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Polymers
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Sustainable and Functional Polymer Materials for Environmental Applications
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Sustainable and Functional Polymer Materials for Environmental Applications

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 July 2026 | Viewed by 2650

Editor

Dr. Alberto García-Peñas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University Carlos III of Madrid, 26, 28903 Getafe, Madrid, Spain
Interests: polymer sciences; nanohybrids; smart materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am cordially inviting you to contribute to the Special Issue "Sustainable and Functional Polymer Materials for Environmental Applications" in Polymers, organized in conjunction with the 7th International Conference on Advanced Polymer Science and Engineering (Polymer Connect 2026), which will be held from 26 to 28 October 2026, at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), Madrid, Spain (website: https://polymersconference.yuktan.com).

The growing demand for sustainable materials and environmentally responsible technologies has positioned polymer science as a key enabler for addressing pressing environmental challenges. This Special Issue focuses on recent advances in polymer-based materials and systems developed for environmental applications, with an emphasis on material design, structure–property relationships, and application-oriented performance.

Topics of interest include polymeric materials for water and air purification, environmental remediation, separation and membrane technologies, adsorption and catalytic processes, biodegradable and bio-based polymers, and recyclable polymer systems aimed at reducing environmental impact. Contributions on functional polymer composites, nanostructured polymers, and hybrid materials that enhance efficiency, selectivity, and durability in environmental processes are particularly welcome.

Manuscripts addressing polymer synthesis, modification, characterization, processing, and performance evaluation are encouraged, provided that a clear connection to environmental functionality or sustainability-driven outcomes is demonstrated. Studies bridging fundamental polymer science with practical environmental implementation are especially encouraged.

This Special Issue aims to provide a focused platform for disseminating high-quality research on innovative polymer materials that contribute to environmental protection, resource efficiency, and sustainable development.

Dr. Alberto García-Peñas
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

  • polymer-based environmental remediation
  • polymer materials for water and air purification
  • polymer membranes and separation processes
  • biodegradable and eco-friendly polymers
  • functional polymer adsorbents
  • polymer nanocomposites for environmental applications
  • sustainable polymer materials

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 4386 KB  
Article
Copper-Integrated Aminated/Amidine-Functionalized Acrylic Textile for High-Stability HRP Immobilization and Bisphenol A Removal
by J. Alkabli, Naif Abdullah R. Almalki and Yaaser Q. Almulaiky
Polymers 2026, 18(11), 1364; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18111364 - 31 May 2026
Viewed by 516
Abstract
This work introduces a textile-based platform for biocatalysis by integrating a copper-based hybrid domain onto aminated/amidine-functionalized acrylic textile (TAC–Cu), producing a functional bio-textile capable of high-performance enzyme immobilization. The textile substrate was chemically modified with ethylenediamine to generate amine/amidine-type functional groups, enabling in [...] Read more.
This work introduces a textile-based platform for biocatalysis by integrating a copper-based hybrid domain onto aminated/amidine-functionalized acrylic textile (TAC–Cu), producing a functional bio-textile capable of high-performance enzyme immobilization. The textile substrate was chemically modified with ethylenediamine to generate amine/amidine-type functional groups, enabling in situ formation of copper-based hybrid structures through either a conventional solvothermal approach or a plant-mediated route employing Costus speciosus extract. The green-synthesized TAC–Cu composite exhibited superior structural uniformity, improved porosity, and enhanced surface chemistry, resulting in a higher horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilization yield (92%) compared with the chemically synthesized analogue. The resulting HRP-functionalized bio-textile demonstrated markedly improved catalytic behavior, including a reaction rate constant nearly twice that of the free enzyme, and strong operational robustness. As a technical textile engineered for environmental applications, the composite achieved 90% bisphenol A (BPA) removal within 90 min and retained substantial enzymatic activity even at 80 °C, whereas free HRP was almost fully deactivated. Overall, this study highlights the potential of eco-engineered TAC–Cu materials as a new class of functional and sustainable bio-textiles, combining enzyme stabilization, high catalytic efficiency, and suitability for wastewater treatment and other technical textile applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Functional Polymer Materials for Environmental Applications)
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19 pages, 3741 KB  
Article
Medium Complexity Modulates Kefiran Yield and Thermal Stability in Whey-Based Fermentations: Insights from Systematic Supplementation and Comprehensive Physicochemical Characterization
by Vicente Martínez, Félix Arto-Paz, Maribel Mamani, Ricardo I. Castro, Silvana Moris, Darío M. González and Cristian Valdés
Polymers 2026, 18(10), 1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18101168 - 9 May 2026
Viewed by 768
Abstract
Kefiran is a bioactive exopolysaccharide produced by kefir grains, whose synthesis is strongly influenced by culture medium composition. In this study, cheese whey was evaluated as an alternative fermentation substrate for kefiran production, and the effect of supplementation with fermentable sugars (glucose, galactose, [...] Read more.
Kefiran is a bioactive exopolysaccharide produced by kefir grains, whose synthesis is strongly influenced by culture medium composition. In this study, cheese whey was evaluated as an alternative fermentation substrate for kefiran production, and the effect of supplementation with fermentable sugars (glucose, galactose, and lactose) and casein was assessed under controlled conditions. Kefir grains were cultivated in whey- and milk-based media, and kefiran production was quantified using an anthrone-based method, while grain growth and carbohydrate consumption were monitored. Supplementation with sugars and casein reduced kefiran production by up to 34.6% and did not improve yield, whereas unsupplemented whey supported the highest kefiran concentration (86.9 ± 3.7 mg/L), comparable to that obtained in semi-skimmed milk (84.0 ± 3.0 mg/L). The recovered polysaccharide was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), showing structural and physicochemical properties comparable to kefiran obtained from semi-skimmed milk. These results indicate that whey constitutes a feasible and simple fermentation medium for kefiran production, and that increased medium complexity does not necessarily improve process performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Functional Polymer Materials for Environmental Applications)
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15 pages, 1548 KB  
Article
Silica-Supported Zinc(II)–Schiff-Base Catalysts for Lactide Ring-Opening Polymerization: Influence of Support Morphology and Ligand Substituents
by Darío M. González, Felipe Picero, Ornella Fuentes, Jocelyn Oyarce and Enrique Blázquez-Blázquez
Polymers 2026, 18(6), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18060737 - 18 Mar 2026
Viewed by 689
Abstract
Silica-supported zinc (II)–Schiff-base complexes were prepared through a simple and high-yield immobilization strategy and evaluated as heterogeneous catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide. Silica gel and silica nanoparticles were employed as supports to assess the influence of support morphology and textural [...] Read more.
Silica-supported zinc (II)–Schiff-base complexes were prepared through a simple and high-yield immobilization strategy and evaluated as heterogeneous catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide. Silica gel and silica nanoparticles were employed as supports to assess the influence of support morphology and textural properties on catalytic performance. Comprehensive characterization by AAS, BET, SEM, and SEM–EDS confirmed effective anchoring of the Zn complexes, homogeneous metal distribution, and support-dependent textural modifications. The supported catalysts were active in the bulk ROP of racemic and enantiopure lactide, affording PLA with high conversions and moderate dispersities. Silica-gel-supported systems exhibited high and reproducible activity over a wide range of conditions, whereas catalysts supported on silica nanoparticles showed a stronger dependence on reaction time and ligand electronic effects, highlighting the key role of the support in modulating active site accessibility and chain growth. Microstructural and thermal analyses confirmed the formation of atactic PLA from rac-lactide and stereoregular PLLA from L-lactide. Overall, this study demonstrates that silica-supported zinc(II)–Schiff-base complexes constitute an effective and versatile heterogeneous platform for lactide ROP and underscore the importance of support properties in the rational design of sustainable catalysts for biodegradable polyester synthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Functional Polymer Materials for Environmental Applications)
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