Mechanical Reinforcement by Microalgal Biofiller in Novel Thermoplastic Biocompounds from Plasticized Gluten

Abstract

The aim of this work was to develop new bioplastic compounds from wheat gluten, biobased plasticizers (glycerol, octanoic acid and 1,4-butanediol), and microalgal biomass as a filler. The effects of the composition on tensile properties, thermal stability, and water sensitivity were investigated. Microalgal biomass was added with the selected quantities: 10, 20, and 30 per hundred parts (php). Mechanical mixing of the components, i.e., gluten, plasticizer, and microalgae, was followed by molding in a hot press. Microlgal filler improved mechanical properties of the plasticized gluten material: in samples plasticized with 1,4-butanediol, 30 php of biomass increased the tensile modulus by nearly one order of magnitude, from 36.5 MPa to 273.1 MPa, and it also increased the tensile strength from 3.3 MPa to 4.9 MPa. The introduction of microalgal biomass slightly increased the surface sensitivity against water: 30 php of biomass reduced the water contact angle from 41° to 22° in samples plasticized with glycerol, but the biomass lowered the overall water absorption kinetics for material with each plasticizer. Microalgal biomass proved therefore to be an interesting sustainable resource with which to develop materials based on gluten, in particular to increase the mechanical properties of the compounds without reducing thermal stability or water resistance.

Mechanical and Physicochemical Properties of 3D-Printed Agave Fibers/Poly(lactic) Acid Biocomposites

“…Common polymer matrices employed in FDM techniques include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonates (PC), polyamides, polystyrene (PS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene (PE), and polylactic acid (PLA) [ 11 ]. Recently, efforts have been focused on the production and use of sustainable and renewable bioplastics (such as PLA) for a wide variety of applications, from packaging to engineering, and biomedical devices, replacing petroleum-based plastics [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. PLA is a thermoplastic biopolymer belonging to the family of aliphatic polyesters.…”

Sustainable Materials and their Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Critical Review Based on an Italian Example

“…For this aim, a new chemistry approach, the so-called “Azure Chemistry”, was recently proposed [ 38 ], to restore or reconstruct the ecosystems by employing materials and technologies that are truly environmentally sustainable. For example, microalgal was used as filler in the production of bioplastic [ 59 ] (SDGs 14–15). To close the circle after their uses in bio-remediation, these microalgae can be used as a biofuel source [ 60 ] (SDG 11).…”

Production, Preparation and Characterization of Microalgae-Based Biopolymer as a Potential Bioactive Film

“…The use of microalgal biomass has been focused on obtaining high-value products as well as biofuels. Importantly, algae products and their high-value compounds (e.g., amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals, trace elements, phytohormones, sterols, and organic compounds and oils) are currently considered as alternatives to biofertilizers, biostimulants, [7,23], bioplastics [24][25][26], and liquid fossil fuels [27], among others.…”