Feasibility of production starch/poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) biodegradable materials with microalgal biomass by blown film extrusion

Abstract

This research aimed to develop blends of corn starch and poly(butylene adipate-coterephthalate) (PBAT) films by blown film extrusion with the addition of biomass of Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CP). Two ultrasound tracts disrupted CP biomass: ultrasound bath and ultrasonic probe. The influence of CP biomass and disrupted CP biomass on the physical, mechanical, barrier, structural, and thermal properties of starch/PBAT films was evaluated. The film with higher content (5.0%) of CP biomass showed better values in tensile strength (TS) (4.37 MPa) and elongation (88.43%), and lower water vapor permeability (WVP) (5.19 Â 10 À11 g m À1 s À1 Pa À1 ) than the film incorporated with disrupted CP biomass. The ultrasound treatment applied to the cell disruption of the microalgae did not present improvements in the properties of the films. In this context, the cell disruption of CP biomass by ultrasound for incorporation into biodegradable films was not feasible. However, it was possible to produce starch/PBAT/microalgae films with potential application as food packaging due to natural bio-pigmentation's protection system against ultraviolet light. Practical ApplicationsFilms produced by blown extrusion from starch, PBAT, and CP microalgae biomass have the technological potential to be used as packaging for food products. Starch and PBAT blends are widely studied. The incorporation of PBAT is necessary to confer adequate mechanical properties to the extruded material. The plastic industries already use the blown extrusion method, allowing biodegradable packaging development on an industrial scale.