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Polymers
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Degradation and Recycling of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition
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Degradation and Recycling of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition

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 August 2026 | Viewed by 1439

Editor

Prof. Dr. Hisayuki Nakatani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polymeri Materials Laboratory, Chemistry and Materials Program, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
Interests: recycling; biodegradation; degradation and stabilization of plastics; green chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In order to suppress microplastic (MP) generation, it is necessary to elucidate the degradation mechanism of plastics, which is deeply involved in the MP generation mechanism, and to develop a new recycling process. In addition, it is necessary to focus on additives such as antioxidants and UV absorbers, which have been suggested to be toxic, and to understand their behavior during the degradation of plastics.

This Special Issue invites submissions of papers that elucidate the mechanisms of micro- and nanoplastics formation, develop environmentally friendly plastic recycling methods, and explore plastic waste treatment using organisms such as mealworms. Additionally, we welcome papers that examine the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on various ecosystems.

Prof. Dr. Hisayuki Nakatani
Guest Editor

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 submissions that pass pre-check are 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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • micro- and nanoplastics
  • polymer degradation
  • polymer recycling
  • waste treatment using organisms
  • impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on various ecosystems
  • additives

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 27531 KB  
Article
Size-, Shape-, and Number Concentration-Dependent Nanoplastics Accumulation and Growth Responses in Lettuce
by Hisayuki Nakatani, Taito Miyaji, Masaki Sakamoto, Suguru Motokucho and Anh Thi Ngoc Dao
Polymers 2026, 18(12), 1436; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18121436 - 9 Jun 2026
Viewed by 233
Abstract
Understanding the ecological impacts of nanoplastics requires evaluation metrics beyond conventional mass-based concentrations. In this study, we investigated the generation, characterization, and phytotoxic effects of environmentally relevant plastic particles in hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa), focusing on particle size, shape, and [...] Read more.
Understanding the ecological impacts of nanoplastics requires evaluation metrics beyond conventional mass-based concentrations. In this study, we investigated the generation, characterization, and phytotoxic effects of environmentally relevant plastic particles in hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa), focusing on particle size, shape, and number concentration. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was degraded using an advanced oxidation process, demonstrating that substantial oxidative degradation is required for the formation of nanoplastics; the resulting LDPE particles exhibited a broad size distribution ranging from the nanoscale to the micrometer scale, containing nanoscale domains (peak size ~20 nm, average size ~30 nm), and showed predominantly ellipsoidal morphologies derived from cross-linked polymer regions. In contrast, polystyrene (PS) particles of defined sizes (~600 nm and ~2000 nm) were prepared via mechanical fragmentation, exhibiting sharp-edged, flake-like morphologies. Laser scanning microscopy revealed uptake and translocation of LDPE particles from roots to aerial tissues, whereas larger PS particles showed limited transport. Growth inhibition analysis based on particle number concentration (1010–1017 particles/mL) showed a stepwise concentration–response relationship for LDPE particles, with inhibition levels increasing from approximately ~30% at low concentrations to high levels of inhibition at the highest concentrations In contrast, PS particles caused significant root damage (e.g., clear surface disruption observed in microscopy) and growth inhibition (~30–40%) even at relatively low number concentrations (~1010–1012 particles/mL), likely due to their sharp-edged morphology. Overall, plant responses to plastic particles were governed by an interplay of size, shape, and number concentration, highlighting the importance of particle morphology and concentration metrics in agroecosystem risk assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Degradation and Recycling of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 10805 KB  
Article
Influence of Coffee Oil Epoxide as a Bio-Based Plasticizer on the Thermal, Mechanical, and Barrier Performance of PHBV/Natural Rubber Blends
by Rinky Ghosh, Xiaoying Zhao, Marie Genevieve Boushelle and Yael Vodovotz
Polymers 2026, 18(2), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020240 - 16 Jan 2026
Viewed by 847
Abstract
This work evaluated the effect of coffee oil epoxide (COE), produced from coffee waste, on thermal, mechanical, barrier, and exudation resistance properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/natural rubber (PHBV/NR) blends. Building upon previously published 0.3% COE results, this study examined 0.4% and 0.75% concentrations to optimize [...] Read more.
This work evaluated the effect of coffee oil epoxide (COE), produced from coffee waste, on thermal, mechanical, barrier, and exudation resistance properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/natural rubber (PHBV/NR) blends. Building upon previously published 0.3% COE results, this study examined 0.4% and 0.75% concentrations to optimize performance. Thermal analysis revealed that COE incorporation significantly enhanced chain mobility, with glass transition temperature depressions of 6.1 °C and 7.4 °C for 0.4% and 0.75% COE formulations, respectively, compared to unplasticized PHBV/NR blends. Crystallinity decreased from 54.5% (PHBV/NR) to 52.6% and 51.9% with increasing plasticizer concentration, while melting temperatures decreased by 3.9% and 4.9%, confirming improved polymer chain mobility. Mechanical properties demonstrated COE’s plasticizing effectiveness, with tensile strength decreasing by 13.3% (0.4% COE) and 16.2% (0.75% COE) compared to PHBV/NR blends. Young’s modulus similarly decreased by 21.0% and 24.0%, while elongation at break improved slightly with increasing COE content. Barrier properties improved substantially across all concentrations: water vapor transmission rates decreased from 4.05 g/m2·h (PHBV/NR) to 1.55 g/m2·h (0.3% COE) and 0.67 g/m2·h for 0.4% and 0.75% COE, attributed to COE’s hydrophobic nature. SEM morphological analysis confirmed improved phase compatibility at 0.40% COE, with reduced rubber droplet size and homogeneous surface morphology. Exudation testing revealed excellent retention (0.21–0.53 wt% loss over 63 days). Results indicate 0.40% COE as optimal, achieving superior barrier properties while maintaining mechanical performance for sustainable packaging applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Degradation and Recycling of Polymer Materials, 2nd Edition)
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