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Wu CS, Wang SS, Wu DY, Ke CY. A sustainable packaging composite of waste paper and poly(butylene succinate-co-lactate) with high biodegradability. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 262:129911. [PMID: 38320640 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The challenge of global climate change has drawn people's attention to the issue of carbon emissions. Reducing the use of petroleum-derived materials and increasing the use of biodegradable materials is a current focus of research, especially in the packaging materials industry. This study focused on the use of environmentally friendly plastics and waste paper as the main materials for packaging films. Poly(butylene succinate-co-lactate) (PBSL) was modified with maleic anhydride (MA) to form a biobased compatibilizer (MPBSL), which was then blended with a mixture (WPS) of waste-paper powder (WP) and silica aerogel powder (SP) to form the designed composite (MPBSL/WPS). The modification of PBSL with MA improved interfacial adhesion between PBSL and WPS. The structure, thermal, and mechanical properties, water vapor/oxygen barrier, toxicity, freshness, and biodegradability of MPBSL/WPS films were evaluated. Compared with the PBSL/WP film, the MPBSL/WPS film exhibited increased tensile strength at break of 4-13.5 MPa, increased initial decomposition loss at 5 wt% of 14-35 °C, and decreased water/oxygen permeabilities of 18-105 cm3/m2·d·Pa. In the water absorption test, the MPBSL/WPS film displayed about 2-6 % lower water absorption than that of the PBSL/WP film. In the cytocompatibility test, both MPBSL/WPS and PBSL/WP membrane were nontoxic. In addition, compared with PBSL/WP film and the control, the MPBSL/WPS film significantly reduced moisture loss, extended the shelf life, and prevented microbial growth in vegetable and meat preservation tests. Both MPBSL/WPS and PBSL/WP films were biodegradable in a 60-day soil biodegradation test; the degradation rate was 50 % when the WP or WPS content was 40 wt%. Our findings indicate that the composites would be suitable for environmentally sustainable packaging materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-San Wu
- Department of Cosmetology and Health Care, Kao Yuan University, Kaohsiung County 82101, Taiwan.
| | - Shan-Shue Wang
- Department of Cosmetology and Health Care, Kao Yuan University, Kaohsiung County 82101, Taiwan
| | - Dung-Yi Wu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Chu-Yun Ke
- Department of Chemical Engineering, I Shou University, Kaohsiung County 84001, Taiwan
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Visco A, Scolaro C, Facchin M, Brahimi S, Belhamdi H, Gatto V, Beghetto V. Agri-Food Wastes for Bioplastics: European Prospective on Possible Applications in Their Second Life for a Circular Economy. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:2752. [PMID: 35808796 PMCID: PMC9268966 DOI: 10.3390/polym14132752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Agri-food wastes (such as brewer's spent grain, olive pomace, residual pulp from fruit juice production, etc.) are produced annually in very high quantities posing a serious problem, both environmentally and economically. These wastes can be used as secondary starting materials to produce value-added goods within the principles of the circular economy. In this context, this review focuses on the use of agri-food wastes either to produce building blocks for bioplastics manufacturing or biofillers to be mixed with other bioplastics. The pros and cons of the literature analysis have been highlighted, together with the main aspects related to the production of bioplastics, their use and recycling. The high number of European Union (EU)-funded projects for the valorisation of agri-food waste with the best European practices for this industrial sector confirm a growing interest in safeguarding our planet from environmental pollution. However, problems such as the correct labelling and separation of bioplastics from fossil ones remain open and to be optimised, with the possibility of reuse before final composting and selective recovery of biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Visco
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, C.da Di Dio, 98166 Messina, Italy; (C.S.); (S.B.); (H.B.)
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-CNR IPCB, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Cristina Scolaro
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, C.da Di Dio, 98166 Messina, Italy; (C.S.); (S.B.); (H.B.)
| | - Manuela Facchin
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Mestre, Italy;
| | - Salim Brahimi
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, C.da Di Dio, 98166 Messina, Italy; (C.S.); (S.B.); (H.B.)
| | - Hossem Belhamdi
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, C.da Di Dio, 98166 Messina, Italy; (C.S.); (S.B.); (H.B.)
| | - Vanessa Gatto
- Crossing S.r.l., Viale della Repubblica 193/b, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
| | - Valentina Beghetto
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Mestre, Italy;
- Crossing S.r.l., Viale della Repubblica 193/b, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
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Gómez-Gast N, López Cuellar MDR, Vergara-Porras B, Vieyra H. Biopackaging Potential Alternatives: Bioplastic Composites of Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Vegetal Fibers. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14061114. [PMID: 35335445 PMCID: PMC8950292 DOI: 10.3390/polym14061114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Initiatives to reduce plastic waste are currently under development worldwide. As a part of it, the European Union and private and public organizations in several countries are designing and implementing regulations for single-use plastics. For example, by 2030, plastic packaging and food containers must be reusable or recyclable. In another approach, researchers are developing biopolymers using biodegradable thermoplastics, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), to replace fossil derivatives. However, their production capacity, high production costs, and poor mechanical properties hinder the usability of these biopolymers. To overcome these limitations, biomaterials reinforced with natural fibers are acquiring more relevance as the world of bioplastics production is increasing. This review presents an overview of PHA–vegetal fiber composites, the effects of the fiber type, and the production method’s impact on the mechanical, thermal, barrier properties, and biodegradability, all relevant for biopackaging. To acknowledge the behaviors and trends of the biomaterials reinforcement field, we searched for granted patents focusing on bio-packaging applications and gained insight into current industry developments and contributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gómez-Gast
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Carretera Lago de Guadalupe 3.5, Colonia Margarita Maza de Juárez, Atizapán de Zaragoza 52926, Mexico; (N.G.-G.); (B.V.-P.)
| | - Ma Del Rocío López Cuellar
- Cuerpo Académico de Biotecnología Agroalimentaria (CABA), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ICAp), Autonomous University of Hidalgo State (UAEH), Av. Universidad Km. 1, Ex-Hda. De Aquetzalpa AP 32, Tulancingo de Bravo 43600, Mexico;
| | - Berenice Vergara-Porras
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Carretera Lago de Guadalupe 3.5, Colonia Margarita Maza de Juárez, Atizapán de Zaragoza 52926, Mexico; (N.G.-G.); (B.V.-P.)
| | - Horacio Vieyra
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Eduardo Monroy Cardenas 2000, San Antonio Buenavista, Toluca de Lerdo 50110, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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Botta L, Titone V, Mistretta MC, La Mantia FP, Modica A, Bruno M, Sottile F, Lopresti F. PBAT Based Composites Reinforced with Microcrystalline Cellulose Obtained from Softwood Almond Shells. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13162643. [PMID: 34451182 PMCID: PMC8399121 DOI: 10.3390/polym13162643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This study explores the processability, mechanical, and thermal properties of biocompostable composites based on poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) as polymer matrix and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from softwood almond (Prunus dulcis) shells (as-MCC) as filler at two different weight concentration, i.e., 10 wt% and 20 wt%. The materials were processed by melt mixing and a commercial MCC (c-MCC) was used as filler comparison. The fibrillar shape of as-MCC particles was found to change the rheological behavior of PBAT, particularly at the highest concentration. The melt mixing processing allowed obtaining a uniform dispersion of both kinds of fillers, slightly reducing the L/D ratio of as-MCC fibers. The as-MCC particles led to a higher increase of the elastic modulus of PBAT if compared to the c-MCC counterparts. Both the MCC fillers caused a drastic reduction of the elongation at break, although it was higher than 120% also at the highest filler concentrations. DSC analysis revealed that both MCC fillers poorly affected the matrix crystallinity, although as-MCC induced a slight PBAT crystallinity increase from 8.8% up to 10.9% for PBAT/as-MCC 20%. Therefore, this work demonstrates the great potential of MCC particles derived from almond shells as filler for biocompostable composites fabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Botta
- Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, RU INSTM, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (V.T.); (M.C.M.); (F.P.L.M.); (F.L.)
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca “Riutilizzo Bio-Based Degli Scarti da Matrici Agroalimentari” (RIVIVE), Università degli Sudi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (M.B.); (F.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Vincenzo Titone
- Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, RU INSTM, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (V.T.); (M.C.M.); (F.P.L.M.); (F.L.)
| | - Maria Chiara Mistretta
- Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, RU INSTM, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (V.T.); (M.C.M.); (F.P.L.M.); (F.L.)
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca “Riutilizzo Bio-Based Degli Scarti da Matrici Agroalimentari” (RIVIVE), Università degli Sudi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (M.B.); (F.S.)
| | - Francesco Paolo La Mantia
- Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, RU INSTM, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (V.T.); (M.C.M.); (F.P.L.M.); (F.L.)
| | - Aurora Modica
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Maurizio Bruno
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca “Riutilizzo Bio-Based Degli Scarti da Matrici Agroalimentari” (RIVIVE), Università degli Sudi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (M.B.); (F.S.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Francesco Sottile
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca “Riutilizzo Bio-Based Degli Scarti da Matrici Agroalimentari” (RIVIVE), Università degli Sudi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (M.B.); (F.S.)
- Dipartimento di Architettura, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Lopresti
- Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, RU INSTM, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (V.T.); (M.C.M.); (F.P.L.M.); (F.L.)
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