Physical Properties, Photo- and Bio-degradation of Baked Foams Based on Cassava Starch, Sugarcane Bagasse Fibers and Montmorillonite

The objectives of this work were to develop biodegradable trays from cassava starch, sugarcane fibers and Na-montmorillonite (Na-MMT) using a baking process and to study the effects of these components on the physical properties, photo- and bio-degradation of the trays. The sample F20 (produced with 20 g fiber/100 g formulation) showed the maximum yield production (100 %). All formulations resulted in well-shaped trays with densities between 0.1941 and 0.2966 g/cm³. The addition of fibers and Na-MMT resulted in less dense and less rigid trays compared to control samples (only starch). The studied processing conditions resulted in good nanoclay dispersion, leading to the formation of an exfoliated structure. The evaluation of the photo-degradation stability of the trays under UV exposure for 336 h showed that a sample produced with a specific combination of fiber and nanoclay (20 g fiber and 5 g nanoclay/100 g formulation) had the highest loss in stress at break (91 %). Biodegradation assays showed that Control trays (starch) and F20 (20 g fiber/100 g formulation) lost a greater percentage of their weight after 90 days of incubation in soil, with losses of up to 85.50 and 82.70 %, respectively.     

The Effect of Starch Composition on Structure of Foams Prepared by Microwave Treatment

A microwave technique was used to prepare foams from different potato starches in granular form, with varying amounts of amylose content, and water. In addition to native potato starch (PN), high amylose potato starch (HAP) and potato amylopectin (PAP) were used, as well as mixtures thereof. In all cases the native crystallinity of starch granules was lost upon microwave treatment and an amorphous material was created. An increased concentration of starch in the initial water dispersion resulted in a less dense foam structure. The potato amylopectin formed open cell foams, whereas increased amylose content, as in native potato starch, yielded a more compact structure with irregular pore shapes. The high amylose potato starch yielded a structure with hardly any porosity. Foaming experiments were done to compare pre-gelatinized and granular starches dispersed in water. The pre-gelatinisation did not affect the pore formation process. These experiments indicated that the molecular architecture of starch polymers is more important for foam formation than starch polymer organization in the granules. Studies of temperature profile and dry matter content during microwave treatment showed that water evaporates more rapidly from a high amylose starch solution than native potato starch and potato amylopectin solutions. Rheological measurements showed that the amylose solution had much lower viscosity than starch and amylopectin. This confirms that polymer – water interaction, such as in amylopectin solution, favours stabilization of bubbles formed upon boiling and evaporation of water, which yields high porosity materials.     

Influence of Fibers on the Mechanical Properties of Cassava Starch Foams

The utilization of renewable resources in packaging can provide solutions to ecological problems such as waste quantity. Agricultural resources are alternative raw materials, among which there is starch, a natural polysaccharide that can be used to form resistant foam under wet and warm conditions. The starch foam is obtained by thermo pressing process where cassava starch, water and additives are processed to form a rigid structure by swelling, gelatinization and network formation. Natural fibers can be used to improve the mechanical properties of starch foams. In this project was investigated the influence of the addition of fibers in the levels of 1, 2 and 3% of cassava (short fiber) and 1, 2 and 3% of wheat fiber (powered fiber) in the starch dough. The foams were characterized by physical methods of strength, flexibility, density and by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The increase in fibers quantity has resulted in foams with higher density and less flexibility, whatever the fiber type. Most fibers quantity did not improve the foam strength. Foam made with 1% of cassava fiber showed higher compression strength; by increasing the percentage quantity there was a decrease on the compression resistance. Foam made with wheat fiber presented a lower result in 2%. The fiber type had no statistical significance in strength, flexibility and density foam. Only the fiber quantity was significant. The results showed that both fibers presented limited dimensions to improve the reinforcement of the starch foams up to 1%.     

Baked Foams Based on Cassava Starch Coated with Polyvinyl Alcohol with a Higher Degree of Hydrolysis

The aims of this work were to produce trays based on cassava starch, coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with a higher degree of hydrolysis (98%), and to study the effects of the coating on the mechanical and water sorption properties of the trays. Two types of PVA were tested: SELVOL? 325 (degree of polymerization?=?1000–1500) and SELVOL? 107 (degree of polymerization?=?350–650). A decrease in the water absorption capacity of 50% was observed when the coated samples were compared with the control sample after 30 min of immersion in water. It was observed in both coated samples a reduction of the initial rate of water adsorption sorption and a decrease in hydrophilicity compared with the control sample. Tensile strength and elongation were increased with application of the coatings. The use of the two types of PVA resulted in materials with similar mechanical and water sorption properties.     

Grafting of Glycidyl Methacrylate onto Poly(lactide) and Properties of PLA/Starch Blends Compatibilized by the Grafted Copolymer

Poly(lactide)-graft-glycidyl methacrylate (PLA-g-GMA) copolymer was prepared by grafting GMA onto PLA in a batch mixer using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The graft content was determined with the ¹H-NMR spectroscopy by calculating the relative area of the characteristic peaks of PLA and GMA. The result shows that the graft content increases from 1.8 to 11.0 wt% as the GMA concentration in the feed varies from 5 to 20 wt%. The PLA/starch blends were prepared by the PLA-g-GMA copolymer as a compatibilizer, and the structure and properties of PLA/starch blends with or without the PLA-g-GMA copolymer were characterized by SEM, DSC, tensile test and medium resistance test. The result shows that the PLA/starch blends without the PLA-g-GMA copolymer show a poor interfacial adhesion and the starch granules are clearly observed, nevertheless the starch granules are better dispersed and covered by PLA when the PLA-g-GMA copolymer as a compatibilizer. The mechanical properties of the PLA/starch blends with the PLA-g-GMA copolymer are obviously improved, such as tensile strength at break increasing from 18.6 ± 3.8 MPa to 29.3 ± 5.8 MPa, tensile modulus from 510 ± 62 MPa to 901 ± 62 MPa and elongation at break from 1.8 ± 0.4 % to 3.4 ± 0.6 %, respectively, for without the PLA-g-GMA copolymer. In addition, the medium resistance of PLA/starch blends with the PLA-g-GMA copolymer was much better than PLA/starch blends.     

A Biobased Blend of Cellulose Diacetate with Starch

Two bio-based polymers, cellulose diacetate (CDA) and starch, were used to prepare blends with reasonable properties and low cost. Due to the poor processing properties, starch was modified in the presence of glycerol and epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), and CDA was plasticized by triacetin (TA) and ESO, respectively. The morphologies of the blends with different amounts of modified starch (MST) were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the physical properties of the blends, including thermal stability, mechanical property, water and moisture resistance, were investigated. The equilibrium moisture absorption rates of the blends containing 30 and 50 wt% MST at 100 % of relative humidity(RH) were 9.4 and 15.0 %, respectively. SEM and DMA results demonstrated that CDA and MST had a certain extent of compatibility. Due to the partial plasticization of starch, the tensile strength of the blends was nearly not affected by the amount of MST. Even if 50 wt% MST was added, the tensile strength of the blend was as high as 24.7 MPa. The obtained blend containing 30 wt% MST can keep good mechanical properties at 50 % RH, and its tensile strength and elongation at break are 30.2 MPa and 3.6 %, respectively. All the results show that the CDA/MST blends have a potential as an environmental friendly material.     

Characterization of Biodegradable Polymer Blends of Acetylated and Hydroxypropylated Sago Starch and Natural Rubber

Development of biodegradable polymers from absolute environmental friendly materials has attracted increasing research interest due to public awareness of waste disposal problems caused by low degradable conventional plastics. In this study, the potential of incorporating natural rubber latex (NRL) into chemically modified sago starch for the making biodegradable polymer blends was assessed. Native sago starch was acetylated and hydroxypropylated before gelatinization in preparing starch thermoplastic using glycerol. They were than casted with NRL into biopolymer films according to the ratios of 100.00/0.00, 99.75/1.25, 98.50/2.50, 95.00/5.00, 90.00/10.00 and 80.00/20.00 wt/wt, via solution spreading technique. Water absorption, thermal, mechanical, morphological and biodegradable properties of the product films were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), universal testing machine (UTM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that acetylation promoted the incorporating behavior of NRL in sago starch by demonstrating a good adhesion characteristic and giving a uniform, homogenous micro-structured surface under SEM observation. However, the thin biopolymer films did not exhibit any remarkable trend in their DSC thermal profile and UTM mechanical properties. The occurrence of NRL suppressed water adsorption capacity and delayed the biodegradability of the biopolymer films in the natural environment. Despite the depletion in water adsorption capacity, all of the product films degraded 50 % within 12 weeks. This study concluded that biopolymers with desirable properties could be formulated by choosing an appropriate casting ratio of the sago starch to NRL with suitable chemical substitution modes.     

Effect of Starch Granule Size on Viscosity of Starch-Filled Poly(hydroxy ester ether) Composites

The effect of starch granule size on the viscosity of starch-filled poly(hydroxy ester ether) (PHEE) composites was characterized using size-fractionated potato starch, as well as unfractionated starches (rice, corn, wheat, and potato). Potato starch was separated using an air classifier into four particle size fractions: <18 m, 18-24 m, 24-30 m, and >30 m. The starch was dried to a moisture content of 0.5% to minimize moisture effects on composite rheology. PHEE and potato starch were extruded with starch volume fractions of 0.46 and 0.66. Stress relaxation, frequency and strain sweep, and temperature-dependence measurements were carried out. Although small variations in viscosity were seen with the different potato starch fractions, differences were not significant at a volume fraction of 0.46. Viscosity differences between the different particle size fractions were more pronounced at a volume fraction of 0.66. The temperature dependence could be described by an Arrhenius relation, with an apparent activation energy of 84 kJ/mole. At a volume fraction of 0.46, the starch/PHEE viscosities increased in the order potato starch < wheat starch corn starch < rice starch.     

Reactive Extrusion of Starch–Polyacrylamide Graft Copolymers Using Various Starches

Graft copolymers of polyacrylamide and various substrates were prepared by reactive extrusion in a twin screw extruder using ammonium persulfate as initiator. Substrates included unmodified starches (corn, waxy maize, wheat, and potato), cationic starches, dextrin, dextran, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). The feed ratio of substrate to monomer was 2:1. Average conversion of monomer to polymer was 88.9% (±5.1%). Graft contents for the starch substrates were approximately 25% with grafting efficiencies of about 70%. Polyacrylamide graft molecular weights ranged from 317,000 to 769,000. Absorbencies at pH 7 for saponified graft copolymers prepared with unmodified starches were approximately 200 g/g and approximately 150 g/g for the cationic starches, dextran, and PVOH. In electrolyte solution (0.9% NaCl), absorbencies were in the range of 26–59 g/g, depending on substrate type. Saponified dextrin copolymers were essentially soluble with absorbencies of 6 g/g in water and 12 g/g in 0.9% NaCl.Names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable.     

A Comparison Study of Wheat Gluten Composites Filled with Dialdehyde Starch and Native Starch

Environmentally friendly green composites were prepared by blending Wheat gluten (WG) as matrix, dialdehyde starch (DAS) as filler and glycerol as plasticizer followed by compression molding of the mixture at 110 °C. The properties of the WG/DAS composite are compared with those of the WG/native wheat starch (NWS) composites. While tensile strength and strain at break decrease with increasing NWS content in the WG/NWS composites, a small content of DAS could improve tensile strength and strain at break simultaneously in the WG/DAS composites. The WG/DAS composites exhibit reduced moisture absorption in comparison with the WG/NEW composites. Formation of chemical bonding between DAS and WG is beneficial for the dispersion of DAS in the WG matrix and WG/DAS composites exhibit improved mechanical properties and reduced moisture absorption over the WG/NWS composites.     

Preparation and Properties of Green Composites Based on Tapioca Starch and Differently Recycled Paper Cellulose Fibers

Green composites obtained from biodegradable renewable resources have gained much attention due to environmental problems resulting from conventionally synthetic plastics and a global increasing demand for alternatives to fossil resources. In this work we used different cellulose fibers from used office paper and newspaper as reinforcement for thermoplastic starch (TPS) in order to improve their poor mechanical, thermal and water resistance properties. These composites were prepared by using tapioca starch plasticized by glycerol (30 % wt/wt of glycerol to starch) as matrix reinforced by the extracted cellulose fibers with the contents ranging from 0 to 8 % (wt/wt of fibers to matrix). Properties of composites were determined by mechanical tensile tests, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, water absorption measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and soil burial tests. The results showed that the introduction of either office paper or newspaper cellulose fibers caused the improvement of tensile strength and elastic modulus, thermal stability, and water resistance for composites when compared to the non-reinforced TPS. Scanning electron microscopy showed a good adhesion between matrix and fibers. Moreover, the composites biological degraded completely after 8 weeks but required a longer time compared to the non-reinforced TPS. The results indicated that these green composites could be utilized as commodity plastics being strong, inexpensive, plentiful and recyclable.     

Effects of Starch Moisture on Properties of Wheat Starch/Poly(Lactic Acid) Blend Containing Methylenediphenyl Diisocyanate

Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate was found to improve the interfacial interaction between poly(lactic acid)(PLA) and granular starch. The objective of this research was to study the effect of starch moisture content on the interfacial interaction of an equal-weight blend of wheat starch and PLA containing 0.5% methylenediphenyl diisocyanate by weight. Starch moisture (10% to 20%) had a negative effect on the interfacial binding between starch and PLA. The tensile strength and elongation of the blend both decreased as starch moisture content increased. At 20% moisture level, the starch granules embedded in the PLA matrix were observed to be swollen, resulting in poor strength properties and high water absorption by the blend.     

Isolation and Characterization of Recovered Starch from Industrial Wastewater

The wastewater generated at a facility specialising in potato processing was found to contain high levels of insoluble potato starch. Several separation methods were employed to obtain maximum potato starch recovery from the industrial wastewater. Centrifugation was proved to be the most effective means of separation. Following potato starch recovery, a variety of chemical and physico-chemical properties were investigated. Potato starch quality and consistency were assessed and monitored across a 1 year period, between 2007 and 2008. Based on the various starch characteristics that were obtained, it was established that the recovered potato starch was of a high quality and is therefore suitable for subsequent processing, without the need of performing any pre-treatment. Properties including total starch, damaged starch, protein, lipid and amylose content, as well as gelatinisation and retrogradation, were evaluated and a high level of consistency throughout the course of 1 year was recorded.     

Processing and Characterization of Glycerol-Plasticized Soy Protein Plastics Reinforced with Citric Acid-Modified Starch Nanoparticles

Citric acid-modified starch nanoparticles with an average size of 82 nm were prepared through precipitation from gelatinized starch solution by ethanol and further modification with citric acid. When being incorporated in glycerol-plasticized soy protein plastics, citric acid-modified starch nanoparticles displayed dramatic reinforcing effect. The resulted nanocomposite plastics exhibited improvement in mechanical performance. Also, the water uptake decreased, indicating an increase of water resistance. The modified starch nanoparticles had a good compatibility with soy protein matrix. Possessing a relative hydrophobic surface, the filler would prefer to interact with protein-rich domains in glycerol-plasticized soy protein. The work provided a green approach of biodegradable materials based on naturally occurring biopolymers.     

Utilization of Waste Sorghum Grain for Producing Superabsorbent for Personal Care Products

Modification of useful starch extracted from waste sorghum grains was carried out for production of superabsorbent materials which can be used in personal care products. Starch was extracted using alkali steeping method. It was characterized for swelling power, percentage transmittance and iodine binding values. The extracted starch was modified via graft copolymerization of acrylic acid and acrylamide onto starch to produce biodegradable absorbent material. The changes in modified starch structure were assessed using TGA, FTIR and SEM. The evaluation of enhancement in the properties was done by performing absorption tests. The reaction parameters were optimized to achieve higher graft add-on level and water absorption capacity. The absorbent product was further subjected to saponification for further enhancing its water absorption capacity (368.8 g/g). The product prepared by using optimized parameters of reaction was made highly porous by introducing sodium bicarbonate during the reaction. It showed a significant increase in the rate of water absorption and enhancement in water absorption capacity (380.9 g/g).The modified product showed 101.1 and 77.0 g/g absorption of artificial blood and artificial urine, respectively. This modified product was infused in commercially available sanitary napkin and baby diaper. Further, it was tested for fluid absorption and centrifuge retention capacity and it performed distinctly better than the commercial products. This superabsorbent material showed 12% weight loss after 28 days when biodegradability test by soil burial method was carried out.     

Biodegradation of Polylactide and Gelatinized Starch Blend Films Under Controlled Soil Burial Conditions

The biodegradability of polylactide (PLA) and gelatinized starches (GS) blend films in the presence of compatibilizer was investigated under controlled soil burial conditions. Various contents (0–40 wt%) of corn and tapioca starches were added as fillers; whereas, different amounts of methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) (0–2.5 wt%) and 10 wt% based on PLA content of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) were used as a compatibilizer and a plasticizer, respectively. The biodegradation process was followed by measuring changes in the physical appearance, weight loss, morphological studies, and tensile properties of the blend films. The results showed that the presence of small amount of MDI significantly increased the tensile properties of the blends compared with the uncompatibilized blends. This is attributed to an improvement of the interfacial interaction between PLA and GS phases, as evidenced by the morphological results. For soil burial testing, PLA/GS films with lower levels (1.25 wt%) of MDI had less degradation; in contrast, at high level of MDI, their changes of physical appearance and weight loss tended to increase. These effects are in agreement with their water absorption results. Furthermore, biodegradation rates of the films were enhanced with increasing starch contents, while mechanical performances were decreased.     

Water-Soluble Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives Containing Carboxymethyl Starch with Improved Adhesion to Paper

Water-soluble pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) based on acrylic acid and carboxymethyl starch (CMS) have been prepared. The tack and peel adhesion to various paper types (newsprint, hygienic, packing, fax and art paper) as well as dynamic shear adhesion at higher temperatures (70–240?°C) have been tested with the aim of applying such PSA in a form of double-sided splicing tapes for paper industry. For all paper types tested tack and peel adhesion values increased with CMS content (0.1–10 wt% in PSA). The highest tack and peel adhesion values (for the system containing 10 wt% CMS) were noted for fax paper ca. 19.5 N/2.5 cm and 18.3 N/2.5 cm, respectively and the lowest ones for art paper: 14.7 N/2.5 cm and 13.5 N/2.5 cm, respectively. Obtained PSA were completely soluble in water, and the time of water-solubility depended on CMS content, as well as pH value, however it did not exceed 5 min.     

Itaconic Acid Grafted Starch Hydrogels as Metal Remover: Capacity,Selectivity and Adsorption Kinetics

Hydrogels were synthesized by free radical graft copolymerization of itaconic acid (IA) onto corn starch (S-g-IA). For this purpose, potassium permanganate (KMnO₄)-sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃) was used as redox initiation system. The formation of grafted starches was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide angle X-ray scattering, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of monomer concentration, neutralization, addition of crosslinking agent, N,N-bismetilenacrilamide (MBAm), and initiator concentration on grafting efficiency and adsorption capacity of the starch hydrogels was investigated. It was demonstrated that the introduction of carboxyl and carbonyl groups promoted starch hydration and swelling. Grafting degree increased with the decrease of monomer concentration, increase of initiator concentration, grade of neutralization and the addition of MBAm without neutralization. Remarkably the resulting materials exhibited water absorption capacities between 258 and 1878% and the ability to adsorb metal ions. It was experimentally confirmed the metal uptake, obtaining the higher adsorption capacity (q _e  = 35 mg/g) for the product prepared with the pre-oxidation and lower initiator concentration. The removal capacity order was Pb²⁺>Ni²⁺>Zn²⁺>Cd²⁺. Moreover, the experimental kinetic and the equilibrium adsorption data for Ni²⁺ and Pb²⁺ were best fitted to the pseudo-second order and Freundlich isotherm models, respectively. This work describes for the first time the preparation of metal removal hydrogels based on starch and itaconic acid using the pair redox system KMnO₄/NaHSO₃, which avoids the starch hydrolysis and allows itaconic acid grafting incorporation without the requirement of more reactive comonomers.     

Development of Lignin and Nanocellulose Enhanced Bio PU Foams for Automotive Parts

The green rigid polyurethane (PU) foam has been developed with 100 % soy polyol after optimization of formulation ingredients and lignin has been introduced and isocyanate content reduced in the green rigid PU foam. The cellulosic nanofibers have also been successfully incorporated and dispersed in green rigid PU foam to improve the rigidity. The influence of nano cellulose fiber modification (enzymatic treatment, hydrophobic modification with latex) on the foam density, open cell content, foam raise height, water vapor, and mechanical properties of rigid PU foam were studied. The foamed structures were examined using scanning electron microscopy to determine the cell size and shape due to the addition of cellulosic nanofibers. The odor test were performed to evaluate the odor concentration 100 % soyol based PU foam including lignin and nanofiber and compared to 100 % synthetic based polyol PU foam. The experimental results indicated that the compression and impact properties improved due to the modification of nano cellulosic fibers. The odor concentration level of nanofiber reinforced rigid PU foam reduced significantly compared to 100 % PU foam due to the replacing of isocyanate content. It can be said that with an appropriate combination of replacing isocyanate by lignin and addition of nanofiber, rigid PU foam properties could be improved.     

Biodegradability of Starch Based Self-Supporting Antimicrobial Film and Its Effect on Soil Quality

Alarming environmental pollution from petroleum based non-biodegradable disposable packaging films has generated concern for development of alternatives from natural polymers such as starch. In the present work, the biodegradability of a self-supporting film made from starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (starch:PVA?=?9:1 as the polymer) together with glutaraldehyde as crosslinker and sodium propionate (SP) as antimicrobial was investigated by soil burial method. The changes in soil composition namely pH, organic carbon, available and total nitrogen, and water holding capacity as a result of biodegradation were also estimated. The film underwent ≈?90% biodegradation within a period of 28 days, with simultaneous increase in soil nutrients. Moreover, the pH remained in the accepted limit for plant growth. Thus, antimicrobial in the film did not hamper its biodegradation, rather disposal of the film in soil might facilitate plant growth.