Dear colleagues,

The rapid global economic growth has created a series of ecological, social, and technological challenges that are related to the gradual dispersion of natural resources as well as to the increasingly difficult access to drinking water. In the face of climate change and the forced development of modern technologies that facilitate environmental protection and maintain or improve the current standard of living, these challenges will become more and more important.

These issues can be addressed by considering the potential of functional polymeric and composite materials. These materials can offer unique properties, depending on their composition, morphology, and functionalities they contain. In particular, different functional groups can provide ion exchange, chelating, catalytic, sensing, as well as reducing and stabilizing features, also enabling the fabrication of nanocomposite materials. These properties, useful in separation science and catalysis, include the possibilities of recovering transition group metals for the manufacturing of modern devices, removing contaminants that prevent the direct use of water, and facilitating the separation or decomposition of toxic pollutants discharged into the environment by various sectors of the chemical industry. In this context, polymers and composites can be recognized as highly versatile and tunable materials.

We would like to invite scientists to contribute to this Special Issue focused on functional materials for environmental protection. Research topics of interest include, but are not limited to, recent advances in the synthesis and/or application of polymers and (nano)composites designed for separation and catalysis, with emphasis on issues related to environmental protection and sustainable development. Both original articles and reviews are very welcome. 

Dr. Piotr Cyganowski
Guest Editor

Please click to see Special Issue Flyer

Manuscript Submission Information can be found at:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers/special_issues/Funct_Compos_Environ_Protect