Properties of Biocomposites Produced with Thermoplastic Starch and Digestate: Physicochemical and Mechanical Characteristics

Ekielski, Adam; Żelaziński, Tomasz; Mishra, Pawan Kumar; Skudlarski, Jacek

doi:10.3390/ma14206092

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…It was due to the weak interfacial bonding between the chain in polysaccharides and microcrystalline cellulose, weakening the strength of the biocomposite film. The highest strength achieved in this study (5.060 MPa) with the addition of 7% NCC was higher than that reported by Ekielski et al [44] but was still lower than the one developed by Zhao et al [16]. This difference could be explained by the differences in the molecular weight, type of filler, and the fibre sources of the developed NCCs in this study.…”

Section: Mechanical Propertiescontrasting

confidence: 70%

Properties of Biocomposite Film Based on Whey Protein Isolate Filled with Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Pineapple Crown Leaf

et al. 2021

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Among the main bio-based polymer for food packaging materials, whey protein isolate (WPI) is one of the biopolymers that have excellent film-forming properties and are environmentally friendly. This study was performed to analyse the effect of various concentrations of bio-based nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) extracted from pineapple crown leaf (PCL) on the properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) films using the solution casting technique. Six WPI films were fabricated with different loadings of NCC from 0 to 10 % w/v. The resulting films were characterised based on their mechanical, physical, chemical, and thermal properties. The results show that NCC loadings increased the thickness of the resulting films. The transparency of the films decreased at higher NCC loadings. The moisture content and moisture absorption of the films decreased with the presence of the NCC, being lower at higher NCC loadings. The water solubility of the films decreased from 92.2% for the pure WPI to 65.5% for the one containing 10 % w/v of NCC. The tensile strength of the films peaked at 7% NCC loading with the value of 5.1 MPa. Conversely, the trend of the elongation at break data was the opposite of the tensile strength. Moreover, the addition of NCC produced a slight effect of NCC in FTIR spectra of the WPI films using principal component analysis. NCC loading enhanced the thermal stability of the WPI films, as shown by an increase in the glass transition temperature at higher NCC loadings. Moreover, the morphology of the films turned rougher and more heterogeneous with small particle aggregates in the presence of the NCC. Overall, the addition of NCC enhanced the water barrier and mechanical properties of the WPI films by incorporating the PCL-based NCC as the filler.

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Section: Mechanical Propertiescontrasting

confidence: 70%

Properties of Biocomposite Film Based on Whey Protein Isolate Filled with Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Pineapple Crown Leaf

et al. 2021

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“…The digestate can also be used in the industrial production of biocomposites. According to Ekielski et al (2021), the addition of digestate has a positive effect on improving the physical and mechanical parameters of some biocomposites, e.g., films (coatings) made of thermoplastic starch [32]. However, returning to the main use of digestate in agriculture, its real impact on soil properties and biomass yield is still untapped.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficiency of Utilization of Wastes for Green Energy Production and Reduction of Pollution in Rural Areas

Borowski

Barwicki

2022

Energies

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The aim of the study is to present the possibilities of simultaneous production of green energy and reduction of pollution in rural areas. Actions taken by small family businesses are in line with the goals of a low-carbon economy. The paper presents the results of research on the possibility of using ecological energy for production and, at the same time, utilizing harmful waste generated in farms in rural areas. Within a month, a medium-sized biogas plant can produce about 35–40 GJ of energy (depending on the input material). Biogas production may be of significant importance from the point of view of environmental protection, especially in the case of overproduction of animal waste and slaughterhouse materials. The production and use of energy generated from agricultural waste give a great opportunity for diversification and an increase in income of family farms. In addition to financial, energy, and environmental gains, we can obtain a very valuable fertilizer that is easily absorbed by plants in field cultivation. Energy efficiency is an important parameter in biogas production. The possibility of reducing pollution in rural areas and the possibility of using digestate as a fertilizer and an innovative addition to biocomposites.

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“…On the other hand, it is worth adding that digestate sludge from an agricultural biogas plant can also be reused to produce biodegradable materials. Ekielski et al (2021) [10] showed that adding digestate to thermoplastic starch enabled the production of homogeneous biocomposites with a structure resembling a sheet or thick film. Furthermore, thermoplastic starch has emerged as a readily biodegradable and cheap biomaterial that can replace traditional plastics in applications such as food service and packaging [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pilot-Scale Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Food Waste and Polylactic Acid

Maragkaki

Tsompanidis²,

Velonia

et al. 2023

Sustainability

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Bioplastics are frequently utilized in daily life, particularly for food packaging and carrier bags. They can be delivered to biogas plants through a separate collection of the organic fraction of municipal waste (OFMSW). The increased demand for and use of bioplastics aimed at mitigating plastic pollution raises significant questions concerning their life cycle and compatibility with waste management units. Anaerobic digestion (AD) in OFMSW is a valuable resource for biogas production. In this work, the valorization of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) composed of food waste within the Biowaste to Bioplastic (B2B) Project framework was studied in laboratory and pilot-scale anaerobic liquid conditions. Taking into account that the addition of PLLA to biowaste can increase biogas production, we performed laboratory-scale anaerobic tests on food waste enriched with different molecular-weight PLLAs produced from food waste or commercial PLLA at a mesophilic temperature of 37 °C. PLLA with the highest molecular weight was subjected to AD on the pilot scale to further validate our findings. The addition of PLLA increased biogas production and had no apparent negative impact on the operation of the reactors used in the laboratory or on the pilot scale. Biogas production was higher when using PLLA with the lowest molecular weight. In the pilot-scale experiments, co-digestion of FW with PLLA increased biogas production by 1.1 times. When PLLA was added to the feed, biomethane was 8% higher, while volatile solids (VS) and total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) removal were almost the same. Importantly, no effect was observed in the operation of the digesters.

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Properties of Biocomposites Produced with Thermoplastic Starch and Digestate: Physicochemical and Mechanical Characteristics

Cited by 16 publications

References 46 publications

Properties of Biocomposite Film Based on Whey Protein Isolate Filled with Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Pineapple Crown Leaf

Properties of Biocomposite Film Based on Whey Protein Isolate Filled with Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Pineapple Crown Leaf

Efficiency of Utilization of Wastes for Green Energy Production and Reduction of Pollution in Rural Areas

Pilot-Scale Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Food Waste and Polylactic Acid

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