • Development of new energy technologies using polymer systems;
  • Biodegradable polymers with different degradation kinetics in the environment; and
  • Natural polymers used in waste segregation and utilization processes.

Dr. Joanna Brzeska
Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Tercjak
Guest Editors

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 papers will be 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. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2000 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

  • polymers
  • environment protection
  • water treatment
  • composites
  • nanotechnology
  • energy technologies
  • automotive industry
  • future trends

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 6565 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Partially Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide (HPAM) Utilized in Water-Based Mud While Drilling
by Asma Nour El Houda Sid, Benalia Kouini, Mohammed Amin Bezzekhami, Selma Toumi, Khadidja Ouchak, Sara Benfarhat, Hichem Tahraoui, Mohammed Kebir, Abdeltif Amrane, Aymen Amine Assadi, Jie Zhang and Lotfi Mouni
Processes 2023, 11(4), 1133; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11041133 - 06 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2162
Abstract
Water-soluble polymers are becoming increasingly important in various applications, such as stabilizer fluids and drilling muds. These materials are used as viscosifiers and filtration control agents, flocculants, and deflocculants due to their superior properties in increasing viscosity and gelling ability in the presence [...] Read more.
Water-soluble polymers are becoming increasingly important in various applications, such as stabilizer fluids and drilling muds. These materials are used as viscosifiers and filtration control agents, flocculants, and deflocculants due to their superior properties in increasing viscosity and gelling ability in the presence of crosslinkers. In general, studying the rheological behavior of drilling fluids is of paramount importance to ensure successful well drilling operations. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide is one of the polymers widely used in water-based muds. The main objective of this study is to optimize the rheological properties of drilling muds through a characterization study of various parameters, including rheological behavior, viscosity, temperature (23 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C), salinity using KCl and NaCl contents, aging, pH, solubility, and structural analysis using infrared of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide. The study aims to demonstrate the importance of using polymers in drilling muds. The findings revealed that a rate of 3% of HPAM gave better rheological behavior, the influence of KCl (1.5%, 3%, and 4.5%) was greater than that of NaCl (1.5%, 3%, and 4.5%) on polymers, and the aging test showed that the different formulations are stable and maintain their behavior up to 110 °C. The solubility test results confirmed the maximum amount absorbed by polyacrylamide ([CHPAM] = 66.42 g/L) in order to avoid aggregation, gelification, and enhance the drilling mud by utilizing the prescribed contents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Environment Protection Processes)
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13 pages, 3447 KiB  
Article
Feasibility of Processing Hot-Melt Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive (HMPSA) with Solvent in the Lab
by Jing Xue, Jing Wang, Haofei Huang, Ming Wang, Yali Zhang and Lijuan Zhang
Processes 2021, 9(9), 1608; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9091608 - 08 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3005
Abstract
Hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive (HMPSA) is an environmentally benign adhesive which is typically processed without solvent in industries. However, casting solution method is commonly used for experimental purposes in the lab for convenience. Therefore, seven types of solvent with different polarities, including toluene as [...] Read more.
Hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive (HMPSA) is an environmentally benign adhesive which is typically processed without solvent in industries. However, casting solution method is commonly used for experimental purposes in the lab for convenience. Therefore, seven types of solvent with different polarities, including toluene as the most commonly used solvent, were investigated in this work to study the feasibilities. Quick bond strength and holding power were tested with different types of solvents and different adhesive weight percent in the prepared solutions. Through viscosity measurement, thermal analysis, and compositional analysis, the correlation between the chosen solvents and adhesive performance was further explored. It was found that the differences in the obtained bond strength of HMPSA treated with a variety of solvents were due to physical reasons instead of chemical reactions, and a solvent with similar polarity to toluene (e.g., tetrachloride, octane) should be considered as an option because a similar polymer chain relaxation could be maintained as the original HMPSA without solvent treatment. In this study, the mechanism of choosing toluene as common solvent for HMPSA testing was analyzed, and the feasibility of optional solvents was discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Environment Protection Processes)
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Review

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23 pages, 55202 KiB  
Review
A Brief Introduction to the Polyurethanes According to the Principles of Green Chemistry
by Joanna Brzeska and Agnieszka Piotrowska-Kirschling
Processes 2021, 9(11), 1929; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9111929 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7633
Abstract
Polyurethanes are most often called “green” when they contain natural, renewable additives in their network or chemical structure, such as mono- and polysaccharides, oils (mainly vegetable oils), polyphenols (e.g., lignins, tannins), or various compounds derived from agro-waste white biotechnology (Principle 7). This usually [...] Read more.
Polyurethanes are most often called “green” when they contain natural, renewable additives in their network or chemical structure, such as mono- and polysaccharides, oils (mainly vegetable oils), polyphenols (e.g., lignins, tannins), or various compounds derived from agro-waste white biotechnology (Principle 7). This usually results in these polyurethanes obtained from less hazardous substrates (Principle 4). Appropriate modification of polyurethanes makes them susceptible to degradation, and the use of appropriate processes allows for their recycling (Principle 10). However, this fulfilment of other principles also predisposes them to be green. As in the production of other polymer materials, the synthesis of polyurethanes is carried out with the use of catalysts (such as biocatalysts) (Principle 9) with full control of the course of the reaction (Principle 11), which allows maximization of the atomic economy (Principle 2) and an increase in energy efficiency (Principle 6) while minimizing the risk of production waste (Principle 1). Moreover, traditional substrates in the synthesis of polyurethanes can be replaced with less toxic ones (e.g., in non-isocyanate polyurethanes), which, at the same time, leads to a non-toxic product (Principle 3, Principle 5). In general, there is no need for blocking compounds to provide intermediates in the synthesis of polyurethanes (Principle 8). Reasonable storage of substrates, their transport, and the synthesis of polyurethanes guarantee the safety and the prevention of uncontrolled reactions (Principle 12). This publication is a summary of the achievements of scientists and technologists who are constantly working to create ideal polyurethanes that do not pollute the environment, and their synthesis and use are consistent with the principles of sustainable economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Environment Protection Processes)
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