Production Of Biodegradable Materials Research Articles

Mechanical Performance of Salvadora Persical (Miswak) Reinforced Polylactic Acid Matrix Composites for Three Dimensional Printing

This study examines the mechanical performance of polylactic acid (PLA) matrix composites reinforced with Salvadora Persica (Miswak). With the increasing use of environmentally friendly materials, researchers are focusing on the production of biodegradable materials. However, incompatibility between PLA and filler materials used in PLA composites causes mechanical problems during production. This study deals with the production and characterization of PLA composites containing lignocellulosic and inorganic fillers using maleic anhydride grafted polylactic acid (PLA/g/MA) as a matrix. The aim of the research is to examine the mechanical specifications of Miswak powder reinforced PLA composites and to evaluate their suitability for practical applications. PLA was used as the matrix material and PLA/g/MA was used as the compatibilizer. Composites containing Miswak powder at different weight concentrations (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) were characterized using scanning electron microscopy along with tensile and bending tests. The obtained results showed that different Miswak concentrations affect the mechanical specifications of the composites. Composites at 5% concentration demonstrated excellent interlayer adhesion and high mechanical strength, demonstrating favorable mechanical specifications. The findings show that Miswak powder is a potential filling material to improve the mechanical specifications of PLA composites and provide antimicrobial benefits. The results of this study shed light on the mechanical performance of Miswak reinforced PLA matrix composites, which are promising for 3D printing applications. In addition, it is stated that the materials used, such as natural filling materials, contribute to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials by reducing the environmental impact.

Danimer Scientific and TotalEnergies Corbion announce EU-compliant compostable coffee pod biopolymer

On April 17, 2023, Danimer Scientific, Inc. (NYSE: DNMR) (“Danimer” or the “Company”) and TotalEnergies Corbion, both bioplastics companies focused on the development and production of biodegradable materials, announced that they have developed a new compostable coffee pod biopolymer that is in compliance with proposed EU packaging regulations.

Development of a technology for processing waste plastic bottles and bags to obtain various types of biodegradable polymer films

Currently, one of the most important problems in the world is waste bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate, the number of which is currently growing every hour, polluting the environment. One of the ways to protect the environment from polyethylene terephthalate waste is the invention of biodegradable polymer materials from PET waste. Currently, several methods for processing polyethylene terephthalate waste have been proposed, but the work on the production of biodegradable materials has not been fully solved. Currently, various technologies for recycling plastic bottles and bags are being developed. The most promising technology in this direction is chemical processing, which is based on obtaining the final product in the form of a monomer or oligomer, which can be used as a new raw material for the synthesis of polymers. In this work, these polyethylene terephthalate wastes were chemically degraded with ethylene glycol solvent in the presence of zinc acetate catalyst and bis-hydroxy ethylene terephthalate was obtained. This work aims to obtain bis-2-hydroxyethyl terephthalate (BHET) by glycolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste for the synthesis of various types of biodegradable polymer films. Biodegradable films based on polyvinyl alcohol and BHET have been synthesized. Water-soluble copolymers based on BHET and PVA were obtained by grafted copolymerization. (PVA) polyvinyl alcohol (5; 15; 25 wt. %) was dissolved in distilled water at 75-80°C until complete dissolution, ammonium persulfate, used as an initiator, was added to the initial mixture and biodegradable films based on PVA and BHET were obtained for the first time. It has also been proved that the resulting biodegradable films are formed by hydrogen bonds using IR spectroscopy.

Recent Advances in Synthesis and Degradation of Lignin and Lignin Nanoparticles and Their Emerging Applications in Nanotechnology.

Lignin is an important commercially produced polymeric material. It is used extensively in both industrial and agricultural activities. Recently, it has drawn much attention from the scientific community. It is abundantly present in nature and has significant application in the production of biodegradable materials. Its wide usage includes drug delivery, polymers and several forms of emerging lignin nanoparticles. The synthesis of lignin nanoparticles is carried out in a controlled manner. The traditional manufacturing techniques are costly and often toxic and hazardous to the environment. This review article highlights simple, safe, climate-friendly and ecological approaches to the synthesis of lignin nanoparticles. The changeable, complex structure and recalcitrant nature of lignin makes it challenging to degrade. Researchers have discovered a small number of microorganisms that have developed enzymatic and non-enzymatic metabolic pathways to use lignin as a carbon source. These microbes show promising potential for the biodegradation of lignin. The degradation pathways of these microbes are also described, which makes the study of biological synthesis much easier. However, surface modification of lignin nanoparticles is something that is yet to be explored. This review elucidates the recent advances in the biodegradation of lignin in the ecological system. It includes the current approaches, methods for modification, new applications and research for the synthesis of lignin and lignin nanoparticles. Additionally, the intricacy of lignin’s structure, along with its chemical nature, is well-described. This article will help increase the understanding of the utilization of lignin as an economical and alternative-resource material. It will also aid in the minimization of solid waste arising from lignin.

Evaluation on the Thermo-Oxidative Degradation of PET using Prodegradant Additives

Objectives: Transition metal stearates are example of potent pro-degradants reported to work at trace levels. They speed up the oxidative reaction leading to polymeric chain cleavage and reduction in molecular mass causing bio-assimilation of plastic waste. In this paper, attempt to analyze the effect of different loading amounts of cobalt stearate (CS) on the polymeric matrix of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been reported. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Formulated compounds were melt blended using an extruder and the extrudates were pelletized prior to molding into bone shaped specimens using an injection molding machine for characterization purpose. Findings: The effects on the incorporation of CS on the mechanical properties revealed that CS influences its tensile strength and elongation at break (%) at processing stage and studies based on Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and carbonyl index (CI) measurements indicate that blends’ consisting of 0.25CS contributes to thermal degradation of PET. Application/Improvements: The outcome of this study would assist in the production of biodegradable materials which could decompose in shorter time frame as well as reduces plastic waste in environment.

Processing recommendations for using low-solids digestate as nutrient solution for poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate production with Synechocystis salina

Within the last decades, environmental pollution with persistent plastics steadily increased; therefore the production of biodegradable materials like poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is essential. Currently, PHB is produced with heterotrophic bacteria from crops. This leads to competition with food and feed production, which can be avoided by using photoautotrophic cyanobacteria, as Synechocystis salina, synthesizing PHB from CO2 at nutrient limitation. This study aims to increase the economic efficiency of PHB production with cyanobacteria by using nutrients from anaerobic digestate. First, growth and PHB production of S. salina in digestate fractions (supernatant and permeate, with/without precipitating agents) and dilutions thereof and then the scale-up (photobioreactor, 200 L working volume) were evaluated. With precipitated and centrifuged digestate diluted 1/3 the highest biomass (1.55gL-1) and PHB concentrations (95.4mgL-1), being 78% of those in mineral media, were achieved. In the photobioreactor-experiments biomass (1.63gL-1) and PHB concentrations (88.7mgL-1), being 79% and 72% of those in mineral medium, were reached, but in a cultivation time 10days longer than in mineral medium. The possibility to use digestate as sustainable and low cost nutrient solution for microalgae cultivation and photoautotrophic PHB production, instead of applying it on fields or processing it to achieve discharge limits, makes this application a highly valid option.

Influence of Organophilic Ammonium‐Free Nanoclay Incorporation on Mechanical Properties and Biodegradability of Biodegradable Polyester

AbstractSummary: Disposal of petroleum‐derived polymers is a growing global environmental problem of alarming proportions, which has increased interest in the use and production of biodegradable materials. In addition to biodegradation, investment in research and development in the nanotechnology area is also significant. This study evaluated the effect of incorporation of an organophilic nanoclay ammonium‐free salt (Novaclay™) on the mechanical properties and biodegradation of a biodegradable polyester (Ecoflex®), according to ASTM G 160. Ecoflex with and without incorporated Novaclay was characterized before and after biodegradation in organically enriched soil for up to 180 days, by visual analysis, optical microscopy, weight loss, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, mechanical testing, and scanning electron microscopy. The pure Ecoflex and the Ecoflex/Novaclay nanocomposite were partially biodegraded by the method used, and showed changes in their morphological and mechanical properties.

Effect of Initial Sugar Concentration on the Production of L (+) Lactic Acid by Simultaneous Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation of an Agro-Industrial Waste Product of Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Using Lactobacillus casei Subspecies rhamnosus

Production of lactic acid by fermentation process has been studied from glucose solutions and other sources because of many important reasons: biotechnological production is cheaper than chemical synthesis; production of biodegradable materials from L (+) lactic acid and, the use of nutrient-rich agro-industrial wastes as raw material, which helps to reduce the environmental impact. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of sugar concentration of a pineapple liquid waste as the carbon source on the capacity of Lactobacillus casei subspecies rhamnosus to produce lactic acid by simultaneous enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Three different pineapple waste concentrations were evaluated (60, 80 and 100% v/v) from a pineapple juice with 11.3% (m/v) of sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose). L. casei was able to consume all sugars present within the levels tested, and converted all into lactic acid, showing efficient yields of 0.91 g lactic acid/g sugars. Final lactic acid concentration increased significantly (p<0.05) with the increase of pineapple waste percentage. Maximum lactic acid concentration (102g/L) was achieved with 100% pineapple waste medium. The highest total productivity (4.0g/h) and maximum productivity (4.48 g/L*h) were obtained with 60% pineapple waste medium and it decreased significantly (p<0.05) when 100% was used. Fermentation time increased with the increment of sugars, but it increased considerably with the medium composed of 100% of pineapple waste in comparison with the other two mediums. Pineapple waste represents a good alternative as a cheap carbon source for bacteria growth and production of L (+) lactic acid.

Biodegradable Soy-Based Plastics: Opportunities and Challenges

Today's plastics are designed with little consideration for their ultimate disposability or the effect of the resources (feedstocks) used in making them. This has resulted in mounting worldwide concerns over the environmental consequences of such materials when they enter the mainstream after their intended uses. This led to the concept of designing and engineering new biodegradable materials–materials that have the performance characteristics of today's materials but that undergo biodegradation along with other organic waste to soil humic materials. Hence, the production of biodegradable materials from annually renewable agricultural feedstocks has attracted attention in recent years. Agricultural materials such as starches and proteins are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Soybean is a good candidate for manufacturing a large number of chemicals, including biodegradable plastics, as it is abundantly available and cheap. Soy protein concentrate, isolate, or flakes could be compounded with synthetic biodegradable plastics such as polycaprolactone or poly (lactic acid) to make molded products or edible films or shopping bags and make the environment cleaner and greener.

Notes on life-cycle assessments of vegetable oils

Renewable resources like vegetable oils constitute a central element in the discussion of the implementation of a sustainable development. Vegetable oils play an increasingly important part in the production of biodegradable materials. But considering the ecological effects of their production and use vegetable oils show advantages and disadvantages. Life-cycle assessments (LCAs) allow a detailed evaluation of their ecological performance. Carrying out LCAs the determination of the methodological proceedings is required. It is one of the objectives of the present study to ascertain if, or how strong, these methodological determinations can influence the results of LCAs. The LCA of refined rapeseed oil serves as an example. The following issues are of special interest here: the selection of a reference system, the balancing principles for coproducts, and the balancing principles for emissions under consideration of their site-specific impacts. Furthermore, the results for rapeseed oil and soybean oil are compared in order to find out if LCAs for different vegetable oils show similar results (which would allow the undiscriminate transfer of the LCA results from one oil to another). Finally, the LCA results of rapeseed oil, that have been obtained for the currently quantifiable parameters, are presented. As the study shows, the methodological approach can influence the LCA results significantly. Therefore, it is necessary to define and document the applied methodological approach carefully in order to base the LCA on verifiable facts and to obtain realistic results. The undiscriminate transfer of LCA results from one vegetable oil to another is not allowed because incorrect results are possible.