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Abstract: Bio-based poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composite films were produced using unmodified soda micro- or nano-lignin as a green filler at four different contents, between 0.5 wt% and 5 wt%. The PLA– lignin composite polymers were synthesized by solvent casting to prepare a masterbatch, followed by melt mixing. The composites were then converted into films, to evaluate the effect of lignin content and size on their physicochemical and mechanical properties. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), supported by polarized light microscopy (PLM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to investigate the PLA crystallization and the interactions with Lignin (L) and Nanolignin (NL). The presence of both fillers (L and NL) had a negligible effect on the glass transition temperature (chain diffusion). However, it resulted in suppression of the corresponding change in heat capacity. This was indicative of a partial immobilization of the PLA chains on the lignin entities, due to interfacial interactions, which was slightly stronger in the case of NL. Lignin was also found to facilitate crystallization, in terms of nucleation; whereas, this was not clear in the crystalline fraction. The addition of L and NL led to systematically larger crystallites compared with neat PLA, which, combined with the higher melting temperature, provided indications of a denser crystal structure in the composites. The mechanical, optical, antioxidant, and surface properties of the composite films were also investigated. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus were improved by the addition of L and especially NL. The UV-blocking and antioxidant properties of the composite films were also enhanced, especially at higher filler contents. Importantly, the PLA–NL composite films constantly outperformed their PLA–L counterparts, due to the finer dispersion of NL in the PLA matrix, as verified by the TEM micrographs. These results suggest that bio-based and biodegradable PLA films filled with L, and particularly NL, can be employed as competitive and green alternatives in the food packaging industry.
Keywords: poly(lactic acid), PLA, lignin, nanolignin, composite films, nucleation, mechanical properties, antioxidant activity, food packaging
Published in DKUM: 26.03.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 1
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Keywords: food packaging, active packaging, colloids, PLA
Published in DKUM: 11.04.2024; Views: 224; Downloads: 27
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Abstract: Polimlečna kislina oz. PLA je popolnoma biološko razgradljiv polimer, ki velja za enega najbolj obetavnih polimerov na biološki osnovi in predstavlja odlično alternativo plastiki na osnovi nafte. Njen osnovni gradnik je mlečna kislina, ki nastane s fermentacijo sladkorjev pridobljenih iz obnovljivih virov. Namen magistrske naloge je bil preučiti recikliranje odpadne plastike iz PLA z uporabo podkritične vode, ki predstavlja zeleno in perspektivno tehnologijo. Preučili smo pridobitev tako glavnih (monomer PLA- mlečna kislina) kot tudi sekundarnih produktov (različne organske kisline). Eksperimente smo izvajali z dvema različnima materialoma PLA, in sicer osnovno PLA in odpadno PLA pri različnih temperaturah (180, 200, 250 in 300 °C), različnih reakcijskih časih (10, 20, 30 in 60 min) in v različnih atmosferah (dušik in zrak). Po reakciji razgradnje smo kot produkt dobili tri faze (trdno, vodno in plinasto fazo). V vseh primerih smo najvišje izkoristke dosegli v vodni fazi, medtem ko so se izkoristki trdne faze z zviševanjem temperature in reakcijskega časa, tekom reakcije razgradnje zniževali, izkoristki plinov pa naraščali. Glavni produkt razgradnje PLA je mlečna kislina, ki smo jo analizirali s HPLC metodo. Optimalni pogoji za pridobitev najvišje koncentracije mlečne kisline pri razgradnji osnovne PLA smo dosegli pri 250 °C in 30 min in je v zračni atmosferi znašala 43,6 mg/mL (87,2 %), medtem ko smo v dušikovi atmosferi pridobili malenkost nižjo koncentracijo mlečne kisline in sicer 43,4 mg/mL (86,6 %). Pri razgradnji odpadne PLA smo v vodni fazi zasledili nižje koncentracije mlečne kisline, saj odpadna PLA vsebuje tudi primesi in aditive, ki po reakciji ostanejo v trdnem ostanku. V vodni fazi smo v manjših koncentracijah pridobili tudi ocetno, mravljično, akrilno, oksalno in propanojsko kislino. Pri povišani temperaturi (300 °C) pa se mlečna kislina in sekundarni produkti pričnejo razgrajevati v pline. Vodni fazi smo določili tudi vsebnost totalnega ogljika (TC). Najvišjo koncentracijo TC smo določili pri razgradnji osnovne PLA (24,9 mg/mL) pri 250 °C in 30 min v zračni atmosferi . Na koncu smo s pomočjo FTIR analize okarakterizirali še trdni preostanek, ki je nastal po reakciji.
Keywords: bioplastika, polimlečna kislina (PLA), mlečna kislina, recikliranje, hidrotermična razgradnja, podkritična voda
Published in DKUM: 02.04.2024; Views: 318; Downloads: 6
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Abstract: This review provides a concise overview of up-to-date developments in the processing of neat poly(lactic acid) (PLA), improvement in its properties, and preparation of advanced materials using a green medium (CO2 under elevated pressure). Pressurized CO2 in the dense and supercritical state is a superior alternative medium to organic solvents, as it is easily available, fully recyclable, has easily tunable properties, and can be completely removed from the final material without post-processing steps. This review summarizes the state of the art on PLA drying, impregnation, foaming, and particle generation by the employment of dense and supercritical CO2 for the development of new materials. An analysis of the effect of processing methods on the final material properties was focused on neat PLA and PLA with an addition of natural bioactive components. It was demonstrated that CO2-assisted processes enable the control of PLA properties, reduce operating times, and require less energy compared to conventional ones. The described environmentally friendly processing techniques and the versatility of PLA were employed for the preparation of foams, aerogels, scaffolds, microparticles, and nanoparticles, as well as bioactive materials. These PLA-based materials can find application in tissue engineering, drug delivery, active food packaging, compostable packaging, wastewater treatment, or thermal insulation, among others.
Keywords: aerogels, drying, foaming, impregnation, particle generation, PLA
Published in DKUM: 06.02.2024; Views: 395; Downloads: 36
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Abstract: This research focuses on key priorities in the field of sustainable plastic composites that will lead to a reduction in CO2 pollution and support the EU’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. The main challenge is to develop high-performance polyphenol-reinforced thermoplastic composites, where the use of natural fillers replaces the usual chemical additives with non-toxic ones, not only to improve the final performance but also to increase the desired multifunctionalities (structural, antioxidant, and antibacterial). Therefore, poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composites based on Kraft lignin (KL) and tannin (TANN) were investigated. Two series of PLA composites, PLA-KL and PLA-TANN, which contained natural fillers (0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.5% (w/w)) were prepared by hot melt extrusion. The effects of KL and TANN on the PLA matrices were investigated, especially the surface physicochemical properties, mechanical properties, and antioxidant/antimicrobial activity. The surface physicochemical properties were evaluated by measuring the contact angle (CA), roughness, zeta potential, and nanoindentation. The results of the water contact angle showed that neither KL nor TANN caused a significant change in the wettability, but only a slight increase in the hydrophilicity of the PLA composites. The filler loading, the size of the particles with their available functional groups on the surfaces of the PLA composites, and the interaction between the filler and the PLA polymer depend on the roughness and zeta potential behavior of the PLA-KL and PLA-TANN composites and ultimately improve the surface mechanical properties. The antioxidant properties of the PLA-KL and PLA-TANN composites were determined using the DPPH (2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) test. The results show an efficient antioxidant behavior of all PLA-KL and PLA-TANN composites, which increases with the filler content. Finally, the KL- and PLA-based TANN have shown resistance to the Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli, but without a correlation trend between polyphenol filler content and structure.
Keywords: poly (lactic acid), Kraft lignin, tannin, multifunctionality of PLA composites, surface mechanical properties, antioxidant/antibacterial activity
Published in DKUM: 18.09.2023; Views: 495; Downloads: 209
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