Mechanical Performance of Sustainable Bio-Based Compounds

570 Pages·2023·29.196 MB·English

by  Acierno D., Patti A. (ed.)

Mechanical
Performance
of Sustainable
Bio-Based
Compounds
Edited by
Domenico Acierno and Antonella Patti
Printed Edition of the Special Issue Published in Polymers
www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers
Mechanical Performance of
Sustainable Bio-Based Compounds
Mechanical Performance of
Sustainable Bio-Based Compounds
Editors
Domenico Acierno
Antonella Patti
MDPI‚Basel‚Beijing‚Wuhan‚Barcelona‚Belgrade‚Manchester‚Tokyo‚Cluj‚Tianjin
Editors
DomenicoAcierno AntonellaPatti
CRdCTecnologieScarl DepartmentofCivil
RegionalCenterof EngineeringandArchitecture
CompetenceNew (DICAr)
TechnologiesforProductive UniversityofCatania
ActivitiesScarl Catania
Naples Italy
Italy
EditorialOffice
MDPI
St. Alban-Anlage66
4052Basel,Switzerland
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Contents
AntonellaPattiandDomenicoAcierno
SpecialIssue“MechanicalPerformanceofSustainableBio-BasedCompounds”
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2022,14,4832,doi:10.3390/polym14224832 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
AntonellaPattiandDomenicoAcierno
Towards the Sustainability of the Plastic Industry through Biopolymers: Properties and
PotentialApplicationstotheTextilesWorld
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2022,14,692,doi:10.3390/polym14040692 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Jiraporn Phojaroen, Thitirat Jiradechakorn, Suchata Kirdponpattara, Malinee Sriariyanun,
JatupolJunthipandSantiChuetor
Performance Evaluation of Combined Hydrothermal-Mechanical Pretreatment of
Lignocellulosic Biomass for
EnzymaticEnhancement
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2022,14,2313,doi:10.3390/polym14122313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
MohdSalahuddinMohdBasri,NorNadiahAbdulKarimShah,AlifdalinoSulaiman,Intan
SyafinazMohamedAminTawakkal,MohdZuhairMohdNorandSitiHajarAriffinetal.
Progress in the Valorization of Fruit and Vegetable Wastes: Active Packaging, Biocomposites,
By-Products,andInnovativeTechnologiesUsedforBioactiveCompoundExtraction
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,3503,doi:10.3390/polym13203503 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
AnastasiyaO.Makarova,SvetlanaR.Derkach,AidarI.Kadyirov,SufiaA.Ziganshina,Mariia
A.KazantsevaandOlgaS.Zuevaetal.
SupramolecularStructureandMechanicalPerformanceof-Carrageenan–GelatinGel
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2022,14,4347,doi:10.3390/polym14204347 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Mar´ıa A. Rodr´ıguez-Soto, Camilo A. Polan´ıa-Sandoval, Andre´s M. Arago´n-Rivera, Daniel
Buitrago,Mar´ıaAyala-Vela´squezandAlejandroVelandia-Sa´nchezetal.
Small Diameter Cell-Free Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts: Biomaterials and Manufacture
TechniquestoReachSuitableMechanicalProperties
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2022,14,3440,doi:10.3390/polym14173440 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Mohamad Khalid Khairunnisa-Atiqah, Kushairi Mohd Salleh, A. H. Ainul Hafiza, Nyak
SyazwaniNyakMazlan,MarhainiMostaphaandSaraniZakaria
Impact of Drying Regimes and Different Coating Layers on Carboxymethyl Cellulose
Cross-LinkedwithCitricAcidonCottonThreadFibersforWoundDressingModification
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2022,14,1217,doi:10.3390/polym14061217 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
MuhammadZulhelmiMuktar,MuhammadAmeerulAminBakar,KhairulAnuarMatAmin,
LailiCheRose,WanIryaniWanIsmailandMohdHasmizamRazalietal.
Gellan Gum Hydrogels Filled Edible Oil Microemulsion for Biomedical Materials: Phase
Diagram,MechanicalBehavior,andInVivoStudies
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,3281,doi:10.3390/polym13193281 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Kawkb M. El-Tamimi, Dalia A. Bayoumi, Mohamed M. Z. Ahmed, Ibrahim Albaijan and
MohammedE.El-Sayed
The Effect of Salinized Nano ZrO Particles on the Microstructure, Hardness, and Wear
2
BehaviorofAcrylicDentureToothNanocomposite
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2022,14,302,doi:10.3390/polym14020302 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
v
VincenzoTitone,AntonioCorrentiandFrancescoPaoloLaMantia
Effect of Moisture Content on the Processing and Mechanical Properties of a Biodegradable
Polyester
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,1616,doi:10.3390/polym13101616 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Pei-YiWong,AkiyoshiTakeno,ShinyaTakahashi,Sook-WaiPhangandAzizahBaharum
CrazingEffectontheBio-BasedConductingPolymerFilm
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,3425,doi:10.3390/polym13193425 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
AmandaMattsson,ToveJoelsson,ArttuMiettinen,JukkaA.Ketoja,GunillaPetterssonand
PerEngstrand
Lignin Inter-Diffusion Underlying Improved Mechanical Performance of Hot-Pressed Paper
Webs
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,2485,doi:10.3390/polym13152485 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Simona-Nicoleta Mazurchevici, Alina Marguta, Bogdan Istrate, Marcelin Benchea, Mihai
BocaandDumitruNedelcu
Improvements of Arboblend V2 Nature Characteristics through Depositing Thin Ceramic
Layers
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,3765,doi:10.3390/polym13213765 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
S.F.K.Sherwani,E.S.Zainudin,S.M.Sapuan,Z.LemanandA.Khalina
Physical, Mechanical, and Morphological Properties of Treated Sugar Palm/Glass Reinforced
Poly(Lactic Acid)
HybridComposites
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,3620,doi:10.3390/polym13213620 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Alexander Stadlmann, Andreas Mautner, Maximilian Pramreiter, Alexander Bismarck and
UlrichMu¨ller
InterfacialAdhesionandMechanicalPropertiesofWood-PolymerHybridCompositesPrepared
byInjectionMolding
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,2849,doi:10.3390/polym13172849 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Aranzazu Alejandra Ferrandez-Garc´ıa, Teresa Garcia Ortun˜o, Manuel Ferrandez-Villena,
AntonioFerrandez-GarciaandMariaTeresaFerrandez-Garc´ıa
EvaluationofParticleboardsMadefromGiantReed(ArundodonaxL.)BondedwithCementand
PotatoStarch
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,14,111,doi:10.3390/polym14010111 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Siti Hajar Zuber, Nurul Ab. Aziz Hashikin, Mohd Fahmi Mohd Yusof, Mohd Zahri Abdul
AzizandRokiahHashim
Influence of Different Percentages of Binders on the Physico-Mechanical Properties
of Rhizophora spp. Particleboard as Natural-Based Tissue-Equivalent Phantom
forRadiationDosimetryApplications
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,1868,doi:10.3390/polym13111868 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
EdgarAdria´nFranco-Urquiza,YaelRamı´rezEscamillaandPerlaItzelAlca´ntaraLlanas
Characterizationof3DPrintingonJuteFabrics
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,3202,doi:10.3390/polym13193202 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
AntonellaPatti,GianlucaCicalaandStefanoAcierno
RotationalRheologyofWoodFlourCompositesBasedonRecycledPolyethylene
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,2226,doi:10.3390/polym13142226 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
vi
DimakatsoMakwakwa,VincentOjijo,JayitaBandyopadhyayandSuprakasSinhaRay
Flow Characteristics, Mechanical, Thermal, and Thermomechanical Properties, and 3D
PrintabilityofBiodegradablePolylactideContainingBoehmiteatDifferentLoadings
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,2019,doi:10.3390/polym13122019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Ruta Vaitkeviciene, Joana Bendoraitiene, Rimgaile Degutyte, Mantas Svazas and Daiva
Zadeike
OptimizationoftheSustainableProductionofResistantStarchinRiceBranandEvaluationof
ItsPhysicochemicalandTechnologicalProperties
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2022,14,3662,doi:10.3390/polym14173662 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Marcos M. Hernandez, Nevin S. Gupta, Kwan-Soo Lee, Aaron C. Pital, Babetta L. Marrone
andCarlN.Iversonetal.
CharacterizationofPolyhydroxybutyrate-BasedCompositesPreparedbyInjectionMolding
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,4444,doi:10.3390/polym13244444 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Tatjana Glaskova-Kuzmina, Olesja Starkova, Sergejs Gaidukovs, Oskars Platnieks and
GerdaGaidukova
DurabilityofBiodegradablePolymerNanocomposites
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,3375,doi:10.3390/polym13193375 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
OlesjaStarkova,AlisaSabalina,VandaVoikivaandAgneseOsite
EnvironmentalEffectsonStrengthandFailureStrainDistributionsofSheepWoolFibers
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2022,14,2651,doi:10.3390/polym14132651 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 429
JetYinBoey,CheeKeongLeeandGuanSengTay
FactorsAffectingMechanicalPropertiesofReinforcedBioplastics: AReview
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2022,14,3737,doi:10.3390/polym14183737 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 447
GeetaPokhrel,DouglasJ.GardnerandYousooHan
Properties of Wood–Plastic Composites Manufactured from Two Different Wood Feedstocks:
WoodFlourandWoodPellets
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,2769,doi:10.3390/polym13162769 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
Z.N.Diyana,R.Jumaidin,M.Z.Selamat,R.H.AlamjuriandFahmiAsyadiMdYusof
ExtractionandCharacterizationofNaturalCellulosicFiberfromPandanusamaryllifoliusLeaves
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,4171,doi:10.3390/polym13234171 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 495
FaisalAmriTanjung,YalunArifinandRetnaAstutiKuswardani
Influence of Newly Organosolv Lignin-Based Interface Modifier on Mechanical and Thermal
Properties,andEnzymaticDegradationofPolylacticAcid/ChitosanBiocomposites
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,3355,doi:10.3390/polym13193355 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511
Indra Surya, Kamaruddin Waesateh, Sitisaiyidah Saiwari, Hanafi Ismail, Nadras Othman
andNabilHayeemasae
Potency of Urea-Treated Halloysite Nanotubes for the Simultaneous Boosting of Mechanical
PropertiesandCrystallizationofEpoxidizedNaturalRubberComposites
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,3068,doi:10.3390/polym13183068 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 527
BiankaNagy,NorbertMiskolcziandZolta´nEller
Improving Mechanical Properties of PLA/Starch Blends Using Masterbatch Containing
VegetableOilBasedActiveIngredients
Reprintedfrom: Polymers2021,13,2981,doi:10.3390/polym13172981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 547
vii
polymers
Editorial
Special Issue “Mechanical Performance of Sustainable
Bio-Based Compounds”
AntonellaPatti1,* andDomenicoAcierno2,*
1 DepartmentofCivilEngineeringandArchitecture(DICAr),UniversityofCatania,VialeAndreaDoria6,
95125Catania,Italy
2 RegionalCenterofCompetenceNewTechnologiesforProductiveActivitiesScarl,ViaNuovaAgnano11,
80125Naples,Italy
* Correspondence:[email protected](A.P.);[email protected](D.A.)
Theglobalproductionofplasticisincreasing,andplasticrepresentsoneofthemost
popular materials, widespread in countless applications in commercial and industrial
fields and everyday life. However, the main drawback to consider in this widespread
employment is the difficulty of properly disposing of plastic at the end of its life cycle,
anditsconsequentaccumulationinnature. Plasticwastes,includingmicroplastics(1to
5000µmparticles),accumulateintheoceans,seriouslyalteringthemarineenvironment
andthelivesofitsinhabitants. Furthermore,millionsoftonsofCO areemittedintothe
2
atmosphere,generatedfromboththeproductionprocessesandthefinalincinerationatthe
endoftheproducts’lifecycles. ThehugeemissionofgreenhousegasessuchasCO further
2
contributestoglobalwarmingbyinducingdramaticandirreversibleweatherchanges[1].
Inthiscontext,scientificresearchshouldfocusonalternativesolutionsforthesus-
tainabledevelopmentofproductionprocesses,includingbiomasswastevalorization[2]
andtheuseofgreentechnologies,avoidingrisksforhumanhealth,andlimitingtheen-
vironmentalimpact. Forexample,fruitandvegetablewasteshavehighwatercontents
andhighconcentrationsofbiodegradableorganicsubstances(e.g.,carbohydrates,lipids,
Citation:Patti,A.;Acierno,D.
andorganicacids). Thesecanbeefficientlyrecoveredandvalorizedassourcesofpolymer
SpecialIssue“Mechanical
materialsforactivepackaging[3]. Innovativetechnologies,involvingboththermaland
PerformanceofSustainable
non-thermalmethods,havebeenappliedfortheextractionandfortificationofsensitive
Bio-BasedCompounds”.Polymers
bioactivecompounds,asreportedinarecentreviewbyBasrietal.[3].
2022,14,4832. https://doi.org/
ThepurposeofthisSpecialIssuewastocollectoriginalcontributions,bothresearch
10.3390/polym14224832
papersandreviews,showingrecentresultsand/orpositiveadvancesinthebehaviorofnew
Received:8November2022 sustainablebiomaterialsunderappliedmechanicalstress,inbothstaticanddynamicmodes,
Accepted:9November2022 andevaluatingthecharacteristicsofresistance,moduliand/orviscoelasticityinviewof
Published:10November2022 potentialapplicationsinbiotechnologyandbiomedicine[4],tissueengineering[5],medical
devices[6,7],surgicalordentalimplants[8],agriculture[9],packaging[3,10,11],textiles[1],
Publisher’sNote:MDPIstaysneutral
withregardtojurisdictionalclaimsin automotives[12–14],greenbuildingsandconstruction[15],radiationdosimetry[16],and
publishedmapsandinstitutionalaffil- 3Dprinting[17–19].
iations. Wound-careproductshavebeenpreparedbyusinggellangumandvirgincoconutoil
(VCO)anddevelopingmicroemulsion-basedhydrogels[7]. Theeffectsofdryingmethods
on carboxymethyl cellulose and citric acid coating layers on cotton threads have been
examinedin[6],withregardtowound-dressingapplications.
Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. ArboblendV2Naturebiopolymer(whichfeaturesligninasabasicmatrix;asignificant
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. amountofpolylacticacid;andsmallamountsofnaturaladditivessuchasresins,waxes,
This article is an open access article
andshellac)wascoveredwiththreeceramicpowders: Amdry6420(Cr O ),Metco143
2 3
distributed under the terms and
(ZrO 18TiO 10Y O ),andMetco136F(Cr O -xSiO -yTiO ). Thesesystemshavebeen
2 2 2 3 2 3 2 2
conditionsoftheCreativeCommons
consideredsuitableforoperatinginharshconditions,suchasintheautomotiveindustry,
Attribution(CCBY)license(https://
toreplaceplasticmaterials,inlightoftheiradhesionstrength;microindentationhardness;
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
andthermal,structural,andmorphologicalproperties[12].
4.0/).
1
Polymers2022,14,4832
Bio-basedfiberscanbeefficientlyappliedinpackagingwhenthemechanicalproper-
tiesofthecorrespondingfibermaterialsexceedthoseofconventionalpaperboard. Hot-
pressing has been considered an efficient method for improving both the wet and dry
strengthoflignin-containingpaperwebs. Differentpressingconditionsforwebsformed
withthermomechanicalpulphavebeenstudiedbyMattssonetal.[11].
LigninandsoyflourhavebeenproposedasbindersinthefabricationofRhizophora
spp. particleboard,foruseasaphantommaterialinradiationdosimetryapplications[16].
Anincreasedinternalbondstrengthwasconfirmedinsampleswithbinders,whichmay
indicatebetterstructuralintegrityandphysicomechanicalstrength.
Anewsustainablefoodsystembasedonricebranbiopolymers,inlightofthepotential
applicationofultrasoundtechnologyforenhancingtheproductionofresistantstarch,was
proposedin[20].
Anoverviewofrecentpotentialapplicationsofbiopolymersintextileswasprovided
byPattiandAcierno[1]. Here,theuseofbiopolymersinvarioustextileprocesses,from
spinningprocessestodyeingandfinishingtreatment,isproposedasapossiblesolutionfor
reducingtheenvironmentalimpactofthetextileindustry.
Bio-basedmaterialshavebeenconsideredabroadclassoforganiccomponentsranging
fromagro-foodrenewableresources[3](e.g.,polysaccharidesandproteins),bacterialactivi-
ties(e.g.,polyhydroxyalkanoates[21]),theconventionalsynthesisofbio-derivedmonomers
(e.g.,polylactides[19]andpolyglycolides),orsyntheticmonomers(e.g.,polycaprolactones,
polyesteramides,bio-polyester,etc.).
These systems allow current needs to be met without dangerously burdening the
futurefromecological,economic,andhumanpointsofview(sustainability).
Biomaterialscanbeconvertedintochemicalelementsthroughtheactionofbiological
orphysicalagents(biodegradability)andcanalsobetransformedintonaturalfertilizers
foragriculture,oncedegraded(compostability).
Aschematizationoffourtypesofplastics(fossil-basedandnon-biodegradableplastics,
fossil-basedandbiodegradable,natural-basedandnon-biodegradable,andnatural-based
andbiodegradable)isprovidedin[1].
However,applicationsofbiodegradablepolymerstoreplaceconventionalfossil-based
plasticsremainlimitedbytheformer’spoorwaterresistance,high-dimensionalstability,
andprocessability[22]. Mostbiodegradablesystemshavebeenmadefrompolyester. The
maindrawbackofthesebiopolymersistheirabsorptionofmoisture,whichgivesriseto
dangerousdegradationphenomena. Inthisperspective,Titoneetal.[9]investigatedthe
effectofmoistureontheprocessingandmechanicalpropertiesofabiodegradablepolyester
used for injection molding. The mechanical properties of sheep wool fibers under the
impactofhumidairandUVirradiationhavebeenanalyzedin[23].
Theadditionofdifferentfillerscaneffectivelyimprovetheperformanceofbiopolymers
byallowingthefunctionalpropertiesanddegradationratetobecontrolled[22]. Therehave
beenvariousattemptstoimprovethetensile,flexural,hardness,andimpactstrengthof
bioplasticsbyincorporatingreinforcementmaterials,suchasinorganicandlignocellulosic
fibers [24]. PLA/boehmite composites were prepared using a twin-screw extruder by
investigating the effects of the modification of polylactide using dicumyl peroxide as
acrosslinkerandJoncryl(apatented,multifunctional,reactivepolymerwithimproved
thermalstability/chainextendersforspecificfood-contactapplications)asachainextender
onaboehmitedistribution[19]. Hernandezetal. investigatedtheeffectsofmicrospheres,
carbonfibers,orpolyethyleneglycoladdedtopolyhydroxybutyrate(PHB)resinonthe
thermalandmechanicalpropertiesofthefinalcompounds[21]. Apolymerfilmbasedon
poly(lacticacid)(PLA)asamatrixandpolyaniline(PAni)asaconductivefillerwasprepared
byWongetal.[10], toobtainantistaticproperties. Polyanilinewaschosenduetotoits
goodbiocompatibilityandconductivityandexcellentperformanceincombinationwith
aPLAmatrix. Thecrazingtechniquehasbeenappliedtoenhancethepolymer-degrading
activityofenzymes.
2
Polymers2022,14,4832
For specific applications, it is important to prevent alterations upon contact with
biologicalfluids,reactionswiththehumanbody,andthereleaseofharmfulspecies(bio-
compatibility). Zirconiumoxidenanoparticles(ZrO NPs)havebeenrecognizedfortheir
2
highbiocompatibilityandresistancetowearandcorrosion.El-Tamimietal.[8]investigated
theeffectsofaddingsalinizednanoZrO particlesonthemicrostructure,hardness,and
2
wearresistanceofacrylicdentureteeth.
Sustainablecompoundscanalsobeobtainedfromnaturallignocellulosicfibers[14,17,18,25]
orplantresidues[15,26].Birch(BetulapendulaRoth.)andbeech(FagussylvaticaL.)solidwood
andplywoodwereovermoldedwithpolyamide6andpolypropylene(PP)toinvestigate
themechanicalpropertiesandinterfacialadhesionin[14]. Woodflourandwoodpellets
manufacturedfromsecondaryprocessingmillresidues,originatingfromwhitecedar,white
pine,spruce-firandredmaple,wereaddedtopolypropylene,inthepresenceandabsence
of the coupling agent maleic, to evaluate the tensile, impact, and flexural strength [25].
Woodflour,suppliedfromawood-processingfactory,wasaddedtorecycledpolyethylene
thatwasmadebyregeneratingfilmsfromgreenhousecovers,toinvestigatetherheological
responsesofthefinalmaterials[18]. Additionally,3D-printedobjectshavebeenprepared
bydepositingaPLA-fusedfilamentontojutefabricsandmainlycharacterizedinterms
oftheirtensileandflame-retardancyproperties[17]. Pandanusamaryllifolius(amember
ofthePandanaceaefamily,abundantinsouth-eastAsiancountries)fiberswereextracted
via a water-retting-extraction process and investigated as a potential fiber reinforcer in
apolymercomposite[26].
However,themainchallengeinthefulldevelopmentofthesebio-basedcompounds,as
replacementsfortraditional-plastic-basedformulations,isthelackofgoodmechanicalchar-
acteristics,resultingfrompoorinterfacialadhesionbetweenthefillerandmatrix[13,27,28]
orweakmiscibilitybetweenthetwophasesinblendpreparations[29]. Differentstrategies
shouldbestudiedinordertoadaptthesesystemstoourneedsandimprovetheirefficiency.
AnalkalineandbenzoylchloridetreatmentofsugarpalmfiberswasproposedbySherwani
etal.[13]. Thecombinationoftreatedsugarpalmfiber/glassfiberreinforcedPLAhybrid
compositesresultedingoodphysicalandmechanicalproperties,especiallyafterthefiber
pretreatment. Thiscompositewasdesignedtoreplaceacrylonitrilebutadienestyrene(ABS)
plastic in motorcycle batteries [13]. A new modifying agent based on polyacrylic-acid-
grafted organosolv lignin was synthesized via free-radical copolymerization and used
incombinationwithchitosanfiberinpolylactideacidinthestudybyTanjungetal.[27].
Urea-treatedhalloysitenanotubeshavebeenutilizedtoreinforceepoxidizednaturalrubber
andtoimprovetheoverallpropertiesofcomposites[28]. Additivesbasedonvegetableoil
(sunflower,rapeseed,andcastoroil)havebeensynthesizedandintroducedinPLA/starch
blendstoimprovetheirmiscibility[29].
Funding:Thisresearchreceivednoexternalfunding.
Acknowledgments:A.PattiandD.AciernowishtosincerelythankallparticipantstothisSpecial
Issue,authors,reviewers,andmembersoftheEditorialOffice.
ConflictsofInterest:Theauthorsdeclarenoconflictofinterest.
References
1. Patti,A.;Acierno,D.TowardstheSustainabilityofthePlasticIndustrythroughBiopolymers:PropertiesandPotentialApplications
totheTextilesWorld.Polymers2022,14,692.[CrossRef][PubMed]
2. Phojaroen,J.;Jiradechakorn,T.;Kirdponpattara,S.;Sriariyanun,M.;Junthip,J.;Chuetor,S.PerformanceEvaluationofCombined
Hydrothermal-Mechanical Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Enzymatic Enhancement. Polymers 2022, 14, 2313.
[CrossRef][PubMed]
3. Basri,M.S.M.;Shah,N.N.A.K.;Sulaiman,A.;Tawakkal,I.S.M.A.;Nor,M.Z.M.;Ariffin,S.H.;Ghani,N.H.A.;Salleh,F.S.M.Progress
intheValorizationofFruitandVegetableWastes:ActivePackaging,Biocomposites,By-Products,andInnovativeTechnologies
UsedforBioactiveCompoundExtraction.Polymers2021,13,3503.[CrossRef][PubMed]
4. Makarova,A.O.;Derkach,S.R.;Kadyirov,A.I.;Ziganshina,S.A.;Kazantseva,M.A.;Zueva,O.S.;Gubaidullin,A.T.;Zuev,Y.F.
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3