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Polymers
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From Preparation to Application: The Prospect of Bio-Based and Biodegradable...
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From Preparation to Application: The Prospect of Bio-Based and Biodegradable 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: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 2473

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Milena Marinović-Cincović

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Vinča Institute of Nuclear Science, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: nanostructured materials; polymers; nanocomposites; thermal methods; TG-DTA; DSC

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Low price, easy workability and low mass are some of the reasons for the application of plastic materials in various fields. The inadequate disposal of plastic waste leads to global pollution, and thus, endangers habitats around the world. One way to solve some of these problems is the use of bio-based and biodegradable polymers. Biodegradable polymers are polymers that break down under the action of microorganisms, most often bacteria. In biodegradable polymers, non-degradable components can be replaced by cellulose, starch or other biodegradable compounds. In recent years, bio-based materials have experienced strong growth in the industry, due to recent trends in the consumer market towards greener packaging and waste reduction. Bioplastics, which are both natural and chemically derived materials from renewable or petroleum-based resources, are designed to have a minimal carbon footprint, high recyclability and full biodegradability/compostability. With many innovative bioplastics entering the market for diversified applications, industries are interested in expanding their production capacity. Acute relevance to sustainability and the circular economy is indeed influencing the bioplastics industry to achieve substantial growth and technological maturity with multiple production routes.

Dr. Milena Marinović-Cincović
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

  • bio-based and biodegradable polymers
  • innovative bioplastics
  • state of the art
  • challenges and emerging trends

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 16053 KiB  
Article
Impact of Polylactic Acid Fibers in Cellulose Nonwoven Mulch Blends on Biodegradability and Performance—An Open Field Study
by Dragana Kopitar, Paula Marasovic and Domagoj Vrsaljko
Polymers 2024, 16(2), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16020222 - 12 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 643
Abstract
The performance and degradation of nonwoven mulches made from viscose, jute, hemp fibers, and their blends with PLA fibers, subjected to field conditions, are investigated. This research explores the possible substitution of traditional agricultural polyethylene mulching agro foil with environmentally friendly biodegradable nonwoven [...] Read more.
The performance and degradation of nonwoven mulches made from viscose, jute, hemp fibers, and their blends with PLA fibers, subjected to field conditions, are investigated. This research explores the possible substitution of traditional agricultural polyethylene mulching agro foil with environmentally friendly biodegradable nonwoven mulches produced from blends of jute, hemp, and viscose fibers along with PLA fibers. The nonwoven mulches underwent a ten-month exposure to field conditions, showing varied degradation. The jute and hemp nonwoven mulches degraded completely within the test period, whereas their blends with PLA fibers exhibited slowed degradation. This study indicated that PLA fibers in blends with jute, hemp, and viscose mulches slowed degradation, impacting their structural integrity and tensile properties. The tensile properties of nonwoven mulches blended with 20% of PLA fibers increased the breaking forces after field exposure. Observations on structural changes through microscopy highlighted the structure maintenance in jute and hemp blends due to the non-degraded PLA fibers, contrasting the complete degradation of 100% jute and hemp mulches. A microscopic analysis revealed alterations in the fiber structure and density changes, particularly in viscose mulches and their blends with PLA fibers. Soil temperature variations were observed under different mulches; e.g., agro foil consistently exhibited higher temperatures compared to nonwoven mulches. Notably, the hemp and jute/PLA blend mulches showed slightly elevated temperatures, while the viscose-based mulches consistently revealed the lowest temperatures. Regarding soil moisture, the nonwoven mulches generally maintained higher moisture levels compared to the control field and agro foil from June to October. These findings suggest that nonwoven mulches effectively preserved soil moisture during critical growth periods, potentially positively impacting plant growth. The weed suppression capabilities varied among mulches, with hemp mulch initially displaying the lowest suppression ability in the first six months. The addition of 20% of PLA fibers in mulch blends with viscose, jute, and hemp notably improved the weed control capabilities. Understanding the impacts of field conditions on newly produced nonwoven mulches is crucial for optimizing mulch selection in agricultural practices to enhance soil conditions and weed management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Preparation to Application: The Prospect of Bio-Based and Biodegradable Polymers)
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20 pages, 4574 KiB  
Article
Biodegradation Properties of Cellulose Fibers and PLA Biopolymer
by Ružica Brunšek, Dragana Kopitar, Ivana Schwarz and Paula Marasović
Polymers 2023, 15(17), 3532; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15173532 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1506
Abstract
This paper investigates the biodegradation properties of cellulose fibers and PLA biopolymer. For that purpose, hemp, jute, and sisal fibers as lignocellulose fibers; viscose fibers (CV) as regenerated cellulose; and polylactide (PLA) as biopolymer were buried in farmland soil for periods of 2, [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the biodegradation properties of cellulose fibers and PLA biopolymer. For that purpose, hemp, jute, and sisal fibers as lignocellulose fibers; viscose fibers (CV) as regenerated cellulose; and polylactide (PLA) as biopolymer were buried in farmland soil for periods of 2, 4, 7, 9 and 11 days under controlled conditions. The influence of their biodegradation on the fiber mechanical properties, bacteria and fungi population, as well as on the soil quality were investigated. After exposure to microorganisms, analyses of the fibers’ morphological (SEM), chemical (FTIR), and thermal (TGA) properties were conducted to achieve a comprehensive understanding of their biodegradability. The analysis concluded that lignin and pectin content have a greater impact on the biodegradation of hemp, jute, and sisal fibers than factors like crystallinity and degree of polymerization. The viscose fibers showed lower biodegradability despite their lower degree of polymerization, indicating a resistance to biodegradation due to the “skin” formed during the spinning process. PLA fibers experienced chemical hydrolysis and significant microbial attack, resulting in reduced tenacity. The acquired findings yield valuable insights into the biodegradability of the fibers, thereby facilitating the selection of appropriate fibers for the development of environmentally sustainable products. Notably, a literature review revealed a paucity of research on fiber biodegradability, underscoring the significance of the present study’s contributions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Preparation to Application: The Prospect of Bio-Based and Biodegradable Polymers)
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