Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.7
4.9
Journals
Polymers
Special Issues
Biodegradable and Functional Polymers for Food Packaging
polymers-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Polymers Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Biodegradable and Functional Polymers for Food Packaging

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: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 2225

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Ortega-Toro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Food Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130015, Colombia
Interests: food packaging; biodegradable polymers; physical properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Joaquín Hernández-Fernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemical Program, Department of Natural and Exact Sciences, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130015, Colombia
Interests: polymers; synthesis and characterisation; computational polymer science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rafael González-Cuello

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Food Engeneering Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130015, Colombia
Interests: food engineering; food packaging; biodegradable polymers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The demand for sustainable polymer applications has surged across various industries, driven by the global commitment to addressing environmental challenges and fostering innovation. This Special Issue of Polymers focuses on cutting-edge research and advancements in polymer science, particularly in the fields of sustainable food packaging, wastewater treatment, predictive microbiology, and computational approaches to polymer synthesis and catalysis.

We welcome contributions in the form of original research articles, reviews, and case studies that explore the following:

  • Development and characterisation of biodegradable or recyclable polymers for eco-friendly food packaging solutions;
  • Applications of advanced polymer materials in the purification of industrial and domestic wastewater;
  • Integration of polymers in predictive microbiology to enhance food safety and shelf-life monitoring;
  • Computational modelling and simulation studies addressing polymer design, synthesis, and catalytic behaviour.

This Special Issue aims to bridge the gap between fundamental research and practical applications, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to promote sustainable and innovative solutions.

Join us in shaping the future of polymers for a sustainable world.

Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Ortega-Toro
Dr. Joaquín Hernández-Fernández
Guest Editors

Dr. Rafael González-Cuello
Guest Editor Assistant

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 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. 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

  • sustainable polymers
  • biodegradable packaging
  • wastewater treatment
  • predictive microbiology
  • computational polymer science
  • polymer catalysis
  • food safety materials
  • green chemistry
  • eco-friendly materials
  • polymer synthesis and characterisation

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

24 pages, 2652 KiB  
Article
Influence of Water Regeneration on Chemical and Process Indices in an Energy-Integrated PVC Production Process
by Arelmys Bustamante-Miranda, Eduardo Aguilar-Vásquez, Miguel Ramos-Olmos, Segundo Rojas-Flores and Ángel Darío González-Delgado
Polymers 2025, 17(12), 1639; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17121639 - 13 Jun 2025
Viewed by 640
Abstract
Water regeneration in PVC production is a key issue to consider, given the high freshwater consumption rate of the process. This research evaluates the inherent safety of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) production via suspension polymerization by implementing mass and energy integration strategies in combination [...] Read more.
Water regeneration in PVC production is a key issue to consider, given the high freshwater consumption rate of the process. This research evaluates the inherent safety of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) production via suspension polymerization by implementing mass and energy integration strategies in combination with wastewater regeneration under a zero-liquid-discharge (ZLD) approach. The impact of these integrations on process safety was examined by considering the risks associated with the handling of hazardous materials and critical operations, as well as the reduction in waste generation. To this end, the Inherent Safety Index (ISI) methodology was employed, which quantifies hazards based on factors such as toxicity and flammability, enabling the identification of risks arising from system condition changes due to the implementation of sustainable water treatment technologies. Although the ISI methodology has been applied to various chemical processes, there are few documented cases of its specific application in PVC plants that adopt circular production strategies and water resource sustainability. Therefore, in this study, ISI was used to thoroughly evaluate each stage of the process, providing a comprehensive picture of the safety risks associated with the use of sustainable technologies. The assessment was carried out using simulation software, computer-aided process engineering (CAPE) methodologies, and information obtained from safety repositories and expert publications. Specifically, the Chemical Safety Index score was 22 points, with the highest risk associated with flammability, which scored 4 points, followed by toxicity (5 points), explosiveness (2 points), and chemical interactions, with 4 points attributed to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). In the toxicity sub-index, both VCM and PVC received 5 points, while substances such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium chloride (NaCl) scored 4 points. In the heat of reaction sub-index, the main reaction scored 3 points due to its high heat of reaction (−1600 kJ/kg), while the secondary reactions from PVA biodegradation scored 0 points for the anoxic reaction (−156.5 kJ/kg) and 3 points for the aerobic reaction (−2304 kJ/kg), significantly increasing the total index. The Process Safety Index scored 15 points, with the highest risk found in the inventory of hazardous substances within the inside battery limits (ISBL) of the plant, where a flow rate of 3241.75 t/h was reported (5 points). The safe equipment sub-index received 4 points due to the presence of boilers, burners, compressors, and reactors. The process structure scored 3 points, temperature 2, and pressure 1, reflecting the criticality of certain operating conditions. Despite sustainability improvements, the process still presented significant chemical and operational risks. However, the implementation of control strategies and safety measures could optimize the process, balancing sustainability and safety without compromising system viability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable and Functional Polymers for Food Packaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2567 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Technical Performance of PVC Production: A WEP-Based Energy and Water Assessment
by Rolando Manuel Guardo-Ruiz, Linda Mychell Puello-Castellón, Rodrigo Ortega-Toro, Eduardo Andrés Aguilar-Vásquez and Ángel Darío González-Delgado
Polymers 2025, 17(11), 1561; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17111561 - 4 Jun 2025
Viewed by 437
Abstract
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most widely used polymers due to its physical properties and versatility. Water consumption of the suspension method is a critical issue that hinders competitiveness. In that case, this study implements water integration through direct recycling, with [...] Read more.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most widely used polymers due to its physical properties and versatility. Water consumption of the suspension method is a critical issue that hinders competitiveness. In that case, this study implements water integration through direct recycling, with the aim of minimizing both freshwater consumption and wastewater generation. The source–sink diagram was used to generate the recycled water network, and the integrated process was simulated using software. From simulation data, the water–energy–product (WEP) analysis method was used to assess the process performance, and sustainability indicators for water, energy, and product were evaluated. Fractional water consumption and wastewater production ratio indicators increased to 51.1% and 55.0%, compared to 41% and 54% in the non-integrated process, showing improved water efficiency and cost reduction. The unreacted material reuse index reached 100%, while the production yield was 99.8%, due to effective recycling of unreacted VCM. The use of natural gas and energy integration led to optimal performance in TCE, NGCI, and EECI indicators. However, the ESI indicator was high (3.59 MJ/t) due to energy demands from thermal control equipment for water recirculation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable and Functional Polymers for Food Packaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2722 KiB  
Article
Development and Comparative Analysis of Hard and Soft Wheat Flour Films Enriched with Yellow and White Chlorella vulgaris Algae
by Alexis López-Padilla, Misael Cortés-Rodríguez and Rodrigo Ortega-Toro
Polymers 2025, 17(6), 785; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060785 - 15 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 689
Abstract
Chlorella vulgaris is a microalga with antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity that contains high levels of starch and proteins, essential for producing biodegradable packaging. This study aims to develop and characterize biofilms from soft wheat flour (SWF) and durum wheat flour (DWF) with yellow [...] Read more.
Chlorella vulgaris is a microalga with antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity that contains high levels of starch and proteins, essential for producing biodegradable packaging. This study aims to develop and characterize biofilms from soft wheat flour (SWF) and durum wheat flour (DWF) with yellow and white Chlorella vulgaris. The films were made using the compression molding method and characterized according to their physical, mechanical, and structural properties. The results indicated that yellow Chlorella films increase thickness and gloss and reduce water vapor permeability, which benefits applications requiring moisture retention. On the other hand, white Chlorella increases opacity and color saturation, making it suitable for less transparent packaging. Films with durum wheat and microalgae are stiffer and less elastic, while formulations with soft wheat and without microalgae are flexible. The surface texture is rougher in films with yellow Chlorella and more homogeneous in white Chlorella. These results suggest that Chlorella vulgaris allows biodegradable films to be tailored for specific applications in sustainable packaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable and Functional Polymers for Food Packaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop