Large amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is consumed to remove the protein content in chitin biomass during deproteinization. However, excessive NaOH concentration used might lead to the reduction of cost effectiveness during chitin extraction. Hence, the present study aimed to extract and evaluate the physicochemical properties of chitin and chitosan isolated from superworm (Zophobas morio) larvae using 0.5M-2.0M of NaOH. The extracted chitin and chitosan were subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The 0.5M NaOH treatment resulted in the highest yield of chitin (5.43%), but produced the lowest yield (65.84%) of chitosan. The extracted chitin samples had relatively high degree of acetylation (DA) (82.39%-101.39%). Both chitin and chitosan showed smooth surface with tiny pores. The extracted chitin samples were confirmed as α-chitin based on the FT-IR and TGA. The chitin samples were amorphous with low degree of crystallinity. From TGA, the Chitosan 3 extracted was partially deacetylated. Both DPPH radical scavenging and ferric-chelating assay showed positive correlation with DD of chitosan isolates. However, the chitosan isolates were not fully dissolved, resulting in lower radical scavenging and ferric-chelating ability compared to commercial chitosan.

The effects of thermally grafting hydrolysed 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) onto kenaf-derived cellulose and the influence of incorporating them into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were investigated. Composites containing 30 wt.% cellulose (C) and silane-grafted cellulose (SGC) were melt-blended into PLA before being hot pressed into 0.3-mm films. The silane grafting of cellulose was confirmed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with the presence of Si-O-Si, Si-O-cellulose, -Si-C-, and Si-O-C bonds, and -NH 2 groups despite post ethanol washing. Using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), it was determined that the thermal stability of the cellulose improved by

To investigate epoxidized palm oil's (EPO) potential as plasticizer for poly(lactic acid) (PLA), its plasticizing effect was compared with commercialized epoxidized soybean oil (ESO). The plasticizers were respectively melt-compounded into PLA at 3, 5, 10, and 15 wt.%. As it was aimed for the blends to be characterized towards packaging appropriate for food products, they were hot-pressed into ~0.3-mm sheets, which is the approximate thickness of clamshell packaging. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the plasticizers' compatibility with PLA. At similar loadings, EPO was superior in reinforcing elongation at break (EAB), thermal, and barrier properties of PLA. The ductility of PLA was notably improved to 50.0% with addition of 3 wt.% of EPO. From thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), PLA/EPO5 improved PLA's thermal stability, while all PLA/ESO blends reported reduced thermal stability. From differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the increase in crystallinity and the shifts in enthalpy of fusions in all plasticized blends denoted facilitation of PLA to form thermally stable α-form crystals. The addition of EPO enabled PLA to become highly impermeable to oxygen, which can extend its potential in packaging extensive range of oxygen sensitive food.

A flaxseed mucilage-based edible film was developed with the addition of glycerol as a plasticizer. Various concentrations of glycerol were blended into the extracted mucilage, and the developed films were studied in terms of physical, mechanical, and morphological properties. As the glycerol concentration was increased from 1 to 5 wt%, the elongation at break of the films prominently increased, whereas the tensile strength and Young's modulus decreased. The film failed to form at 6 wt% glycerol inclusion. The developed film was slightly reddish and yellowish in color, with enhanced transparency as the glycerol concentration in the film increased. Overall, this work demonstrated that with the addition of glycerol as a plasticizer up to 5 wt%, a flaxseed mucilage-based edible film could be developed as a sustainable alternative for food and bioproduct coating or packaging.

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