Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Bioplastic Film Obtained From Orange Peel

Abstract

Agro-industrial waste represent an important source of natural polymers for bioplastic obtention, intended for the replacement of materials derived from oil. Polysaccharides, as pectin from orange peel has the potential to be used as raw material for plastic industry, besides an additional value could be obtained from the orange peel that is a waste. In this work, we assessed mechanical and thermal properties of a film obtained from orange peel. Scanning electron microscopy showed a heterogeneous surface with grooves, owed to fibrous materials residues from orange peel. Elastic modulus stayed in the range 7.7–29.9 MPa, according to plasticizer content. By thermogravimetric analysis, we identified up to five events, according to film composition. These results indicate that pectin obtained possess suitable properties to be used as raw material for bioplastic fabrication.