Natural Compounds as Sustainable Additives for Biopolymers

In the last few decades, the interest towards natural compounds, coming from a natural source and biodegradable, for biopolymers is always increasing because of a public request for the formulation of safe, eco-friendly, and sustainable materials. The main classes of natural compounds for biopolymer...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nadka Tzankova Dintcheva, Giulia Infurna, Marilena Baiamonte, Francesca D’Anna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/4/732
Description
Summary:In the last few decades, the interest towards natural compounds, coming from a natural source and biodegradable, for biopolymers is always increasing because of a public request for the formulation of safe, eco-friendly, and sustainable materials. The main classes of natural compounds for biopolymers are: <b><i>(</i></b><b><i>i</i></b><b><i>) naturally </i></b><b><i>occurring fillers</i></b><b><i> (</i></b><b><i>nFil</i></b><b><i>)</i></b><i>,</i> such as nano-/micro- sized layered alumino-silicate: halloysite, bentonite, montmorillonite, hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, etc.; <b><i>(i</i></b><b><i>i) naturally occurring fibers (</i></b><b><i>nFib</i></b><b><i>)</i></b>, such as wood and vegetable fibers; <b><i>(iii) natural</i></b><b><i>ly occu</i></b><b><i>r</i></b><b><i>ring</i></b><b><i> antioxidant molecules (</i></b><b><i>nAO</i></b><b><i>)</i></b><i>,</i> such as phenols, polyphenols, vitamins, and carotenoids. However, in this short review, the advantages and drawbacks, considering naturally occurring compounds as safe, eco-friendly, and sustainable additives for biopolymers, have been focused and discussed briefly, even taking into account the requests and needs of different application fields.
ISSN:2073-4360