Preparation and Characterization of Dual-Modified Cassava Starch-Based Biodegradable Foams for Sustainable Packaging Applications

Abstract

Starch and its derivatives have recently emerged as a sustainable and renewable alternative for petroleum-based expanded polystyrene (EPS) and expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam materials. In this study, biodegradable foam materials were prepared from cassava starch using a novel dual modification technique, combining microwave treatment and freeze-drying. The foam materials were prepared from starch solutions microwaved over different intervals. The starch-based foam materials were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance ( 13 C-NMR) spectroscopy, and compression set test. Moreover, the water absorption capacities and density values of the foam materials were measured according to ASTM standards. The biodegradability test was carried out according to the aerobic compost environment test. The lowest water absorption capacities of 65.56% and 70.83% were exhibited for the cassava starch foam sample (MWB) prepared at a 20 s microwave treatment time and immersed in distilled water for 2 and 24 h, respectively. Furthermore, the lightweight cassava starch-based foam materials displayed density ranging from 124 to 245 kg/m 3 . The biodegradation test exhibited significant biodegradation of over 50% after 15 days for all the foam materials prepared. These results suggest that the dual-modified cassava starch-based biodegradable foams show potential in sustainable packaging applications by replacing petroleum-based materials.

Research progress on the application of tristate water in preparation of starch‐based foaming materials

“…[ 31 ] Water molecules can combine with starch to form hydrogen bonds, weakening the original hydrogen bonds between starch molecular chains, and finally achieving the purpose of plasticization. [ 32 ] Sumedha et al [ 33 ] studied the mechanism of water weakening starch hydrogen bonds. Due to the existence of a large number of hydrogen bonds in starch, the molecular chain formed a double helix structure, and a large number of molecular chains agglomerated and curled to form granules, and the affinity between molecules is large, so that viscous flow temperature is higher than decomposition temperature, therefore, natural starch does not have the thermoplastic properties of linear polymer plastics.…”

“…The cell growth process is complex, and there is an instantaneous transfer of mass, momentum, and energy between the expanded cell and the medium around the cell. The process of curing the bubble hole is generally done by cooling to make F I G U R E 1 Possible form of hydrogen bond between water and starch [33] F I G U R E 2 X-ray diffraction (XRD) of water plasticized starch the viscosity of the melt rise and gradually lose fluidity, thus, curing the shape. In the process of cell growth and solidification, adjacent cells tend to merge, and the greater the difference in the radius of adjacent cells, the greater the possibility of cell merger, when the degree of cell expansion exceeds the bearing capacity of the cell walls, rupture and collapse will occur, and due to the thermodynamic preference of gas-liquid phase separation, water vapor has a tendency to escape through the pore walls.…”

CHARACTERIZATION OF BIODEGRADABLE FOAMS OBTAINED FROM CASSAVA STARCH WITH THE ADDITION OF SOY PROTEIN AND CaCo3 AS BLOWING AGENT

“…The foam was weighed again to obtain final weight of the foam. The initial and final foam weight differences are recorded as the amount of water absorbed by the biodegradable foam following equation 1 [20].…”

“…Preliminary weighing was done to determine the weight of foam before being buried in the soil. After being buried in the soil, it was often weighed to find out the degraded biodegradable foam following equation 2 [20].…”

Novel and Facile Synthesis of Biodegradable Plastic Films from Cornmeal by Using the Microwave Polymerization Technique

“…Extrusion and injection molding are some additional techniques used in the production of biodegradable plastic [14]. Microwave heating is yet another important process to produce different kinds of biodegradable plastic and composites [15,16].…”