Polymers, Additives and Reinforcements from Upgraded Wastes from the Food Industry and Agroforestry

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, sustainable development has become a key topic and, of course, the polymer industry has been giving solutions to achieve this goal. The transition from traditional “linear economies” to “circular economies” has revealed the relevance of wastes as base materials to generate high-added-value products. The food industry and the agroforestry industry generate huge amounts of waste that can be the source of additives and/or reinforcements for the polymer industry. Moreover, most of these wastes or by-products are polymer-based structures (polysaccharides, proteins, lignins, among others) which can be helpful in this transition to a “circular economy”. The food and agroforestry wastes can be the source for a wide variety of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and fats, phenolics, and other extractives that can positively contribute to a more sustainable development in the polymer industry. In addition, biomass from wastes can be used in bacterial fermentation to provide new biobased polymers. Despite the recent advances in waste valorization, there is still an increasing interest to upgrade wastes at industrial scale. 
This Special Issue aims to cover all topics related to novel, original, and cutting-edge research works focused on obtaining high-added-value polymers and/or additives from wastes derived from the food industry and agroforestry. Thus, contributions concerning not only their sustainable origin, extraction, and purification, but also their prospective obtainment, production, design, and processing at an industrial level are particularly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Rafael Antonio Balart Gimeno
Prof. Dr. Pablo Stefani
Dr. Franco Dominici
Dr. Marina Patricia Arrieta Dillon
Dr. Luís Jesús Quiles Carrillo
Guest Editors

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