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Molecules
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(Bio)Degradable Packaging Materials
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(Bio)Degradable Packaging Materials

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 8088

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Assunta Marrocchi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
Interests: green processes; waste valorization; safe chemicals; green synthesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For a long time, the packaging industry has relied heavily on the use of fossil-derived plastic materials to create single-use, inexpensive solutions. Against a background of concerns about omnipresent and persistent plastic pollution and the associated environmental degradation and socioeconomic costs as well as the depletion of nonrenewable raw materials and energy, laws and regulations on this matter have been formed or changed, and the market is changing in favor of sustainable alternatives.  

Ideal packaging has a lower carbon footprint, the ability to (bio)degrade or be composted, makes use of byproducts or waste products as raw materials, and is safe and adequately eco-designed. (Bio)degradability/compostability remain important end-of-life paths, particularly when recycling is no longer technically feasible.

This Special Issue aims to present a collection of original research articles and reviews focused on alternative sustainable, (bio)degradable solutions to conventional plastic packaging. In particular, topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

  • New technologies for improved (bio)degradation of plastics;
  • The design, synthesis, and production of packaging materials that (bio)degrade at a controlled rate (including bio-based polymers, copolymers, composites, and blends);
  • (Bio)degradable/compostable plastic packaging from second-generation feedstocks;
  • Active and intelligent (bio)degradable/ compostable plastic packaging;
  • Safety assessment of packaging materials for pharmaceutical and food products;
  • Life-cycle analysis studies

 

Prof. Dr. Assunta Marrocchi
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. Molecules 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

Keywords:
Biodegradability
Degradable polymers
Compostability
Radical ring-opening polymerization
Bio-based polymers
Intelligent packaging
Starch blends
Polysaccharides
POLY(hydroxy alcanoate)s
poly(lactic acid)
Life cycle assessment
Waste management
Industrial waste

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3755 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Starch-Grafted Polymethyl Methacrylate via Free Radical Polymerization Reaction and Its Application for the Uptake of Methylene Blue
by Uzma Yasmeen, Fazal Haq, Mehwish Kiran, Arshad Farid, Naveed Ullah, Tariq Aziz, Muhammad Haroon, Sahid Mehmood, Muhammad Muzammal, Shakira Ghazanfar, Majid Alhomrani, Abdulhakeem S. Alamri, Syed Mohammed Basheeruddin Asdaq, Saleh A. Alghamdi and Irfan Ullah
Molecules 2022, 27(18), 5844; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27185844 - 09 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1594
Abstract
In this research, a new biodegradable and eco-friendly adsorbent, starch-grafted polymethyl methacrylate (St-g-PMMA) was synthesized. The St-g-PMMA was synthesized by a free radical polymerization reaction in which methyl methacrylate (MMA) was grafted onto a starch polymer chain. The reaction was performed in water [...] Read more.
In this research, a new biodegradable and eco-friendly adsorbent, starch-grafted polymethyl methacrylate (St-g-PMMA) was synthesized. The St-g-PMMA was synthesized by a free radical polymerization reaction in which methyl methacrylate (MMA) was grafted onto a starch polymer chain. The reaction was performed in water in the presence of a potassium persulfate (KPS) initiator. The structure and different properties of the St-g-PMMA was explored by FT-IR, 1H NMR, TGA, SEM and XRD. After characterization, the St-g-PMMA was used for the removal of MB dye. Different adsorption parameters, such as effect of adsorbent dose, effect of pH, effect of initial concentration of dye solution, effect of contact time and comparative adsorption study were investigated. The St-g-PMMA showed a maximum removal percentage (R%) of 97% towards MB. The other parameters, such as the isothermal and kinetic models, were fitted to the experimental data. The results showed that the Langmuir adsorption and pseudo second order kinetic models were best fitted to experimental data with a regression coefficient of R2 = 0.93 and 0.99, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Bio)Degradable Packaging Materials)
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20 pages, 32905 KiB  
Article
Morphology, Mechanical, and Water Barrier Properties of Carboxymethyl Rice Starch Films: Sodium Hydroxide Effect
by Pornchai Rachtanapun, Sarinthip Thanakkasaranee, Rafael A. Auras, Nareekan Chaiwong, Kittisak Jantanasakulwong, Pensak Jantrawut, Yuthana Phimolsiripol, Phisit Seesuriyachan, Noppol Leksawasdi, Thanongsak Chaiyaso, Sarana Rose Somman, Warintorn Ruksiriwanich, Warinporn Klunklin, Alissara Reungsang and Thi Minh Phuong Ngo
Molecules 2022, 27(2), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27020331 - 06 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2664
Abstract
Carboxymethyl rice starch films were prepared from carboxymethyl rice starch (CMSr) treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 10–50% w/v. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of NaOH concentrations on morphology, mechanical properties, and water barrier properties [...] Read more.
Carboxymethyl rice starch films were prepared from carboxymethyl rice starch (CMSr) treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 10–50% w/v. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of NaOH concentrations on morphology, mechanical properties, and water barrier properties of the CMSr films. The degree of substitution (DS) and morphology of native rice starch and CMSr powders were examined. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to investigate the chemical structure, crystallinity, and thermal properties of the CMSr films. As the NaOH concentrations increased, the DS of CMSr powders increased, which affected the morphology of CMSr powders; a polyhedral shape of the native rice starch was deformed. In addition, the increase in NaOH concentrations of the synthesis of CMSr resulted in an increase in water solubility, elongation at break, and water vapor permeability (WVP) of CMSr films. On the other hand, the water contact angle, melting temperature, and the tensile strength of the CMSr films decreased with increasing NaOH concentrations. However, the tensile strength of the CMSr films was relatively low. Therefore, such a property needs to be improved and the application of the developed films should be investigated in the future work. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Bio)Degradable Packaging Materials)
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Review

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27 pages, 1100 KiB  
Review
Options to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Protein-Based Materials
by Anne Lamp, Martin Kaltschmitt and Jan Dethloff
Molecules 2022, 27(2), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27020446 - 10 Jan 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3191
Abstract
While bio-based but chemically synthesized polymers such as polylactic acid require industrial conditions for biodegradation, protein-based materials are home compostable and show high potential for disposable products that are not collected. However, so far, such materials lack in their mechanical properties to reach [...] Read more.
While bio-based but chemically synthesized polymers such as polylactic acid require industrial conditions for biodegradation, protein-based materials are home compostable and show high potential for disposable products that are not collected. However, so far, such materials lack in their mechanical properties to reach the requirements for, e.g., packaging applications. Relevant measures for such a modification of protein-based materials are plasticization and cross-linking; the former increasing the elasticity and the latter the tensile strength of the polymer matrix. The assessment shows that compared to other polymers, the major bottleneck of proteins is their complex structure, which can, if developed accordingly, be used to design materials with desired functional properties. Chemicals can act as cross-linkers but require controlled reaction conditions. Physical methods such as heat curing and radiation show higher effectiveness but are not easy to control and can even damage the polymer backbone. Concerning plasticization, effectiveness and compatibility follow opposite trends due to weak interactions between the plasticizer and the protein. Internal plasticization by covalent bonding surpasses these limitations but requires further research specific for each protein. In addition, synergistic approaches, where different plasticization/cross-linking methods are combined, have shown high potential and emphasize the complexity in the design of the polymer matrix. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Bio)Degradable Packaging Materials)
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