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Polymers
Special Issues
Biodegradable and Sustainable Polymers
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Biodegradable and Sustainable Polymers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 46112

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Piotr Kurcok

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34, M. Curie-Sklodowska Str., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
Interests: sustainable polymers, biocompatible polymer systems; biodegradable polymers; bioactive oligomers; controlled drug delivery systems; ring-opening polymerization; polymers for biomedical applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Petrochemical plastics have gradually become an integral part of our daily lives due to their increased use in a wide range of daily activities. Polymers are everywhere, even in the human body. However, commonly used petroleum-based polymer materials, in addition to many advantages, have many disadvantages, such as the ever-increasing adverse environmental impacts. Sustainable polymer materials, produced from renewable feedstocks,  meet the needs of consumers without damaging our environment, health, and economy. Biodegradable polymers seem to be the solution to many of these problems. Interest in these sustainable polymers has been growing immensely over the past decades.  The biocompatibility of biodegradable polymeric material-host system broadens the possibilities of their applications, e.g., in regenerative medicine and pharmacy.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present the recent advances in the field of sustainable polymers including biodegradable (co)polymers synthesis, modification, and application. It is my pleasure to invite you to contribute an article to this Special Issue. Reviews, full papers, and communications concerning current trends in biodegradable (co)polymers synthesis, characterization, and application are all welcome.

Prof. Dr. Piotr Kurcok
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 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

  • biodegradable polymers
  • biocompatible polymer systems
  • medical applications
  • sustainable materials
  • delivery systems

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4532 KiB  
Article
Characterization and Morphology of Natural Dung Polymer for Potential Industrial Application as Bio-Based Fillers
by Vinayak Fasake and Kavya Dashora
Polymers 2020, 12(12), 3030; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12123030 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2757
Abstract
The modern-day paper industry is highly capital-intensive industries in the core sector. Though there are several uses of paper for currency, packaging, education, information, communication, trade and hygiene, the flip side of this industry is the impact on the forest resources and other [...] Read more.
The modern-day paper industry is highly capital-intensive industries in the core sector. Though there are several uses of paper for currency, packaging, education, information, communication, trade and hygiene, the flip side of this industry is the impact on the forest resources and other ecosystems which leads to increasing pollution in water and air, influencing several local communities. In the present paper, the authors have tried to explore potential and alternate source of industrial pulp through ruminant animal dung, which is widely available as a rural resource in India. Three types of undigested animal dung fibers from Indigenous cow (IDF), Jersey cow (JDF), and Buffalo (BDF) were taken. Wheat straw (WS) was the main diet of all animals. The cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content for all animal dung samples were found in a range of (29–31.50%), (21–23.50%), and (11–13%), respectively. The abundant holocellulose and low lignin contents are suitable for handmade pulp and paper. Surface characteristics of fodder (WS) and all dung fibers have been investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and SEM-Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). To increase paper production without damaging forest cover, it is essential to explore unconventional natural resources, such as dung fiber, which have the huge potential to produce pulp and paper, reinforcement components, etc. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable and Sustainable Polymers)
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16 pages, 4849 KiB  
Article
Low-Density Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) Particleboards Bound with Potato Starch-Based Adhesive
by Sandra Monteiro, Lina Nunes, Jorge Martins, Fernão D. Magalhães and Luísa Carvalho
Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1799; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12081799 - 11 Aug 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2563
Abstract
In the present work, and for the first time, totally biosourced low-density particleboards were produced using cardoon particles (a no added value by-product from the Portuguese cheese making industry), bound with a potato starch adhesive. Different starch/cardoon ratios (0.6, 0.8, 1 and 1.2) [...] Read more.
In the present work, and for the first time, totally biosourced low-density particleboards were produced using cardoon particles (a no added value by-product from the Portuguese cheese making industry), bound with a potato starch adhesive. Different starch/cardoon ratios (0.6, 0.8, 1 and 1.2) were tested and the effect of different bio-based additives (chitosan, wood fiber and glycerol) on the performance of the adhesive system was evaluated. The best result was obtained for a formulation with a starch/cardoon mass ratio of 0.8, a chitosan/starch mass ratio of 0.05 and a water/starch mass ratio of 1.75. The particleboards produced had a density of 323 kg·m−3, internal bond strength of 0.35 N·mm−2 and thickness swelling of 15.2%. The values of density and internal bond strength meet the standard requirements of general-purpose lightweight boards for use in dry conditions according to CEN/TS 16368 specification. Moreover, the susceptibility of the formulations with best results was established against subterranean termites and one decay fungi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable and Sustainable Polymers)
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13 pages, 8639 KiB  
Article
Transparent Ultraviolet (UV)-Shielding Films Made from Waste Hemp Hurd and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)
by Yi Zhang, Rechana Remadevi, Juan P. Hinestroza, Xungai Wang and Maryam Naebe
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1190; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12051190 - 22 May 2020
Cited by 46 | Viewed by 5382
Abstract
This work proposes a new approach to fabricate highly transparent and flexible composite films that exhibit enhanced UV-shielding properties. Lignin has innate UV-shielding properties. However, when purified lignin, which is conventionally extracted through chemical treatment, is mixed with polymeric materials, its presence negatively [...] Read more.
This work proposes a new approach to fabricate highly transparent and flexible composite films that exhibit enhanced UV-shielding properties. Lignin has innate UV-shielding properties. However, when purified lignin, which is conventionally extracted through chemical treatment, is mixed with polymeric materials, its presence negatively influences the transparency of the resulting composite. High transparency and UV-shielding are desirable properties for many applications. In this study, composites were made by mixing lignocellulose particles and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), where lignocellulose particles were obtained from ball-milled waste hemp hurd without chemical treatments. The UV-shielding properties of the resulting composite film, as a function of hemp/PVA weight ratios, were investigated. The intermolecular interactions between the hemp particles and the PVA were characterized using infrared spectroscopy with the presence of –C=O group at 1655 cm−1, providing evidence that the chemical structure of lignin was preserved. The fabricated hemp/PVA films exhibit stronger UV-shielding, in the UVA-I range (340–400 nm) than TiO2/PVA films. The composite films also showed comparable water vapor permeability (WVP) with commercial packaging plastic film made of HDPE (high-density polyethylene). The optimization experiments were reported, with aim at understanding the balance between the UV-shielding and mechanical properties of the hemp/PVA films. The findings of this work can be applicable to the packaging, food and cosmetic industries where UV shielding is of utmost importance, hence adding value to hemp hurd waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable and Sustainable Polymers)
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Review

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29 pages, 1882 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances and Applications of Bacterial Cellulose in Biomedicine
by Sam Swingler, Abhishek Gupta, Hazel Gibson, Marek Kowalczuk, Wayne Heaselgrave and Iza Radecka
Polymers 2021, 13(3), 412; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13030412 - 28 Jan 2021
Cited by 109 | Viewed by 12758
Abstract
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an extracellular polymer produced by Komagateibacter xylinus, which has been shown to possess a multitude of properties, which makes it innately useful as a next-generation biopolymer. The structure of BC is comprised of glucose monomer units polymerised by cellulose [...] Read more.
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an extracellular polymer produced by Komagateibacter xylinus, which has been shown to possess a multitude of properties, which makes it innately useful as a next-generation biopolymer. The structure of BC is comprised of glucose monomer units polymerised by cellulose synthase in β-1-4 glucan chains which form uniaxially orientated BC fibril bundles which measure 3–8 nm in diameter. BC is chemically identical to vegetal cellulose. However, when BC is compared with other natural or synthetic analogues, it shows a much higher performance in biomedical applications, potable treatment, nano-filters and functional applications. The main reason for this superiority is due to the high level of chemical purity, nano-fibrillar matrix and crystallinity. Upon using BC as a carrier or scaffold with other materials, unique and novel characteristics can be observed, which are all relatable to the features of BC. These properties, which include high tensile strength, high water holding capabilities and microfibrillar matrices, coupled with the overall physicochemical assets of bacterial cellulose makes it an ideal candidate for further scientific research into biopolymer development. This review thoroughly explores several areas in which BC is being investigated, ranging from biomedical applications to electronic applications, with a focus on the use as a next-generation wound dressing. The purpose of this review is to consolidate and discuss the most recent advancements in the applications of bacterial cellulose, primarily in biomedicine, but also in biotechnology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable and Sustainable Polymers)
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22 pages, 2905 KiB  
Review
Production of Sustainable and Biodegradable Polymers from Agricultural Waste
by Chrysanthos Maraveas
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1127; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12051127 - 14 May 2020
Cited by 176 | Viewed by 21763
Abstract
Agro-wastes are derived from diverse sources including grape pomace, tomato pomace, pineapple, orange, and lemon peels, sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, wheat straw, and palm oil fibers, among other affordable and commonly available materials. The carbon-rich precursors are used in the production bio-based polymers [...] Read more.
Agro-wastes are derived from diverse sources including grape pomace, tomato pomace, pineapple, orange, and lemon peels, sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, wheat straw, and palm oil fibers, among other affordable and commonly available materials. The carbon-rich precursors are used in the production bio-based polymers through microbial, biopolymer blending, and chemical methods. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 20–30% of fruits and vegetables are discarded as waste during post-harvest handling. The development of bio-based polymers is essential, considering the scale of global environmental pollution that is directly linked to the production of synthetic plastics such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PET). Globally, 400 million tons of synthetic plastics are produced each year, and less than 9% are recycled. The optical, mechanical, and chemical properties such as ultraviolet (UV) absorbance, tensile strength, and water permeability are influenced by the synthetic route. The production of bio-based polymers from renewable sources and microbial synthesis are scalable, facile, and pose a minimal impact on the environment compared to chemical synthesis methods that rely on alkali and acid treatment or co-polymer blending. Despite the development of advanced synthetic methods and the application of biofilms in smart/intelligent food packaging, construction, exclusion nets, and medicine, commercial production is limited by cost, the economics of production, useful life, and biodegradation concerns, and the availability of adequate agro-wastes. New and cost-effective production techniques are critical to facilitate the commercial production of bio-based polymers and the replacement of synthetic polymers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable and Sustainable Polymers)
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