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Description
I am a chemist specialized in the production of multifunctional food packaging materials from plant biomass wastes. I have carried out a multidisciplinary research combining the fields of Food Technology,  Plant Sciences, and Chemical Technology for the fabrication of sustainable polymers and bioplastics for food packaging materials where conventional petroleum-based plastics are currently used. The goal has been to minimize the use of non-renewable natural resources and the accumulation of non-degradable and toxic wastes by production of antioxidant, antibacterial, robust, and sustainable food packaging materials from plant wastes and by-products in a "circular economy" approach. I have actively pursued the application of chemical procedures for the transformation of vegetable biomasses, and other primary organic wastes of the food industry, directly into biodegradable polymers employing environmentally friendly processing methods. This is a fruitful and emerging area that demands for new and economically viable approaches.

Description of research topics and list of relevant publications:
My main research topics is related to the fabrication of multinfunctional and sustainable food packaging materials from tomato wastes and by-products.

Relevant publications:

- Bio-Based Coatings for Food Metal Packaging Inspired in Biopolyester Plant Cutin. Benítez JJ, Osbild S, Guzman-Puyol S, Heredia A, Heredia-Guerrero JA. Polymers, 2020, 12(4):942

- Sustainable Fabrication of Plant Cuticle-Like Packaging Films from Tomato Pomace Agro-Waste, Beeswax, and Alginate. Tedeschi G, Benitez JJ, Ceseracciu L, Dastmalchi Ke, Itin Bf, Stark RE, Heredia Ahi, Athanassiou A, Heredia-Guerrero JA. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 2018, 6(11):14955.

- Cutin from agro-waste as a raw material for the production of bioplastics. Heredia-Guerrero JA, Heredia A, Domínguez E, Cingolani R, Bayer IS, Athanassiou A, Benítez JJ. Journal of Experimental Botany, 2017, 68: 5401-5410