Biopolymers Synthesis, Properties, and Emerging Applications

Biopolymers: Synthesis, Properties, and Emerging Applications presents the state-of-the-art in biopolymers, bringing together detailed information on synthesis strategies, processing and cutting-edge applications. The book begins by introducing the synthesis, processing and structural and functional properties of smart biopolymers and bionanocomposites. Subsequent chapters focus on the synthesis and preparation of biopolymers with valuable properties or for specific advanced applications, including piezoelectric properties, shape memory properties, biodegradable polymer blends, synthesis and assembly of nanomaterials, synthesis of green biopolymers, and catalytic synthesis of bio-sourced polyesters and polycarbonate, as well as applications in active food packaging, water purification, biomedicine, 3D printing, and automotive.

Throughout the book, there are analyses of different synthesis strategies and processing methods and their role and use in different fields of application, whilst the important challenges relating to scalable processing and shaping and micro and nano structuration are also discussed. The book also strives to balance the synthetic aspects of biopolymers with physical principles, highlighting biopolymer-based architectures including composite or hybrid conjugates, providing in-depth discussion of important examples of reaction mechanisms, and exploring potential applications of biopolymer and conjugates, ranging from physical to chemical and biological systems.

Valentina Sessini is currently GET co-funded Marie-Curie Fellow at the University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain. She received her PhD in Civil Engineering and Innovative Materials from the University of Perugia, Italy, in May 2017, and completed a postdoctoral stay at the University of Mons for 15 months, contracted in the framework of the INTERREG BIOHARV project. Dr. Sessini has published 14 peer-reviewed JRC scientific publications (9 as first author) in international JCR journal of high impact factor and 6 book chapters, has participated in 5 research projects, and her work has been presented at more than 24 national and international congresses. She has a broad experience in the development of bio-based, biocompatible, biodegradable and smart polymeric materials and nanocomposites, melt processing of plastics (extrusion, injection, compression, etc.), and reactive extrusion. In recent years, her work has focused on the sustainable synthesis of biobased polymers with piezoelectric properties for energy harvesting applications.
Srabanti Ghosh received her PhD from UGC-DAE CSR, Kolkata centre and Jadavpur University, India followed by a position as research associate at the Indian association for the Cultivation of Science, India. After a research stay at the Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, University of Paris-Sud, France, she was appointed as Visiting Assistant Professor at the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, India. She worked as CSIR-SRA Scientist’s Pool Scheme at CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, India. Her research interests encompass synthesis and applications of semiconductor and conducting polymer-based hybrid nanomaterials for solar light harvesting, photocatalysis, fuel cell and electrocatalysis. She received MRSI Young Scientists Award in Young Scientists Colloquium organized by Material Research Society of India, and Young Investigator Award in Gordon Radiation Chemistry, USA. She is selected as top 10% of highly cited aut