Resumo Os objetivos do presente estudo foram determinar a biodegradabilidade de espuma de amido/glicerol e de filme de poli(butileno-adipato-co-tereftalato)(PBAT)/amido usando métodos respirométricos e também comparar esses resultados com os de polímeros convencionais – poliestireno expandido e polietileno de baixa densidade. Um composto orgânico maturado foi utilizado como inóculo e sacarose foi utilizada como material de referência positiva. As eficiências de biodegradação (EB) após 47 dias foram: 35% para a sacarose; 34% para o amido/glicerol; 38% para o PBAT/amido. O amido/glicerol e o PBAT/amido apresentaram EB estatisticamente iguais à da sacarose, enquanto as embalagens convencionais não foram degradadas (p > 0,05). Espectroscopia de infravermelho e análises termogravimétricas mostraram que a microbiota deu preferência à degradação do amido em detrimento do PBAT na blenda PBAT/amido e também que parte do amido permaneceu intacta na matriz polimérica interna. Foi verificado que espuma de amido/glicerol e filme de PBAT/amido são embalagens altamente biodegradáveis, portanto podem ser usadas para aumentar a biodegradabilidade de alguns produtos, como bandejas descartáveis e sacolas plásticas de supermercado.

Abstract The objectives of this work were to determine the biodegradability of starch/glycerol foam and of poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/starch film using respirometric methods and also to compare these results with conventional polymers – expanded polystyrene and low-density polyethylene. A matured organic compost was utilized as inoculum and sucrose was used as positive reference material. Biodegradation efficiencies (BE) after 47 days were: 35% for sucrose; 34% for starch/glycerol; and 38% for PBAT/starch. Starch/glycerol and PBAT/starch presented BE statistically equal to sucrose, whilst both the conventional packaging used were not degraded (p> 0.05). Infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses showed that the microbiota rather degraded the starch over the PBAT in the PBAT/starch blend, and also that some starch remained intact in the internal polymeric matrix. This study verified that starch/glycerol foam and PBAT/starch film are highly biodegradable materials and may then be used to enhance the biodegradability of some products such as disposable trays and supermarket bags.

Abstract The aims of this work were to produce hyaluronic acid (HA) by Streptococcus zooepidemicus ATCC 39920 in a low cost sugarcane molasses fermentation medium and to employ the produced HA to obtain films blends based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The films were produced using solution casting method and they were characterized according to their microstructure, mechanical and barrier properties. HA was added in different concentrations (0, 5, 10 and 15% (w/w)), and glycerol was used as a plasticizer (25 g/100 g solids). All formulations resulted in easily manipulated films with good appearance. The addition of HA on PVA films increased their thermal stability, solubility, swelling index, water vapor permeability and elongation. Microbial HA sample combined with PVA showed to be a promising material to biomedical application, and an addition between 5 and 10% (w/w) was sufficient to improve PVA films properties.

Abstract The modification of lignocellulosic fibers can enhance their interaction with other materials and alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) is a reagent widely used to promote such modification. This work aimed to modify oat hulls fibers by reactive extrusion using AHP (7 g 100 g-1 of hulls). The modified oat hulls displayed performances comparable to those observed by other researchers using conventional AHP method (without extrusion). The AHP treated oat hulls showed increased luminosity compared to the extruded ones. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed differences between the modified and unmodified structures. The removal of surface compounds resulted in a more open morphology, with greater surface area and greater porosity. Reactive extrusion can be an alternative method for fiber modification with several advantages, such as short processing time and no wastewater generation.

The largest consumption of plastics in the world is referred to the synthetic polymers, which are not biodegradable and have a non-renewable source, generating a large environmental impact, especially in urban centers. As a result, in the last two decades several polymers obtained from renewable sources (biopolymers) have been studied as potential raw materials for the production of new biodegradable materials with different applications. The objectives of this study were to produce biodegradable films based on cassava starch, pullulan and bacterial cellulose, and also to characterize these films according to their microstructure, barrier, thermal and mechanical properties. The addition of bacterial cellulose and pullulan to the starch films resulted in films with more homogeneous surfaces, and also decreased solubility and water vapor permeability, and increased elongation and thermal stability.

Rice hull is a residue from agro-industry that can be used to produce nanocellulose. We produced nanocellulose from rice hulls through bleaching (with a 5% NaOH solution followed by a peracetic acid solution) and acid hydrolysis at a mild temperature (45ºC) followed by ultrasonication. We investigated the microstructure, crystallinity and thermal stability of these materials and studied their effects on the properties of starch films. After bleaching, the compact structure around the cellulosic fibers was removed, and the lignin content of the residue decreased from 7.22 to 4.22%. The obtained nanocellulose presented a higher crystallinity (up 70%), higher thermal stability than the raw material and lignin contents below 0.35%. The nanocellulose formed interconnected webs of tiny fibers (< 100 nm in diameter), which decreased the opacity, water vapor permeability and improved the mechanical properties when added as reinforcement in the starch films.

AbstractThe demand for renewably sourced biodegradable materials has increased the need to produce materials that combine appropriate functional properties at competitive costs. Thermoplastic starch and polyester blends are an interesting alternative to current materials due to the low cost of starch and the functional properties and processability of the resulting blends. Producing thermoplastic starch (TPS) requires using a plasticiser at concentrations between 20 and 30%wt (in relation to starch). Glycerol is the most common plasticiser due to its high plasticising capacity and thermal stability at processing temperatures. The objective of this study was to evaluate glycerol waste from the biodiesel industry, with different degrees of purification, as plasticisers for TPS / poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends. Different purities of glycerol produced films with similar mechanical, optical and barrier properties to those made with purified glycerol (99.7%). Therefore, crude glycerol is a renewable alternative plasticiser that reduces the cost of plasticisation by 6-fold.

<title>Resumo</title><p>Foram produzidos 12 laminados com diferentes proporções de amido de mandioca, poli(vinil álcool) (PVA) e glicerol por extrusão usando um planejamento de mistura. A opacidade dos materiais variou entre 31 e 56%, e a concentração de PVA e a interação entre as concentrações de amido e PVA foram os principais responsáveis pelo aumento da opacidade. A diferença de cor (ΔE*) variou entre 20-30, sendo a concentração de amido o principal responsável pelo aumento da diferença de cor, por promover uma coloração mais amarelada nos laminados.</p>

<title>Abstract</title><p>Twelve sheets were produced by extrusion with different proportions of cassava starch, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and glycerol using a mixture design. The opacity of the materials ranged from 31 to 56%, and the concentration of PVA and the interaction between starch and PVA concentrations the mainly responsible for increasing opacity. The color difference (ΔE*) ranged from 20 to 30, the concentration of starch being primarily responsible for increasing in color difference by promoting a more yellowish color in sheets.</p>

The objectives of this work were to investigate the microstructure, crystallinity and thermal stability of nanofibrillated cellulose obtained from oat hulls using bleaching and acid hydrolysis at a mild temperature (45 ºC) followed by ultrasonication. The oat hulls were bleached with peracetic acid, and after bleaching, the compact structure around the cellulosic fibers was removed, and the bundles became individualized. The extraction time (30 or 60 min) did not affect the properties of the nanofibrillated cellulose, which presented a higher crystallinity index and thermal stability than the raw material (oat hulls). The nanocellulose formed interconnected webs of tiny fibers with diameters of 70-100 nm and lengths of several micrometers, producing nanofibers with a relatively high aspect ratio, thus indicating that these materials are suitable for polymer reinforcement.

This study aims to prepare biodegradable films from cassava starch, poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), and montmorillonite (MMT) using blow-extrusion process and analyze the effects of different types and concentrations of MMT on the microstructure, physicochemical, and mechanical properties of the resulting films. The films were produced by blending 30% of PBAT with glycerol (17.5%), starch (49.0-52.5%), and four different types of montmorillonite (Cloisite® Na+, 10A, 15A, and 30B) at two different concentrations (1.75% and 3.5%). All the films prepared in this study showed an increase in the basal spacing of MMT layers. In particular, the films with 10A and 30B showed the highest increase in intercalation basal spacing, suggesting the formation of intercalated composites. The addition of nanoclays decreased the elongation of films. The addition of Cloisite® 10A resulted in films with the lowest WVP values and the highest stability to water adsorption under different RH conditions.

A característica hidrofílica dos biomateriais a base de amido resulta em alta instabilidade diante de diferentes condições ambientais. O amido de aveia, por possuir um conteúdo maior de lipídios em relação a outros amidos, torna-se uma fonte interessante, uma vez que a hidrofobicidade aumentada pode atuar reduzindo sua capacidade de sorção de umidade. O objetivo do trabalho foi investigar o comportamento de filmes e laminados de amido de aveia, produzidos por casting e extrusão, respectivamente, plastificados com glicerol, sorbitol e ureia e armazenados em diferentes condições de umidade relativa. Mesmo com a presença do lipídio nativo, os materiais ainda mostraram instabilidade diante do aumento da umidade relativa de armazenagem, sendo observado um decréscimo na força e um aumento na deformação nos testes de perfuração. Em geral os biomateriais plastificados com glicerol apresentaram maior capacidade de sorção de água. O sorbitol foi o plastificante mais efetivo, pois produziu materiais com propriedades mecânicas similares aos outros plastificantes mesmo sendo usado em menor concentração molar. O processo de extrusão resultou em materiais finais com estruturas mais abertas e fragmentadas.

The hydrophilic character of starch-based biomaterials generates high instability under different environmental conditions. Oat starch shows an interesting alternative for starch films because it contains higher lipid content than other common starches. This increased hydrophobicity can act reducing the moisture sorption capacity. The objective of this study was to investigate the behavior of oat starch films and sheets produced by casting and extrusion, respectively, plasticized with glycerol, sorbitol and urea and stored at different relative humidity. Even with the presence of native lipid, the materials still showed instability upon increasing the relative humidity for storage. Under higher humidity, a decrease in strength and an increase in deformation in puncture tests were observed. Biomaterials plasticized with glycerol showed higher water sorption capacity. Sorbitol was the most effective plasticizer because it led to materials with similar mechanical properties to other plasticizers even at lower molar concentrations. The extrusion process resulted in final materials with more open, fragmented structures.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of thickness (between 80 and 120 µm) on apparent opacity, water vapor permeability and mechanical properties (tensile and puncture) of oat starch films plasticized with glycerol, sorbitol, glycerol:sorbitol mixture, urea and sucrose. Films were stored under 11, 57, 76 and 90% relative humidity (RH) to study the mechanical properties. It was observed that the higher the thickness, the higher was the opacity values. Films without the plasticizer were more opaque in comparison with the plasticized ones. Glycerol:sorbitol films presented increased elongation with increasing thickness at all RH. Puncture force showed a strong dependence on the film thickness, except for the films plasticized with sucrose. In general, thickness did not affect the water permeability.

The objectives of this work were to produce biodegradable composites using starch and different agro-industrial wastes (coconut fiber, soy bran and sugarcane bagasse) using a baking process, and to study the effects of these components on the resultant composite properties. The addition of different residues yielded trays with different properties. Samples manufactured with soy bran showed the highest density and water uptake at relative humidities ≥ 60%. The addition of sugarcane bagasse resulted in less dense and resistant samples whereas coconut fiber composites showed the highest breaking stress. The samples fabricated in this study represent an alternative packaging option for foods with low water content.

The objective of this work was to manufacture biodegradable films based on cassava starch, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT), using glycerol as a plasticizer. These films were characterized according to their microstructure, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties. The combination of starch-PVA-MMT resulted in films with a more homogeneous surface than starch films. The introduction of PVA into the starch matrix led to the formation of films with lower water vapor permeability (WVP), higher tensile strength and greater elongation. MMT was exfoliated in the films, resulting in greater stability for different relative humidities, lower WVP, higher resistance and lower flexibility.

The aim of this work was to manufacture the biodegradable nanocomposite films by extrusion from different combinations of cassava starch, xanthan gum and nanoclays (sodium montmorillonite - MMT- Na) and to characterize them according to their microstructure, optical, mechanical and barrier properties. Films were manufactured from nine starch/xanthan/nanoclay combinations, containing glycerol as plasticizer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the starch-xanthan extruded films showed reticulated surface and smooth interior, indicating that the gum was mostly concentrated on the surface of the films, while starch/xanthan/nanoclays films showed a more homogeneous surface, suggesting that the introduction of nanoclays provided a better biopolymeric interaction. In general, nanoclays addition (2.5 - 5.0, w%) generated more transparent and resistant films, with lower water vapor permeabilities and lower water sorption capacities and xanthan gum addition improved the elongation ofa starch films.

Biodegradable foams made from cassava starch, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), sugarcane bagasse fibers and chitosan were obtained by extrusion. The composites were prepared with formulations determined by a constrained ternary mixtures experimental design, using as variables: (X1) starch / PVA (100 - 70%), (X2) chitosan (0 - 2%) and (X3) fibers from sugar cane (0 - 28%). The effects of varying proportions of these three components on foam properties were studied, as well the relationship between their properties and foam microstructure. The addition of starch/PVA in high proportions increased the expansion index and mechanical resistance of studied foams. Fibers addition improved the expansion and mechanical properties of the foams. There was a trend of red and yellow colors when the composites were produced with the highest proportions of fibers and chitosan, respectively. All the formulations were resistant to moisture content increase until 75% relative humidity of storage.