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Polymers
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Degradation of Plastics
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Degradation of Plastics

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 6983

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Saúl Vallejos Calzada

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Burgos, Plaza de Misael Bañuelos s/n, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Interests: smart polymers; sensory polymers; detection of target species; colorimetry; fluorimetry; polymers for advanced applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Miriam Trigo-López

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Polymer Research Group, Faculty of Science, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Interests: polymers; polymer sensors; high performance aramids; design, synthesis and characterization of polymers; polymers for advanced applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Álvaro Miguel Ortega

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Co-Guest Editor
Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Burgos, Plaza de Misael Bañuelos s/n, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Interests: polymer reinforcement; thermoplastics; composites; aromatic polyamides; injection moulding; extrusion; polymeric electrolytes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research on the degradation of plastics involves a deep understanding of the intricate processes by which synthetic polymer materials disintegrate and break down over time. Various factors such as environmental conditions, exposure to light, heat, mechanical stress, and microbial activity, and the application of organocatalysts influence the degradation of plastics. Investigating these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective strategies to facilitate plastic degradation, especially to enhance their potential for recycling through methods such as chemical recycling. Techniques such as biodegradation, where microorganisms break down plastics into simpler compounds, and photodegradation, involving the breakdown of plastics under sunlight, are of particular interest. Research also explores the development of novel materials and additives, including the use of organocatalysts, that can expedite or control the degradation process, allowing for more efficient recycling and reducing the environmental burden of plastic waste. Understanding the science behind plastic degradation is fundamental for advancing sustainable practices, optimizing recycling technologies, and ultimately mitigating the detrimental impact of plastic pollution on our environment.

This Special Issue, entitled "Degradation of Plastics", comprehensively covers a diverse spectrum of plastic degradation techniques and procedures, spanning from foundational basic research to the practical implementation of these techniques in real-world applications.

Dr. Saúl Vallejos Calzada
Dr. Miriam Trigo-López
Dr. Álvaro Miguel Ortega
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

  • polymers
  • plastic degradation
  • biodegradation
  • depolymerization
  • environmental impact
  • polymer recycling
  • chemical recycling
  • hydrolyzable polymers
  • non-hydrolyzable polymers

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3586 KiB  
Article
Poly(lactic acid) Degradation by Recombinant Cutinases from Aspergillus nidulans
by Eric Alvarado, Rafael Castro, José Augusto Castro-Rodríguez, Arturo Navarro and Amelia Farrés
Polymers 2024, 16(14), 1994; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16141994 - 12 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1118
Abstract
Poly(lactic-acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer widely used as a packaging material. Its monomer, lactic acid, and its derivatives have been used in the food, cosmetic, and chemical industries. The accumulation of PLA residues leads to the development of green degrading methodologies, such [...] Read more.
Poly(lactic-acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer widely used as a packaging material. Its monomer, lactic acid, and its derivatives have been used in the food, cosmetic, and chemical industries. The accumulation of PLA residues leads to the development of green degrading methodologies, such as enzymatic degradation. This work evaluates the potential use of three cutinolytic enzymes codified in the Aspergillus nidulans genome to achieve this goal. The results are compared with those obtained with proteinase K from Tritirachium album, which has been reported as a PLA-hydrolyzing enzyme. The results show that all three cutinases act on the polymer, but ANCUT 1 releases the highest amount of lactic acid (25.86 mM). Different reaction conditions assayed later led to double the released lactic acid. A decrease in weight (45.96%) was also observed. The enzyme showed activity both on poly L lactic acid and on poly D lactic acid. Therefore, this cutinase offers the potential to rapidly degrade these package residues, and preliminary data show that this is feasible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Degradation of Plastics)
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16 pages, 2425 KiB  
Article
Effect of Abiotic Treatments on Agricultural Plastic Waste: Efficiency of the Degradation Processes
by Zbigniew Emil Blesa Marco, José Antonio Sáez, Francisco Javier Andreu-Rodríguez, Rosa Penalver, Manuel Rodríguez, Kristina Eissenberger, Patrizia Cinelli, María Ángeles Bustamante and Raúl Moral
Polymers 2024, 16(3), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16030359 - 29 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1490
Abstract
In this study, four different plastic materials usually used in the agricultural sector (polystyrene film (PS), polyethylene terephthalate film (PET), low-density polyethylene film (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene film (LLDPE)) were subjected to different abiotic treatments, including photo-oxidation (ultraviolet and e-beam radiation) and [...] Read more.
In this study, four different plastic materials usually used in the agricultural sector (polystyrene film (PS), polyethylene terephthalate film (PET), low-density polyethylene film (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene film (LLDPE)) were subjected to different abiotic treatments, including photo-oxidation (ultraviolet and e-beam radiation) and thermochemical treatments, to enhance polymer degradation. The extensive use of these polymers leads to large amounts of plastic waste generation, including small plastic pieces, known as microplastics, which affect the quality of the agricultural environment, including soil fertility and quality. Therefore, polymer degradation strategies are needed to effectively reduce plastic waste to protect the agricultural sector. The degree of polymer degradation was assessed by the use of thermal and spectroscopic analyses, such as TGA and FTIR. In addition, efficiency, cost–benefits, and potential side-effects were also evaluated to propose the optimal degradation strategy to reduce plastic waste from the point of view of efficiency. The results obtained showed that the pre-treatments based on photo-oxidation (ultraviolet B and C and e-beam radiation) were more efficient and had a better cost–benefit for the degradation of the polymers studied in relation to the thermochemical treatments. Specifically, ultraviolet photo-oxidation worked well for PS and PET, requiring low energy and medium times. However, e-beam radiation was recommended for PE (LDPE and LLDPE) degradation, since high energy and long times were needed when ultraviolet energy was applied to this polymer. Furthermore, the overall efficiency of the plastic degradation of pre-treatments should be studied using a multicriteria approach, since FTIR assessments, in some cases, only consider oxidation processes on the plastic surface and do not show the potential integrity changes on the plastic probes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Degradation of Plastics)
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25 pages, 10801 KiB  
Article
Effect of Gelatin Coating and GO Incorporation on the Properties and Degradability of Electrospun PCL Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Regeneration
by Carlos Loyo, Alexander Cordoba, Humberto Palza, Daniel Canales, Francisco Melo, Juan F. Vivanco, Raúl Vallejos Baier, Carola Millán, Teresa Corrales and Paula A. Zapata
Polymers 2024, 16(1), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16010129 - 30 Dec 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1913
Abstract
Polymer-based nanocomposites such as polycaprolactone/graphene oxide (PCL/GO) have emerged as alternatives for bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications. The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of a gelatin (Gt) coating on the degradability and different properties of PCL nanofibrous scaffolds fabricated [...] Read more.
Polymer-based nanocomposites such as polycaprolactone/graphene oxide (PCL/GO) have emerged as alternatives for bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications. The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of a gelatin (Gt) coating on the degradability and different properties of PCL nanofibrous scaffolds fabricated by an electrospinning technique with 1 and 2 wt% GO. Uniform PCL/GO fibers were obtained with a beadless structure and rough surface. PCL/GO scaffolds exhibited an increase in their crystallization temperature (Tc), attributed to GO, which acted as a nucleation agent. Young’s modulus increased by 32 and 63% for the incorporation of 1 and 2 wt% GO, respectively, in comparison with neat PCL. A homogeneous Gt coating was further applied to these fibers, with incorporations as high as 24.7 wt%. The introduction of the Gt coating improved the hydrophilicity and degradability of the scaffolds. Bioactivity analysis revealed that the hydroxyapatite crystals were deposited on the Gt-coated scaffolds, which made them different from their uncoated counterparts. Our results showed the synergic effect of Gt and GO in enhancing the multifunctionality of the PCL, in particular the degradability rate, bioactivity, and cell adhesion and proliferation of hGMSC cells, making it an interesting biomaterial for BTE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Degradation of Plastics)
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Review

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19 pages, 2599 KiB  
Review
Nature’s Plastic Predators: A Comprehensive and Bibliometric Review of Plastivore Insects
by Joseph Boctor, Gunjan Pandey, Wei Xu, Daniel V. Murphy and Frances C. Hoyle
Polymers 2024, 16(12), 1671; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16121671 - 12 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1651
Abstract
Unprecedented plastic production has resulted in over six billion tons of harmful waste. Certain insect taxa emerge as potential agents of plastic biodegradation. Through a comprehensive manual and bibliometric literature analysis, this review analyses and consolidates the growing literature related to insect-mediated plastic [...] Read more.
Unprecedented plastic production has resulted in over six billion tons of harmful waste. Certain insect taxa emerge as potential agents of plastic biodegradation. Through a comprehensive manual and bibliometric literature analysis, this review analyses and consolidates the growing literature related to insect-mediated plastic breakdown. Over 23 insect species, representing Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and 4 other orders, have been identified for their capacity to consume plastic polymers. Natural and synthetic polymers exhibit high-level similarities in molecular structure and properties. Thus, in conjunction with comparative genomics studies, we link plastic-degrading enzymatic capabilities observed in certain insects to the exaptation of endogenous enzymes originally evolved for digesting lignin, cellulose, beeswax, keratin and chitin from their native dietary substrates. Further clarification is necessary to distinguish mineralisation from physicochemical fragmentation and to differentiate microbiome-mediated degradation from direct enzymatic reactions by insects. A bibliometric analysis of the exponentially growing body of literature showed that leading research is emerging from China and the USA. Analogies between natural and synthetic polymer’s degradation pathways will inform engineering robust enzymes for practical plastic bioremediation applications. By aggregating, analysing, and interpreting published insights, this review consolidates our mechanistic understanding of insects as a potential natural solution to the escalating plastic waste crisis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Degradation of Plastics)
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