Development Of Biodegradable Plastics Research Articles

Bioinspired fabrication of transparent poly(vinyl alcohol)-based films with excellent strength, ultraviolet blocking performance, and water vapor barrier properties

The development of biodegradable plastics with advanced mechanical performance and multifunctionality using renewable materials is highly important for their industrial applications. In this work, a novel eco-friendly and high-performance film was constructed by incorporating lignin–Cu nanoparticles (LNP@Cu) to poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to mimic the granular nanostructure in mussel byssus cuticle. LNP@Cu with abundant o-quinone and o-phenol groups was prepared by the reduction of Cu(NO3)2 using alkaline lignin. The nanoparticles were found to have a spherical morphology with a diameter of approximately 500 nm and the LNP@Cu formed dense hydrogen bonds with the PVA matrix. The mechanical properties of the bioinspired films were dramatically improved and far superior to previously reported PVA films and the majority of engineering plastics. With 5 wt% of LNP@Cu loading, the films showed the optimal tensile strength of 106.9 MPa and toughness of 76.6 MJ m−3, which are 2.27 and 4.04 times as high as those of the neat PVA film, respectively. In addition, the fabricated PVA films exhibited excellent ultraviolet (UV)-shielding property and high transparency. Compared with the pristine PVA film, reinforced films showed decreased hydrophilicity and water vapor transmission rates. Overall, these excellent properties make the fabricated films a great potential for applications in packaging and UV shielding fields, giving inspirations for the design of robust green polymeric materials that meet industrial requirements.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANO CHITOSAN-AVOCADO SEED STARCH AS EDIBLE FILMS

The use of plastic as food packaging tends to cause problems because it is difficult to decompose; therefore, it can pollute the environment. The development of biodegradable plastics is an alternative to this problem. Chitosan, a bioplastic, can be used as a packaging material but has poor barrier properties. A biodegradable film was made from a mixture of plasticizer, nano chitosan, and avocado seed starch. Nanochitosan synthesis was carried out using the UAE method for 2 h at an amplitude of 50% to produce 0.7 µm sized particles. Films were formed using the casting method, and characterization was performed, which included functional group, thickness, color, and antioxidant tests. The FTIR spectrum showed that the interaction between nanochitosan and avocado seed starch occurred physically, marked by a shift in the wavenumber of the amide carbonyl group from 1646.60 cm-1 1549.99 cm-1. The film thickness was 0.10–0.15 cm with a darker color as the volume of nanochitosan used increased. Antioxidant analysis revealed that the LC50 value was between 150-250 ppm. The barrier properties of the resulting film against water vapor can inhibit strawberry fruit decay for 3–4 days at room temperature.

Valorization of Honduran Agro-Food Waste to Produce Bioplastics.

The development of biodegradable plastics and eco-friendly biomaterials derived from renewable resources is crucial for reducing environmental damage. Agro-industrial waste and rejected food can be polymerized into bioplastics, offering a sustainable solution. Bioplastics find use in various industries, including for food, cosmetics, and the biomedical sector. This research investigated the fabrication and characterization of bioplastics using three types of Honduran agro-wastes: taro, yucca, and banana. The agro-wastes were stabilized and characterized (physicochemically and thermically). Taro flour presented the highest protein content (around 4.7%) and banana flour showed the highest moisture content (around 2%). Furthermore, bioplastics were produced and characterized (mechanically and functionally). Banana bioplastics had the best mechanical properties, with a Young's modulus around 300 MPa, while taro bioplastics had the highest water-uptake capacity (200%). In general, the results showed the potential of these Honduran agro-wastes for producing bioplastics with different characteristics that could add value to these wastes, promoting the circular economy.

Property improvement of processed PLA/PBAT using chain extenders

The polymer blend of poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT), commercially named Ecovio, is a biodegradable plastic with a high level of strength and toughness. Despite the development of biodegradable plastics with improved characteristics and greater applicability, their cost remains prohibitively high preventing their widespread use. One approach to reducing production costs is recycling manufactured waste plastics. However, in this process, the properties of plastic are typically changed due to chain scissions during thermal reprocessing. Using an additive such as a chain extender is thought to reconnect cleaved polymer chains. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the influences of two chain extenders, multifunctional epoxide and multifunctional imide, on the mechanical properties and thermal properties as well as the melt flow rate of Ecovio. Materials were processed and blended using a twin-screw extruder and formed into film samples via the blow film extrusion process. The findings revealed that the addition of chain extenders resulted in a higher viscosity of Ecovio. In the thermal properties test, it was found that the use of chain extenders resulted in shifts in the glass transition, crystallization, melting temperature, and thermal stability of Ecovio. Finally, the result of mechanical properties test illustrated that Young’s modulus and tensile strength of thermal processed Ecovio were changed and improved by blending with virgin Ecovio and chain extenders.

Locust bean milling-derived dust as a raw material for the development of biodegradable bioplastics with antioxidant activity.

Non-value agrifood byproducts are rich in biomolecules such as proteins and polysaccharides, and possess film-forming ability, motivating their use in the development of biodegradable plastics. This work studied the feasibility of using locust bean milling-derived dust (LBMD) as a source of biomolecules suitable for developing biodegradable plastics. LBMD is composed of 56% protein, 28% carbohydrate, 10% moisture, 6% lipid, and 2% ash. In addition, phenolic compounds are also present. The carbohydrates are mainly composed by (1 → 4)-mannose, (1 → 4,6)-mannose, and t-galactose glycosidic linkages. Depending on the LBMD concentration used, when employed in casting biodegradable plastics, LBMD yields transparent yellowish bioplastics with 90% elongation at break and surface water contact angles ranging from 60° to 90°. Additionally, LBMD-based bioplastics display antioxidant activity, inhibiting cationic 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals up to 61% in just 24 h. LBMD-based bioplastics are disintegrated when incubated on the soil surface for 34 weeks, perhaps acting as a soil nutrient. LBMD represents a potential source of biomolecules for producing transparent, flexible, water tolerant, antioxidant, and biodegradable bioplastics, opening up opportunities to implement a novel circular strategy to valorize this locust bean industry byproduct. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

A strong, biodegradable and recyclable lignocellulosic bioplastic

Renewable and biodegradable materials derived from biomass are attractive candidates to replace non-biodegradable petrochemical plastics. However, the mechanical performance and wet stability of biomass are generally insufficient for practical applications. Herein, we report a facile in situ lignin regeneration strategy to synthesize a high-performance bioplastic from lignocellulosic resources (for example, wood). In this process, the porous matrix of natural wood is deconstructed to form a homogeneous cellulose–lignin slurry that features nanoscale entanglement and hydrogen bonding between the regenerated lignin and cellulose micro/nanofibrils. The resulting lignocellulosic bioplastic shows high mechanical strength, excellent water stability, ultraviolet-light resistance and improved thermal stability. Furthermore, the lignocellulosic bioplastic has a lower environmental impact as it can be easily recycled or safely biodegraded in the natural environment. This in situ lignin regeneration strategy involving only green and recyclable chemicals provides a promising route to producing strong, biodegradable and sustainable lignocellulosic bioplastic as a promising alternative to petrochemical plastics. There is growing interest in the development of biodegradable plastics from renewable resources. Here the authors report an in situ process involving only green chemicals to deconstruct natural wood, forming lignocellulosic bioplastics that are mechanically strong, stable against water and sustainable.

Preliminary evaluation of the properties and biodegradability of glycerol- and sorbitol-plasticized potato-based bioplastics

A huge amount of plastic wastes caused disastrous effects to the environment. Pertaining to the adverse effects imposed by these wastes, a significant progress is observed in the development of biodegradable plastics using natural raw materials such as starch from potato or corn to produce biodegradable plastic materials with similar functionalities to that of petroleum-based polymers. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of glycerol and sorbitol as plasticizing agents on the properties and biodegradability of potato-based bioplastic. Bioplastic films were produced by varying the type and concentration of plasticizers at the ratio of 15, 30 and 45 (wt%) using solution casting technique. The characterization results revealed that plasticized films were less fragile and more flexible compared to those of 0% plasticizer. Plasticized film with higher concentration of plasticizers demonstrated lower tensile strength with increased elongation at break value. Higher water vapour transmission was also observed for plasticized films as the concentration of plasticizers was increased, indicated higher water permeability but lower water absorption ability of the films. The addition of plasticizers effectively reduced the swelling and water retaining capacity of potato-based biodegradable plastic films. From the Fourier Transform Infrared spectra, similar absorption bands were obtained for both the pure potato starch powder and plasticized films, indicating no significant chemical interaction between the starch and plasticizers which could alter their respective functional groups. Insignificant biodegradation was observed using soil burial test for one week, but slight mass reduction and plastic swelling were observed at low plasticizer concentrations.

Food packaging development of bioplastic from basic waste of cassava peel (manihot uttilisima) and shrimp shell

Development of biodegradable plastics or bioplastics that can be degraded by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi is one approach to solving the problem of plastic waste. Bioplastic from waste starch and cassava peel shrimp shell waste as filler or reinforcement that has been generated in previous research. This research aims to develop bioplastic packaging into food for direct consumption and packaging. Stages of the study include the manufacture of bioplastics, food safety testing, manufacture and packaging of food products, organoleptic test, and the test period. Utilization of cassava and leather waste shrimp shells for bioplastic packaging is an added value in addressing environmental problems because it is recycled into products of high economic value and environmental.

Barrier and physical properties of arrowroot starch-carrageenan based biofilms

The demand of environmentally friendly packaging materials to overcome the high use of plastic led to increase of research effort on the development of biodegradable plastic from sustainable packaging. In this research, carrageenan films containing of arrowroot starch in the polymer blend were obtained using polyethylene glycol as plasticizer. The objective is to study the effect of different concentrations of arrowroot starch (20%, 40%, 60%, 80% of carrageenan based) on barrier property (water vapor transmission rate), mechanical properties (thickness, tensile strength and elongation at break), solubility in water and whiteness index of the obtained biofilm samples. The result shows that all of them have good transparency, with 60% of concentration gives the highest Whiteness Index. The concentration of arrowroot starch that shows the best resistance to tensile strength is 40%, as well as in thickness values. Concentration of 80% shows the lowest water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) permeability with 85.12 g/m2.24h, while the lowest water solubility is obtained from 60% concentration with 60.49% solubility. The recommended level of arrowroot starch to be incorporated in the process of arrowroot starch-carrageenan-based film is 60% of carrageenan.J. bio-sci. 25: 45-56, 2017

Mechanical Physicial Properties of Chlorella-PVA based Bioplastic with Ultrasonic Homogenizer

Public demand for environmentally friendly packaging material especially in food industry is increasing. One of the many solutions invented for this problem is the development of biodegradable plastic. Biopolymer can be mixed with synthetic polymer to produce biodegradable films with properties suitable for varying applications. This study examines the mechanical physical properties of Chlorellapolyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based bioplastic by pre-treating the Chlorella powder with ultrasonic homogenizer. Variation of Chlorella concentration and temperature was done during the ultrasonication. Before being used as bioplastic base, pre-treated Chlorella with different concentrations were equated. Bioplastic films were then prepared with the pre-treated Chlorella powder and PVA using solvent casting method. Mechanical physical properties of the pre-treated Chlorella films then compared with non pretreated Chlorella film as control. Mechanical test shows the increasing of bioplastic tensile strength up to 15,3 kgf/cm2 and elongation percentage up to 99,63%. Field emission scanning electron microscopy test shows the increasing of bioplastic homogenity and smoother surface with less pores. Fourier transform infrared analysis shows that there are crosslinkages between Chlorella and PVA. Thermal analysis by thermogravimetric analysis shows ultrasonication creates a more compact linkages. The performance of the film could suggest its potential as an eco-sustainable food packaging plastic material.

ChemInform Abstract: Controlled Biodegradation of Polymers Using Nanoparticles and Its Application

AbstractReview: [215 refs.

Biodegradable and compostable alternatives to conventional plastics

Packaging waste forms a significant part of municipal solid waste and has caused increasing environmental concerns, resulting in a strengthening of various regulations aimed at reducing the amounts generated. Among other materials, a wide range of oil-based polymers is currently used in packaging applications. These are virtually all non-biodegradable, and some are difficult to recycle or reuse due to being complex composites having varying levels of contamination. Recently, significant progress has been made in the development of biodegradable plastics, largely from renewable natural resources, to produce biodegradable materials with similar functionality to that of oil-based polymers. The expansion in these bio-based materials has several potential benefits for greenhouse gas balances and other environmental impacts over whole life cycles and in the use of renewable, rather than finite resources. It is intended that use of biodegradable materials will contribute to sustainability and reduction in the environmental impact associated with disposal of oil-based polymers. The diversity of biodegradable materials and their varying properties makes it difficult to make simple, generic assessments such as biodegradable products are all 'good' or petrochemical-based products are all 'bad'. This paper discusses the potential impacts of biodegradable packaging materials and their waste management, particularly via composting. It presents the key issues that inform judgements of the benefits these materials have in relation to conventional, petrochemical-based counterparts. Specific examples are given from new research on biodegradability in simulated 'home' composting systems. It is the view of the authors that biodegradable packaging materials are most suitable for single-use disposable applications where the post-consumer waste can be locally composted.

Biodegradable plastics from renewable sources.

Plastic waste disposal is a huge ecotechnological problem and one of the approaches to solving this problem is the development of biodegradable plastics. This review summarizes data on their use, biodegradability, commercial reliability and production from renewable resources. Some commercially successful biodegradable plastics are based on chemical synthesis (i.e. polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, and polyvinyl alcohol). Others are products of microbial fermentations (i.e. polyesters and neutral polysaccharides) or are prepared from chemically modified natural products (e.g., starch, cellulose, chitin or soy protein).

Pollution Prevention

The role of engineers in the design of environmentally compatible products and industrial plants is discussed. Research is needed in the fields of waste reduction, development of biodegradable plastics, and in the reduction of particulate emissions by modification of particle size of pulverized coal. It is recommended that pollution control concepts be included in the normal engineering curricula of the separate disciplines and that selection and design of manufacturing processes and products include environmental constraints right from the start.