Preparation and characterization of biodegradable thermoplastic films based on collagen hydrolyzate

Abstract

The increasing use of plastics and their nonbiodegradability have raised environmental awareness and hence there is a need for the development of environmentally friendly degradable materials. One of the ways to reach this goal is via the modification of the synthetic polymer, modified polyethylene (MPE), with protein, collagen hydrolyzate (CH). CH is a biopolymer isolated from hide/skin fleshing of untanned solid waste from the leather industry after enzymatic hydrolysis. An investigation on the blending of MPE with CH using polymer melt technique is reported. The resulting thermoplastic films were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM), in addition to simulated soil burial respirometric testing. It is interesting to note that CH easily blends with MPE, but like other biopolymers, it also has effects on the original mechanical properties of the MPE. The CH addition in the blend significantly increases the biodegradation rate. The effect of CH on MPE biodegradability has been investigated. About 53% biodegradation is observed, after 24 days, when the polymer is blended with 5% CH and about 63% biodegradation is found in the case of polymer blended with 20% CH. Although MPE/CH thermoplastic film with 40% CH have shown better performance in biodegradation, the mechanical strength properties were rather poor in this case. The optimum thermoplastic film composition for blending of CH with MPE is about 10-20 wt % CH, which retains an acceptable range of compatibility, mechanical strength, and biodegradability.

Physico‐mechanical, thermal, and ultraviolet light barrier properties of collagen hydrolysate films from leather solid wastes incorporated with nano TiO2

“…It is commonly accepted that the TS of packaging film must be more than 3.5 MPa, according to conventional standards . Haroun found the TS of the modified polyethylene films (8 MPa) was better than the TS of the modified polyethylene/CH films.…”

Prediction of the variation of PGA strength during hydrolysis by a combination of empirical equation, density functional theory calculation, and molecular dynamics simulation

“…Natural or synthetic polymers with biologically decomposable characteristics, such as collagen, 1 chitin, 2 chitosan 3 proteins, 4 polyhydroxybutyrate(PHB), 5 polylactic acid (PLA), 6 polyglycolic acid (PGA) 7 and polypropylene (PP), 8 have been used extensively in physical and cosmetic surgery for surgical sutures, vascular stents, 9 and cartilage supports 10 in recent years. 11 Such materials will gradually break down and be decomposed after the parts they support within the human body gradually recover to their original functioning.…”

Improving the water resistance of biodegradable collagen films

“…The raw material collagen is a natural and renewable resource,6 which can be obtained, for example, as a byproduct from leather production7 and is therefore readily available 6. Furthermore, collagen is highly biodegradable as opposed to petroleum‐based plastics, which are biologically inert for many years or even decades and therefore are not or are only partially compostable 8. In addition, collagen as biomaterial is physiologically harmless and approved for the food industry 6.…”