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Polymers
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New Progress in the Recycling of Plastics
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New Progress in the Recycling of Plastics

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 August 2026 | Viewed by 3201

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Hasan Saygin

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Application and Research Center for Advanced Studies, Istanbul Aydin University, Sefakoy Kucukcekmece, Istanbul 34295, Türkiye
Interests: environmental and energy systems; nanomaterials and environmental applications; chemical process modeling; catalysis and remediation technologies; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce a special issue of Polymers entitled ‘New Progress in Recycling of Plastics’. Plastics are among the most widely used man-made materials. However, as we produce and consume ever-increasing quantities of plastic, the amount of plastic waste is growing exponentially. Although various waste management approaches have been applied, further progress is needed to achieve sustainable practices and a circular economy.

This Special Issue will showcase innovative processes, new additives/routes for accelerated degradation, method optimization for sustainable processes, novel applications of recycled plastics, and critical analyses. This Special Issue welcomes contributions in forms of original research studies and reviews.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Hasan Saygin
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-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

  • polymers
  • degradation
  • process
  • sustainability
  • upcycling
  • plastic waste treatment
  • depolymerization
  • modelling
  • recycled polymer applications

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 11660 KB  
Article
Thermoreversible Diels–Alder Crosslinked Networks in Recycled Poly(ethylene terephthalate) for Reprocessability and Self-Healing
by Yugui Liu, Pengfei Guo, Jianhui Xu, Zengheng Hao, Haidong Liu, Shutong Tang and Junan Shen
Polymers 2026, 18(12), 1476; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18121476 - 12 Jun 2026
Abstract
A thermoreversible dynamic covalent network was constructed in recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) via Diels–Alder (DA) chemistry to enhance mechanical performance, reprocessability, and self-healing. Furan-functionalized RPET (RPET-3F) was first prepared from maleated RPET (RPET-MA), followed by crosslinking with bismaleimide (BMI) at different feed ratios. [...] Read more.
A thermoreversible dynamic covalent network was constructed in recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) via Diels–Alder (DA) chemistry to enhance mechanical performance, reprocessability, and self-healing. Furan-functionalized RPET (RPET-3F) was first prepared from maleated RPET (RPET-MA), followed by crosslinking with bismaleimide (BMI) at different feed ratios. FTIR spectra confirmed the successful grafting of furan groups and the formation of DA adducts. With increasing BMI content, the gel fraction and crosslink density increased substantially, whereas the swelling ratio decreased, indicating the progressive development of a three-dimensional network. RPET-3F-2B showed the highest network integrity among all samples. DSC analysis revealed a distinct retro-DA dissociation peak at 143 °C and a recrosslinking peak near 124 °C, confirming the thermal reversibility of the DA network. Owing to the optimized network structure, RPET-3F-2B exhibited the best mechanical properties and excellent reprocessability, retaining stable performance after three hot-pressing cycles. After repeated reprocessing, its tensile strength remained 74% higher than that of RPET-MA, while the elongation at break was still improved by about 10%. Moreover, the sample showed efficient thermally induced self-healing at 150 °C, with surface cracks nearly disappearing after 4 h. These results demonstrate that DA chemistry offers a promising route to the high-value reutilization of RPET into recyclable, multifunctional polymer materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Progress in the Recycling of Plastics)
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Review

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42 pages, 6173 KB  
Review
Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Circular Strategies for Plastic Recycling and Upcycling
by Allison Vianey Valle-Bravo, Carlos López González, Rosalía América González-Soto, Luz Arcelia García Serrano, Juan Antonio Carmona García and Emmanuel Flores-Huicochea
Polymers 2026, 18(2), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020306 - 22 Jan 2026
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2700
Abstract
The increasing urgency to mitigate plastic pollution has accelerated the shift from linear manufacturing toward circular systems. This review synthesizes current advances in mechanical, chemical, biological, and upcycling pathways, emphasizing how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping decision-making, performance prediction, and system-level optimization. Intelligent [...] Read more.
The increasing urgency to mitigate plastic pollution has accelerated the shift from linear manufacturing toward circular systems. This review synthesizes current advances in mechanical, chemical, biological, and upcycling pathways, emphasizing how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping decision-making, performance prediction, and system-level optimization. Intelligent sensing technologies—such as FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, and LIBS—combined with Machine Learning (ML) classifiers have improved material identification, reduced reject rates, and enhanced sorting precision. AI-assisted kinetic modeling, catalyst performance prediction, and enzyme design tools have improved process intensification for pyrolysis, solvolysis, depolymerization, and biocatalysis. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)-integrated datasets reveal that environmental benefits depend strongly on functional-unit selection, energy decarbonization, and substitution factors rather than mass-based comparisons alone. Case studies across Europe, Latin America, and Asia show that digital traceability, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and full-system costing are pivotal to robust circular outcomes. Upcycling strategies increasingly generate high-value materials and composites, supported by digital twins and surrogate models. Collectively, evidence indicates that AI moves from supportive instrumentation to a structural enabler of transparency, performance assurance, and predictive environmental planning. The convergence of AI-based design, standardized LCA frameworks, and inclusive governance emerges as a necessary foundation for scaling circular plastic systems sustainably. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Progress in the Recycling of Plastics)
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