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Analysis of institutional authors

Sepulveda-Carter, JavieraCorresponding AuthorFaba, SimónAuthorArrieta, Marina PCorresponding Author

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October 7, 2025
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Reprocessing of Simulated Industrial PLA Waste for Food Contact Applications

Publicated to: Polymers. 17 (18): 2439- - 2025-09-09 17(18), DOI: 10.3390/polym17182439

Authors:

Sepúlveda-Carter, J; Faba, S; Rodriguez, MS; Arrieta, MP
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Affiliations

ECOEMBALAJES Espana, Circular Lab, C Cardenal Marcelo Spinola 14, Madrid 28016, Spain - Author
Grp Invest Polimeros Caracterizac & Aplicac POLCA, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Dept Ingn Quim Ind & Medio Ambiente, ETS Ingn Ind, C Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
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Abstract

This study explores reusing discarded industrial polylactic acid (PLA), such as defective parts, scraps and burrs, for food contact applications. Reprocessing of PLA (PLA-RP) was simulated via melt extrusion, and the obtained pellets were characterized in terms of viscosity average molecular weight (Mv), melt flow index (MFI), the presence of non-intentionally added substances (NIASs) and the absence of metals to ensure that no substances exceeded the specific migration limits (SMLs). A slight reduction in the Mv, accompanied by an increase in the MFI, was observed in PLA-RP. In virgin PLA, fewer compounds were detected, likely related to residual additives. A higher variety and concentration of volatile and non-listed compounds were observed in reprocessed PLA (PLA-RP), with three exceeding their assigned Cramer class thresholds, requiring further evaluation. Most identified substances were typically linked to thermal degradation or potential additives for reprocessing. In both the virgin and reprocessed materials, all substances with SMLs remained below applicable thresholds, including trace metals. The PLA-RP was further processed into films by means of a compression moulding process. The structure, mechanical behaviour, thermal stability and water vapor transmission rate were comparable to those of virgin PLA, indicating no significant changes. The overall migration level tested in a fatty food simulant remained below regulatory limits. The materials fully disintegrated under laboratory-scale composting conditions in less than 3 weeks. Thus, reprocessed PLA shows great potential as a non-migrating material of interest in the sustainable food packaging field.
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Keywords

Acid) compositesAdditivesBarrier propertiesCelluloseCompostingDefective partsDegradationElectric contactsFood contactFood contact materialFood contact materials (fcms)Melt spinningMelt-flow indexMetal extrusionMigrationNon-intentionally added substanceNon-intentionally added substances (niass)Nuclear fuel reprocessingPackaging materialsPetPolyethylene terephthalatePolylactidePolymersReprocessed plaReprocessed polylactic acidScrap metal reprocessingSpecific migrationSustainable packagingVolatile organic-compounds

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, 2025, it was in position 19/94, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Polymer Science.

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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 2026-04-24:

  • 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: 17 (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.
    • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/95290/

    As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

    • Views: 13
    • Downloads: 4
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    Leadership analysis of institutional authors

    There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (SEPULVEDA CARTER, JAVIERA ANDREA) and Last Author (ARRIETA DILLON, MARINA PATRICIA).

    the authors responsible for correspondence tasks have been SEPULVEDA CARTER, JAVIERA ANDREA and ARRIETA DILLON, MARINA PATRICIA.

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    Awards linked to the item

    This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) through PID-AEI project (PID2021-123753NA-C32), grant number MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, as well as by ERDF "A way of making Europe" in conjunction with the "European Union", TED-AEI project (TED2021-129920A-C43) and research consolidation project (CNS2022-136064), grant number MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, in association with the "European Union NextGeneration EU/PRTR". J. Sepulveda acknowledges the "SDGine for Healthy People and Cities" project from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 945139 and co-financed by ECOEMBALAJES ESPANA, S.A. (Ecoembes). S. Faba acknowledges the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (ANID, Chile) for their financial support (Postdoctoral Fellowship abroad, grant number 74230053).
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