Cited by 54biodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesPolymer crystallization and propertiesNatural Fiber Reinforced Composites

Influence of Addition of Organic Fillers on the Properties of Mechanically Recycled PLA

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Beltrán, Freddys R., Gaspar, Gerald, Dadras Chomachayi, Masoud, Jalali-Arani, Azam, Lozano-Pérez, Antonio A., Cenis, José L., de la Orden, María U., Pérez, Ernesto +1 more·2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is one of the most used biobased and biodegradable polymers. Due to their high stability, some of the newest grades of PLA are only degradable under severe industrial conditions. For these grades, mechanical recycling is a viable end-of-life option, with great environmental advantages. However, the polymer undergoes degradation during its service life and in the melt reprocessing, which leads to a decrease in properties that can compromise the recyclability of PLA. The goal of this work was to evaluate the usefulness of adding small amounts of two organic fillers, chitosan, and silk fibroin nanoparticles, during the recycling process for improving the properties of the recycled plastic. The degradation level of the aged polymer and the nature and amount of filler affect the performance of the recycled plastics. The fillers reduce the degradation during the melt reprocessing of PLA previously subjected to severe hydrolysis, thus increasing the intrinsic viscosity of the recycled plastic. A careful selection of the added organic filler lead to recycled plastics with improvements in some key mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. Thus, the use of organic fillers represents a cost-effective and environmentally sound way for improving the mechanical recycling of bioplastics.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s11356-020-08025-7

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  • Beltrán et al. (2021) reported that recycling 3D-printed PLA waste triggers an increase in crystallinity and a decrease in degradation time of the polymer due to shorter chains.

    “Beltrán et al. (2021) reported that recycling 3D-printed PLA waste triggers the increase in the crystallinity and a decrease in the degradation time of the polymer by the presence of shorter chains [15].”

    From Effect of Degradation During Multiple Primary Mechanical Recycling Processes on the Physical Properties and Biodegradation of Commercial PLA-Based Water Bottles (2025) · cites this paper as [15]

    Section 3.2.2 reports that recycled PLA crystallizes more easily and has lower thermal stability associated with shorter polymer chains. But the study used aged, compression-molded PLA films (Section 2.3), not 3D-printed waste; it reports lower decomposition temperatures, not a shorter degradation time, and does not establish an increase in overall crystallinity. The cited paper is also not a Beltrán et al. (2021) study. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Plastics used in food and beverage packaging usually contain additives that can affect polymer degradation and recyclability.

    “However, the plastics used in food and beverage packaging are not exclusively composed of polymers but usually contain a number of additives that can affect polymer degradation and recyclability.”

    From Effect of Degradation During Multiple Primary Mechanical Recycling Processes on the Physical Properties and Biodegradation of Commercial PLA-Based Water Bottles (2025) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Abstract and Conclusions report that adding organic fillers to PLA during mechanical recycling can affect degradation and the properties of the recycled plastic. The Introduction links PLA to food packaging, but the paper does not establish that food and beverage packaging plastics usually contain additives. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Authors
Beltrán, F. R., Gaspar, G., Dadras Chomachayi, M., Jalali-Arani, A., Lozano-Pérez, A. A., Cenis, J. L., de la Orden, M. U., Pérez, E., & Martínez Urreaga, J. M.
Affiliations
  • Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ES)
  • Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros (ES)
Venue
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Published
2020-02-10
Volume
28
Issue
19
Pages
24291-24304
ISSN
  • 0944-1344 (ISSN-L)
  • 1614-7499
OpenAlex
W3006664749
Cited by
54
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4
FWCI
1.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environmental Science and Pollution Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UPM Digital Archive (Technical University of Madrid) (submittedVersion)
  • Docta Complutense (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion)
  • Hispana (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTM2017-88989-P)
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM RP 160543006)
  • H2020 European Research Council (project 860407-BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE)
  • European Regional Development Fund ('Murcia' CCI Nº 2007ES161PO001 (Project No. 14-20/20).)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites
Keywords
polylactic acid, mechanical recycling, organic fillers, chitosan nanoparticles, silk fibroin nanoparticles, biodegradable plastics, intrinsic viscosity, mechanical properties, thermal properties, barrier properties, end-of-life plastics
MeSH terms
Plastics, Polyesters, Polymers, Viscosity, Recycling

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