Recent Advances in Bioplastics II

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 (30 April 2021) | Viewed by 41394

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
Interests: bioplastics; biodegradable polymers; molecularly imprinted polymers; polyhydroxyalkanoates; green synthesis of nanoparticles; bioprocess engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Chemical Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Korea
Interests: bio-based polymers; polymer characterization; polymer nanobiocomposites; polymer processing; shape memory polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Conventional plastics are usually derived from fossil-based feedstock that take several hundred years to degrade, which leads to their accumulation in the soil, causing severe environmental problems. Ongoing research in developing renewable polymers as substitutes for fossil fuel-based synthetic plastics could aid in combating current environmental issues, and can be achieved via strategic R&D work in order to develop a circular bio-economy. In this regard, replacing fossil-based polymers with biodegradable polymers derived from biobased origins is one such strategy. Possible candidates for replacing conventional plastics that have substantial potential include polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and other classes of aliphatic polyesters that are biodegradable and biocompatible in nature. Furthermore, blending polymers, copolymerization, or addition of fillers into the pristine polymers will lead to the enhancement of the physicochemical and thermomechanical properties of the resuting polymers, rendering them suitable for several applications ranging from commodities to biomedical. The processing of these polymers with a significant focus on developing cost-effective materials will bring an anticipated market breakthrough with improved product quality. Recent research based on the concept of the economic potential of biorefining may also lead to the production of a wide range of valuable bioproducts.

Therefore, this Special Issue will encompass current and applied research showcasing high-quality works in the discipline of biobased and biodegradable polymers. Submissions are welcome on topics related to bioplastic production strategies, the bioconversion of agro-industrial wastes into polymers, the customized production of copolymers, bioplastic-based composites, their applications in the areas of nanotechnology and biotechnological processes, and cost-effective production strategies for the best possible industrial output/relevance.

Previous Issue: "Recent Advances in Bioplastics"

Prof. Beom Soo Kim
Dr. Arvind Gupta
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

  • Bioplastics from natural and synthetic process;
  • Bio-based and biodegradable plastics;
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates and their copolymers;
  • Polylactic acid -based degradable polymers;
  • Bioplastics from renewable substrates;
  • Bioplastic-based composites;
  • Bioplastic-based functional materials;
  • Applications of bioplastics;
  • Nanotechnology for bioplastics;
  • Bioplastics for biomedical sectors;
  • Cost-effective production strategies;
  • Tailored properties of bioplastics.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

38 pages, 2947 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Bioplastics: Application and Biodegradation
by Tanja Narancic, Federico Cerrone, Niall Beagan and Kevin E. O’Connor
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 920; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12040920 - 15 Apr 2020
Cited by 182 | Viewed by 24008
Abstract
The success of oil-based plastics and the continued growth of production and utilisation can be attributed to their cost, durability, strength to weight ratio, and eight contributions to the ease of everyday life. However, their mainly single use, durability and recalcitrant nature have [...] Read more.
The success of oil-based plastics and the continued growth of production and utilisation can be attributed to their cost, durability, strength to weight ratio, and eight contributions to the ease of everyday life. However, their mainly single use, durability and recalcitrant nature have led to a substantial increase of plastics as a fraction of municipal solid waste. The need to substitute single use products that are not easy to collect has inspired a lot of research towards finding sustainable replacements for oil-based plastics. In addition, specific physicochemical, biological, and degradation properties of biodegradable polymers have made them attractive materials for biomedical applications. This review summarises the advances in drug delivery systems, specifically design of nanoparticles based on the biodegradable polymers. We also discuss the research performed in the area of biophotonics and challenges and opportunities brought by the design and application of biodegradable polymers in tissue engineering. We then discuss state-of-the-art research in the design and application of biodegradable polymers in packaging and emphasise the advances in smart packaging development. Finally, we provide an overview of the biodegradation of these polymers and composites in managed and unmanaged environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Bioplastics II)
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18 pages, 2061 KiB  
Review
Degradation of Plastics under Anaerobic Conditions: A Short Review
by Xochitl Quecholac-Piña, María del Consuelo Hernández-Berriel, María del Consuelo Mañón-Salas, Rosa María Espinosa-Valdemar and Alethia Vázquez-Morillas
Polymers 2020, 12(1), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12010109 - 05 Jan 2020
Cited by 78 | Viewed by 16691
Abstract
Plastic waste is an issue of global concern because of the environmental impact of its accumulation in waste management systems and ecosystems. Biodegradability was proposed as a solution to overcome this problem; however, most biodegradable plastics were designed to degrade under aerobic conditions, [...] Read more.
Plastic waste is an issue of global concern because of the environmental impact of its accumulation in waste management systems and ecosystems. Biodegradability was proposed as a solution to overcome this problem; however, most biodegradable plastics were designed to degrade under aerobic conditions, ideally fulfilled in a composting plant. These new plastics could arrive to anaerobic environments, purposely or frequently, because of their mismanagement at the end of their useful life. This review analyzes the behavior of biodegradable and conventional plastics under anaerobic conditions, specifically in anaerobic digestion systems and landfills. A review was performed in order to identify: (a) the environmental conditions found in anaerobic digestion processes and landfills, as well as the mechanisms for degradation in those environments; (b) the experimental methods used for the assessment of biodegradation in anaerobic conditions; and (c) the extent of the biodegradation process for different plastics. Results show a remarkable variability of the biodegradation rate depending on the type of plastic and experimental conditions, with clearly better performance in anaerobic digestion systems, where temperature, water content, and inoculum are strictly controlled. The majority of the studied plastics showed that thermophilic conditions increase degradation. It should not be assumed that plastics designed to be degraded aerobically will biodegrade under anaerobic conditions, and an exact match must be done between the specific plastics and the end of life options that they will face. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Bioplastics II)
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