Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Supramolecular IonicPolymerization: Cellulose-BasedSupramolecular Plastics with Broadly Tunable Mechanical Properties

Researchers developed a cellulose-based sustainable plastic using supramolecular ionic polymerization, finding that adding choline chloride overcame the material's inherent brittleness and produced broadly tunable mechanical properties as a potential petroleum-plastic replacement.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Supramolecular IonicPolymerization: Cellulose-BasedSupramolecular Plastics with Broadly Tunable Mechanical Properties

Researchers developed a cellulose-based supramolecular plastic synthesized from carboxymethyl cellulose and a polyguanidinium ion, demonstrating that tunable mechanical properties—including toughness—could be achieved by adding choline chloride as a plasticizer.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Supramolecular Ionic Polymerization: Cellulose-Based Supramolecular Plastics with Broadly Tunable Mechanical Properties

Researchers developed a cellulose-based supramolecular plastic by combining carboxymethyl cellulose with a hyperbranched polyguanidinium ion through ionic bonding. The resulting material demonstrated broadly tunable mechanical properties including high strength and stretchability comparable to conventional petroleum-based plastics. The study presents a promising approach for creating sustainable, biodegradable plastic alternatives from renewable biomass resources that could help reduce microplastic pollution.

2025 Journal of the American Chemical Society 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose processing in ionic liquids from a materials science perspective: turning a versatile biopolymer into the cornerstone of our sustainable future

This review covers two decades of research on processing cellulose using ionic liquids to create functional materials. The study provides guidance from a materials science perspective on turning this versatile biopolymer into sustainable material solutions.

2023 Green Chemistry 123 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of cellulose films by means of the Ioncell® technology, as an alternative to commercial films

Researchers developed thin, transparent cellulose films using an eco-friendly ionic liquid-based process called Ioncell technology, producing films with mechanical strength exceeding commercial cellophane — without harmful chemicals. These plant-based films offer a sustainable, biodegradable alternative to plastic packaging films, directly addressing microplastic pollution from conventional plastic wrap.

2023 Cellulose 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing PolyelectrolyteStrength of Biopolymersfor Fully Recyclable and Biodegradable Plastics

Researchers developed a fully recyclable and biodegradable plastic material created through solid polyelectrolyte complexation of naturally occurring biopolymers, enhancing their polyelectrolyte strength to achieve mechanical properties competitive with conventional single-use packaging plastics. The study demonstrated that this approach addresses both the microplastic pollution problem and fossil fuel dependence while enabling end-of-life recyclability.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Silicon-infused bacterial cellulose: in situ bioprocessing for tailored strength and surface characteristics

Not relevant to microplastics — this is a materials science study on producing silicon-modified bacterial cellulose for applications requiring tailored surface characteristics and tensile strength.

2024 Cellulose 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanocellulose Hybrid Lignin Complex Reinforces Cellulose to Form a Strong, Water-Stable Lignin–Cellulose Composite Usable as a Plastic Replacement

This study developed a strong, water-stable composite material made from cellulose and lignin extracted from agricultural waste (sugarcane bagasse), as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. The lignin-cellulose composite showed dramatically improved wet strength compared to regular cellulose sheets, demonstrating potential as a biodegradable plastic replacement that would not generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 Nanomaterials 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Dual‐Network Cellulosic Composite Bioplastic Metafilm for Plastic Substitute

Researchers created a new type of cellulose-based bioplastic film using a dual-network design strategy that overcomes common weaknesses of plant-based materials like brittleness and water sensitivity. The resulting material showed exceptional mechanical toughness and resistance to fire and moisture, making it competitive with conventional petroleum-based plastics. The study presents a promising biodegradable alternative that could help reduce plastic pollution.

2023 Angewandte Chemie International Edition 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Revivable self-assembled supramolecular biomass fibrous framework for efficient microplastic removal

Scientists developed a sustainable material made from chitin and cellulose, two natural compounds, that can efficiently remove multiple types of microplastics from water. The material can be regenerated and reused multiple times without losing effectiveness, making it a practical tool for water cleanup. This type of affordable, eco-friendly filtration technology could help reduce human exposure to microplastics in drinking water.

2024 Science Advances 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Microcrystalline cellulose grafted hyperbranched polyester with roll comb structure for synergistic toughening and strengthening of PHBV/ bio-based polyester elastomer composites

Researchers developed fully bio-based composite materials by combining a biodegradable polyester with cellulose-grafted polymer structures, significantly improving the toughness of otherwise brittle bioplastics. Stronger bioplastics could replace conventional plastics in more applications, reducing long-term microplastic generation from plastic products.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Cellulosic Functional Bioplastic with Tunable Strength and Toughness Through Heat‐Treatment of Dynamic Covalent Networks

Researchers created a high-performance biodegradable film from cellulose and lignin using reversible chemical bonds that can be tuned through heat treatment. The material achieves impressive mechanical properties with tensile strength up to 52 MPa and elongation up to 545%, along with UV shielding and oxygen barrier capabilities. The study presents a scalable approach for producing recyclable bioplastics that could serve as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.

2025 Advanced Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Reversible acetalization of cellulose: A platform for bio-based materials with adjustable properties and biodegradation

Researchers developed a reversible chemical modification of cellulose using acetal linkages that allows the biopolymer to be processed like conventional plastics while retaining full biodegradability, offering a promising alternative to cellulose acetate used in products like cigarette filters.

2022 Chemical Engineering Journal 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Force-Induced Alignment of Nanofibrillated Bacterial Cellulose for the Enhancement of Cellulose Composite Macrofibers

This paper is not about microplastics; it describes a method for making strong biodegradable fibers from bacterial cellulose using ionic liquid spinning as a potential replacement for petroleum-based plastics in textiles.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing Polyelectrolyte Strength of Biopolymers for Fully Recyclable and Biodegradable Plastics

This study developed a biodegradable and fully recyclable plastic material by forming solid polyelectrolyte complexes from naturally occurring charged polymers, achieving stiffness comparable to conventional plastics while enabling composting or dissolution-based recycling — with no microplastic residue.

2025 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Renewable cellulosic nanocomposites for food packaging to avoid fossil fuel plastic pollution: a review

Researchers reviewed how cellulose nanoparticles extracted from plant biomass can replace petroleum-based plastics in food packaging, finding that adding just 1–5% cellulose nanoparticles significantly improves strength, reduces oxygen and water vapor permeability, and keeps packaging biodegradable. The review positions cellulose nanocomposites as a scalable, eco-friendly alternative to fossil-fuel plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution.

2020 Environmental Chemistry Letters 222 citations
Review Tier 2

A Review on the Modification of Cellulose and Its Applications

This review summarizes recent advances in cellulose modification techniques and applications, including its use as a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers. The study discusses how modified cellulose materials could help address plastic pollution by providing biodegradable substitutes for conventional plastic products.

2022 Polymers 417 citations
Article Tier 2

Superbase-based protic ionic liquids for cellulose filament spinning

Researchers investigated superbase-based protic ionic liquids as direct solvents for cellulose filament spinning as a more sustainable alternative to the NMMO-based lyocell process. The study compared the solvent performance and resulting fibre mechanical properties, contributing to development of eco-friendly cellulose textile production that reduces synthetic fibre and microplastic generation.

2020 Cellulose 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Controlling the rheology of cellulose dissolved in 4–methylmorpholine N–oxide and tensile properties of precipitated cellulose films via mixture design

This paper is not directly about microplastics; it investigates how blending cellulose pulps of different molecular weights affects the viscosity and mechanical properties of regenerated cellulose films, with applications in fiber and film manufacturing. While regenerated cellulose fibers have been discussed in the microplastics literature, this study focuses on industrial processing rather than environmental pollution.

2024 Cellulose 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Complexes of cellulose model particles with polycations: composition, properties and cytotoxicity

Researchers used cellulose particles of 200–250 nm as a model for biodegradable microplastics, characterizing their stability in water-salt media and interaction with polycations to establish a reference system for studying the environmental fate of biodegradable plastic alternatives.

2025 Carbohydrate Research
Article Tier 2

Tuning the Properties of Xylan/Chitosan-Based Films by Temperature and Citric Acid Crosslinking Agent

This paper is not about microplastics in an environmental or health context; it describes the development of xylan-chitosan bioplastic films crosslinked with citric acid as a petroleum-free alternative packaging material, focused on material properties rather than pollution or exposure.

2024 Polymers 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of the Addition of Fique Bagasse Cellulose Nanoparticles on the Mechanical and Structural Properties of Plastic Flexible Films from Cassava Starch

This paper is not about microplastics — it develops biodegradable flexible films from cassava starch reinforced with cellulose nanoparticles derived from fique plant waste, focusing on sustainable packaging material properties.

2023 Polymers 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of different natural plasticizers on Ethyl Cellulose Oleogel bioplastic

Researchers investigated the effect of various natural plasticizers on the mechanical and physical properties of ethyl cellulose oleogel bioplastics, aiming to improve plasticity and processability as a biodegradable, biocompatible alternative to fossil-based packaging plastics.

2025
Article Tier 2

Upcycling Waste PET into Functional Multiblock Copolymers through Controlled Macromolecular Design

Scientists found a new way to recycle plastic water bottles (PET) by breaking them down and rebuilding them into stronger, more flexible materials that could replace regular plastics in many products. This recycling method creates materials that are just as strong as original plastic but stretch much better without breaking, making them more useful and durable. This breakthrough could help reduce plastic waste while creating better materials, though more research is needed to understand any health effects of these recycled plastics.

2026