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Polymers
Special Issues
Green Polymer Chemistry: New Products, Processes and Applications
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Green Polymer Chemistry: New Products, Processes and Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2024 | Viewed by 3068

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pedro Aguilar-Zarate

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Valles, Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Interests: food science and technology; biotechnology; enzymes
Dr. Jose Alberto Gallegos-Infante

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Durango Institute of Technology (TecNM/Instituto Tecnologico de Durango), Nueva Vizcaya, Durango 34080, Mexico
Interests: food chemistry; food processing; high-performance liquid chromatography; chromatography; food analysis; antioxidant activity; food processing and engineering; microbiology; phytochemicals; antioxidants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ricardo Gómez-García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal
Interests: biotechnology; food science and technology; food chemistry; protein extraction; chemical engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Green polymer chemistry is part of the green chemistry area and involves the development of products and processes by reducing or eliminating hazardous substances. The utilization of green polymers is a trendy issue since environmental pollution still being a global problem. Many books and manuscripts have been published in this field. Now, circular economy (CE) is a novel model that rules the use of resources. Hence, the green polymer principles fit the CE rules. In this sense, the green polymer chemistry research is updating, and new products, processes, and applications are developing. This Special Issue aims to cover current advances and trends in developing products, processes, and applications of green polymer chemistry. Hence, original and review papers covering, but not limited to, the following topics are welcome:

  • Polymers biocatalysts
  • Natural sources of polymers
  • Agri-based polymers and waste minimization
  • Re-use of green polymers
  • Energy reduction in the green polymers obtention
  • Design of novel green polymers (includes genetic and metabolic engineering)
  • New processes for the obtention of green polymers
  • Agricultural, food, and pharmaceutical applications of green polymers
  • Green polymers and circular economy 

Dr. Pedro Aguilar-Zarate
Dr. Jose Alberto Gallegos-Infante
Dr. Ricardo Gómez-García
Guest Editors

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

  • green polymer sources
  • synthesis and processes
  • energy minimization
  • waste minimization
  • polymers recycling and reusing
  • circular economy

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3831 KiB  
Article
The Specific Encapsulation of Procyanidins from Litchi Peel and Coffee Pulp Extracts via Spray-Drying Using Green Polymers
by María de los Ángeles Vázquez-Núñez, Mayra Aguilar-Zárate, Ricardo Gómez-García, Carlos Reyes-Luna, Pedro Aguilar-Zárate and Mariela R. Michel
Polymers 2023, 15(18), 3823; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15183823 - 19 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1181
Abstract
Polyphenols called procyanidins can be extracted from agro-industrial waste like litchi peel and coffee pulp. However, their efficacy is limited due to instability, which hinders both the bioavailability and preservation of their activity. This study aims to establish the ideal encapsulation conditions required [...] Read more.
Polyphenols called procyanidins can be extracted from agro-industrial waste like litchi peel and coffee pulp. However, their efficacy is limited due to instability, which hinders both the bioavailability and preservation of their activity. This study aims to establish the ideal encapsulation conditions required to preserve the procyanidin properties found in extracts taken from litchi peel and coffee pulp. To attain the maximum procyanidin encapsulation efficacy (EE), the Taguchi method was utilized to streamline the spray-drying conditions for different wall materials—maltodextrin (MD), whey protein (WP), citrus pectin (CP), and skim milk (SM). The optimized conditions consisted of feed flow (3, 4.5, and 6 mL/min), temperature (125, 150, and 175 °C), and airflow (30, 35, and 40 m3/h). The microcapsules were characterized using ABTS, DPPH, lipoperoxidation, and scanning electron microscopy. Objective evaluations revealed that MD was the most effective encapsulation material for the litchi extract, whereas WP was the optimal option for the coffee extract. Of all the factors considered in the spray-drying process, feed flow had the strongest impact. The spray-drying process for the litchi peel extracts achieved high procyanidin encapsulation efficiencies at a feed flow rate of 4.5 mL/min, a temperature of 150 °C, and an airflow rate of 35 m3/h. Meanwhile, the coffee extract spray drying achieved similar results at a feed flow rate of 4.5 mL/min, a temperature of 175 °C, and an airflow rate of 40 m3/h. Encapsulation efficiencies of 98.1% and 93.6% were observed for the litchi and coffee extracts, respectively, under the mentioned optimal conditions. The microencapsulation process was successful in preserving the antioxidant properties of procyanidins. The microcapsules’ size ranged from 2.6 to 3.2 micrometers. The results imply that the phenolic compounds present in the extracts function as effective antioxidant agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Polymer Chemistry: New Products, Processes and Applications)
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17 pages, 6590 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Properties of Polystyrene Composite Material with Hazelnut Shells
by Natalia Igorevna Cherkashina, Zoya Vladimirovna Pavlenko, Dar’ya Vasil’yevna Pushkarskaya, Lyubov Vasilievna Denisova, Semen Nikolayevich Domarev and Dar’ya Aleksandrovna Ryzhikh
Polymers 2023, 15(15), 3212; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15153212 - 28 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 840
Abstract
In this study we evaluated the potential use of hazelnut shell powder in the production of a composite material. Polystyrene was used as a polymer matrix. This work presents the results of modifying hazelnut powder particles to create a polystyrene shell on their [...] Read more.
In this study we evaluated the potential use of hazelnut shell powder in the production of a composite material. Polystyrene was used as a polymer matrix. This work presents the results of modifying hazelnut powder particles to create a polystyrene shell on their surfaces. Modification of the filler increased its contact angle wetted with water from θ=60.16±1.03° to θ=87.02±1.10°. Composite materials containing from 10 to 50 wt.% of modified hazelnut shell powder were prepared and studied. As a result of the experiments, it was found that the composites have optimal physical, mechanical, and operational properties at the following ratio: polystyrene 60–80 wt.%, modified hazelnut shell powder 20–40 wt.%. If the introduction of polystyrene was more than 90 wt.%, the flexural strength and Vickers hardness were quite low at the load of 200 g, and accordingly, the durability of such materials was not satisfactory. These samples are characterized by small percentages of hazelnut shells; therefore, the resulting material will be of pale, unsaturated color. The upper limit of the working temperature range for the composite lies between 265.0–376.0 °C, depending on the percentage of the hazelnut shell powder filling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Polymer Chemistry: New Products, Processes and Applications)
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