Structure, Characterization and Application of Bio-Based Polymers

Dear Colleagues,

Bio-based polymers are produced from renewable resources, such as microorganisms, plant waste, and algae. As they accomplish sustainability principles, they are becoming increasingly widespread in the chemical industry as alternatives to polymers produced from non-renewable sources. While bio-based polymers offer the fundamental advantage of being made from raw materials with low environmental impact, they still face undeniable disadvantages related to both the production processes and technological performance. Currently, production processes are not always competitive with those of conventional commodities and require significant innovations to reduce costs and environmental impact (with particular reference to biorefinery processes) and improve yields. In addition, the mechanical and functional characteristics of bio-based polymers are less attractive than those of fossil plastics. To tackle this problem, different chemicals may have to be incorporated to attain the required performance for the intended applications, which could potentially impact ecotoxicological features or reduce biodegradability or compostability when these latter outcomes are inherent to the specific bio-based polymer.

This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of ongoing scientific and industrial research on recent discoveries in the synthesis, characterization, and application of bio-based polymers. Special attention will be given to studies that demonstrate significant progress in the sustainable production of bio-based polymers with functional and high-performance properties. Research and review articles are welcome.

Dr. Elisa Passaglia
Guest Editor

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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.

• polymer functionalization
• polymer-based nanocomposites
• polymer blending
• bio-based polymers
• functional polymers