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Special Issue "Biopolymers: From Preparation to Application"

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College of Science, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Interests: investigation on properties and applications of biopolymers; specific chemical modifications of nano-cellulose and production of adsorption material; materials for environmental protection/energy applications

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I have been asked by the Editor of Polymers (MDPI) to coordinate a Special Issue entitled, “Biopolymers: from Preparation to Application”.

Biopolymers are polymers produced by living organisms. Cellulose, starch and chitin, proteins and peptides, DNA and RNA are all examples of biopolymers, in which the monomeric units are sugars, amino acids, and nucleotides, respectively. Biopolymers and their derivatives are diverse, abundant and important for life. With the progress of modern material science, many products based on biopolymers have been developed, including films, fibers, nanoparticles, composite materials (involving fibers, solid particles, etc.), hydrogels, polymeric complexes, nanoporous scaffolds, etc. This Special Issue is motivated by the observed growing interest in the design, fabrication and application of these biopolymers.

Considering your prominent contribution in this interesting research field, I would like to cordially invite you to submit a paper to this Special Issue through the webpage of the journal (S.I. “Biopolymers: from Preparation to Application”). The submitted manuscripts will then be fast-track reviewed. I would very much appreciate it if you could let me know if you are interested in contributing a paper, at your earliest convenience. Research articles, review articles, perspectives, as well as communications and letters are also invited.

Dr. Xin Guo
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

cellulose
starch
chitin
proteins
peptides

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Physico-Chemical Characterization of OSA-Modified Starches from Different Botanical Origins and Study on the Properties of Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by These Starches

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Polymers 2023, 15(3), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030706 - 31 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1650

Abstract

Native starch (NS) from different botanical origins (native rice/tapioca/oat starch, NRS/NTS/NOS) were hydrophobically modified by octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA), and the octenyl succinic (OS) groups were successfully introduced in the starch molecules which obtained OS-starch (OSRS, OSTS and OSOS) with different levels of modification (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0%) and degree of substitution (DS). The structural properties of the OS-starch, such as granule size, crystal, wettability and morphology were studied, and the OS-starch was used as particulate stabilizers to produce oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions. The emulsion index, droplet size distribution and microstructures of Pickering emulsions produced by different OS-starches were compared. OSA modification had almost no effect on the morphology or crystal structure types of three kinds of NS and OS-starch but markedly increased the contact angle and particle size distribution of OSRS, OSTS and OSOS. Esterification reaction of OSA and starch mainly occurred in amorphous regions of starch, and the OSA significantly improved the emulsifying capacity of OSRS, OSTS and OSOS granules and thus stabilized emulsions formed at higher levels (2.5% and 3.0%) of modification of OS-Starch exhibited better stability; the ability of OS-starch to stabilize Pickering emulsion was 3.0% OSRS > 3.0% OSOS > 3.0% OSTS, respectively. Observation and structural properties analysis of OS-starch granules and Pickering emulsion droplets showed that the number and thickness of the starch granules on the oil-water interface of the emulsion droplets increased with improvement of the OSA modification level, and an aggregation state was formed between the OS-starch granules, which was also enhanced with the OSA modification levels. These were all necessary for the Pickering emulsion stabilized by starch granules to remain in a steady state. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymers: From Preparation to Application)

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Open AccessArticle

Simultaneous Adsorption of Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ by a Simple Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Bamboo Pulp Aerogels: Adsorption Properties and Mechanisms

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Polymers 2022, 14(22), 4909; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14224909 - 14 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 865

Abstract

The highly efficient, pollution-free and degradable biomass-based adsorbents used for the purification of wastewater are currently being highlighted in the research. Bamboo is an excellent raw material for pulp production due to its characteristics of fast growth, wide distribution and high cellulose content. In this study, a tannin/chitosan/bamboo pulp aerogel (TCPA), an environmentally friendly, renewable and low-density adsorbent, was synthesized using a simple freeze-drying method and analyzed by FTIR, XPS, SEM, TEM, TGA and surface area and porosity methods. TCPA has a large specific surface area (137.33 m²/g) and 3D porous structure, and its surface has multiple functional groups including amino, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, which lead to a simultaneous absorption effect with Me²⁺ (Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺). The maximum adsorption capacity for Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ of the TCPA was 72.73 mg/g and 52.52 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption processes of Me²⁺ by TCPA follow the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm mode, and the adsorption processes are spontaneous and endothermic. The study provides a promising candidate for the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metal mixtures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymers: From Preparation to Application)

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