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Advances in Biopolymer Research: Sustainability and Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 796

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute for Polymers and Composites, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: biopolymers; polymer processing; reactive extrusion; active packaging; functional properties; biomimetic materials

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Polymers and Composites, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: biopolymers; polymer processing; reactive extrusion; active packaging; functional properties; biomimetic materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polymer Engineering Department, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: biopolymers; polymer processing; reactive extrusion; active packaging; functional properties; biomimetic materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers is pleased to announce an upcoming Special Issue dedicated to innovative developments in biopolymer-based materials for advanced and sustainable applications. The growing demand for sustainable materials has driven significant developments in biopolymer research, and these materials have proven to be a promising alternative to conventional solutions, with comparable or even better performance relative to fossil-fuel-based synthetic polymers. This Special Issue aims to explore cutting-edge research on sustainable innovative biopolymer solutions, addressing both fundamental scientific research and case-study applications, and we encourage our researcher colleagues to contribute original research articles, reviews, or short communications that explore, but are not restricted to, the following topics:

  • Biopolymer-based materials—synthesis, composites and nanocomposites, agro-waste-derived materials, hydrogels, etc.
  • Advanced characterization of biopolymer-based materials.
  • The biodegradability and compostability evaluation of biopolymer-based materials.
  • Functional properties and performance evaluation.
  • Case-studies in biopolymer research.
  • Innovative applications—food packaging, electronic, medicine, scaffolds, cosmetics, agriculture, automobile, energy recovery, electromagnetic shielding, etc.
  • Advanced processing techniques—reactive extrusion, compounding, foam extrusion, injection molding, additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, electrospinning, solvent casting, supercritical CO2, green organic synthesis, etc.
  • Industrial and commercial perspectives—upscaling, circular economy, biopolymer legal regulations.
  • Emerging trends and future perspectives—metamaterials, biomimicry, nanobiopolymers, smart biopolymeric materials, hybrid systems, etc.
  • Life cycle assessment (LCA).

As Guest Editors, we conceive this Special Issue as a dynamic and flourishing platform for peers to bring together disruptive concepts and ideas, combining the latest innovations and emerging trends on sustainable solutions to face global challenges. We hope this Special Issue will serve as a catalyst for future academia–industry collaboration, stimulating the transfer of knowledge and the practical application of innovative and environmentally friendly solutions in society.

Dr. Pedro V. Rodrigues
Dr. M. Cidalia R. Castro
Dr. Ana Vera A. MacHado
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 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

  • biopolymer-based materials, blends, composites and nanocomposites
  • biodegradability and compostability
  • green chemistry for biopolymers
  • functional properties
  • material characterization
  • advanced processing techniques
  • sustainability/ circular economy
  • innovative applications and emerging trends
  • smart materials
  • bioinspired and biomimetic materials

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

27 pages, 3120 KB  
Article
Reprocessing of Simulated Industrial PLA Waste for Food Contact Applications
by Javiera Sepúlveda-Carter, Simón Faba, Marcos Sánchez Rodríguez and Marina P. Arrieta
Polymers 2025, 17(18), 2439; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17182439 - 9 Sep 2025
Viewed by 559
Abstract
This study explores reusing discarded industrial polylactic acid (PLA), such as defective parts, scraps and burrs, for food contact applications. Reprocessing of PLA (PLA-RP) was simulated via melt extrusion, and the obtained pellets were characterized in terms of viscosity average molecular weight (M [...] Read more.
This study explores reusing discarded industrial polylactic acid (PLA), such as defective parts, scraps and burrs, for food contact applications. Reprocessing of PLA (PLA-RP) was simulated via melt extrusion, and the obtained pellets were characterized in terms of viscosity average molecular weight (Mv), melt flow index (MFI), the presence of non-intentionally added substances (NIASs) and the absence of metals to ensure that no substances exceeded the specific migration limits (SMLs). A slight reduction in the Mv, accompanied by an increase in the MFI, was observed in PLA-RP. In virgin PLA, fewer compounds were detected, likely related to residual additives. A higher variety and concentration of volatile and non-listed compounds were observed in reprocessed PLA (PLA-RP), with three exceeding their assigned Cramer class thresholds, requiring further evaluation. Most identified substances were typically linked to thermal degradation or potential additives for reprocessing. In both the virgin and reprocessed materials, all substances with SMLs remained below applicable thresholds, including trace metals. The PLA-RP was further processed into films by means of a compression moulding process. The structure, mechanical behaviour, thermal stability and water vapor transmission rate were comparable to those of virgin PLA, indicating no significant changes. The overall migration level tested in a fatty food simulant remained below regulatory limits. The materials fully disintegrated under laboratory-scale composting conditions in less than 3 weeks. Thus, reprocessed PLA shows great potential as a non-migrating material of interest in the sustainable food packaging field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biopolymer Research: Sustainability and Applications)
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