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This research was funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 through PID-AEI Project (grant PID2021-123753NA-C33 and PID2020-116496RB-C22), TED-AEI Project (grants TED2021-129920A-C43), and, as appropriate, by "ERDF: A way of making Europe", by the "European Union", or by the "European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR".

Analysis of institutional authors

De La Rosa-Ramirez, HarrisonAuthorLopez-Martinez, JuanAuthorSamper, Maria DoloresAuthor

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Article

Preparation and Characterization of New Bioplastics Based on Polybutylene Succinate (PBS)

Publicated to:Polymers. 15 (5): 1212- - 2023-03-01 15(5), DOI: 10.3390/polym15051212

Authors: Barrino, Federico; de la Rosa-ramirez, Harrison; Schiraldi, Chiara; Lopez-Martinez, Juan; Samper, Maria Dolores

Affiliations

Polytech Univ Valencia UPV, Inst Mat Technol ITM, Alicante 46022, Spain - Author
Univ Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Dept Expt Med, Via L Crecchio 7, I-80138 Naples, Italy - Author

Abstract

Sea and environmental pollution due to microplastics are global problems that in recent years have attracted particular interest in the scientific community. The increase in the world population and the consequent consumerism of non-reusable materials are amplifying these problems. In this manuscript, we present novel bioplastics, which are completely biodegradable, for their potential use in food packaging, to replace fossil-fuel-derived plastic films and slow food degradation due to oxidative processes or microbial contamination. In this study, thin films based on polybutylene succinate (PBS) were prepared to reduce pollution, and different percentages by weight (1, 2 and 3 wt%) of extra virgin olive oil (EVO) and coconut oil (CO) were included to improve the chemico-physical properties of the polymer and possibly improve the functionality of the films in terms of prolonged food preservation. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR/FTIR) spectroscopy was used to evaluate the interactions between the polymer and the oil. Furthermore, the mechanical properties and thermal behavior of the films were evaluated as a function of the oil content. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph showed the surface morphology and the thickness of the materials. Finally, apple and kiwi were selected for a food-contact test, and the wrapped sliced fruit was monitored and evaluated for 12 days to macroscopically evaluate the oxidative process and/or eventually occurring contamination. The films were shown to reduce the browning of sliced fruit due to oxidation, and no molds were evidenced up to 10/12 days of observation with the addition of PBS, with 3 wt% of EVO achieving the best outcomes.

Keywords

Bio-plasticsBiodegradable polymersBioplasticBioplastic filmCoconut oilExtra virgin oilExtra-virgin olive oilFilm preparationFoodFood packagingFossil fuelsFourier transform infrared spectroscopyFruitsFt-iFt-irLinseed oilMorphologyOlive oilOxidative processPlPlastic filmsPlasticizersPolybutylene succinatePolymer filmsScanning electron microscopySurface morphologyThin filmsVirgin oil

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Polymers due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 19/95, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Polymer Science.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 4.11. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 4.8 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 11.56 (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-22, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 28
  • Scopus: 36
  • Europe PMC: 5
  • OpenCitations: 35

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-22:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 121 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

    It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

    • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

    Leadership analysis of institutional authors

    This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Italy.

    There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (Samper Madrigal, María Dolores).