Ranjith Jayasekara

Preparation, surface modification and characterisation of solution cast starch PVA blended films

Several blends have been prepared of polyvinyl alcohol, starch and glycerol. The blend containing 20% polyvinyl alcohol has been modified by application of chitosan to the surface. The blend, and its modified form have been characterised by atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, 13C-NMR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The blended films were flexible and homogeneous on a macroscopic scale but on a microscopic scale there seemed to be small patches of individual components. Surface modification altered some of the characteristics of the film. The blends had surface roughness intermediate between that of the pure components. The addition of chitosan made the film more hydrophobic than the unmodified film but slightly less than the starch film. There was no evidence of new bond formation among the individual components. Solution casting reduced the overall crystallinity in the blended films.

Developing biodegradable mulch films from starch-based polymers

This paper examines the development of starch-based plastics for use as biodegradable mulch film. A variety of starch-based polymers are blended with high performance biodegradable polyester polymers in order to determine the applicability of films to be processed on a film blowing line and to perform well in mulch film field trials. The process of material formulation, film blowing processing and scale-up and performance properties are highlighted for a successful material. Insights into future developments of starch-derived biodegradable polymers are given.

Biodegradation by Composting of Surface Modified Starch and PVA Blended Films

Several starch/PVA/glycerol polymer blends were prepared by a solution casting technique and examined for biodegradation by composting over 45 days. Within this time frame, the starch and glycerol components were fully degraded, leaving the PVA component essentially intact. The lowest PVA content film (20%) was selected as a polymer with enough PVA to impart important physical characteristics, but also enough starch to be considered biodegradable. The film characteristics were further improved by surface modification with chitosan. This modification did not interfere with the biodegradation of the starch component. Furthermore, there was slight evidence that PVA biodegradation had been initiated in composted, surface modified starch/PVA blends.

Biodegradation and ecotoxicity evaluation of a bionolle and starch blend and its degradation products in compost

A polymer based on a blend of starch and Bionolle(TM) has been prepared and tested for biodegradation in compost. The polymer was completely mineralised to carbon dioxide in 45 days. The potential toxicity of the polymer was tested against the earthworm Eisenia fetida using a modification of the American Standard for Testing Materials E1976-97. The earthworms were exposed to 30 g of the polymer for 28 days and changes in weight recorded. In addition, the polymer was firstly degraded by the compost and the worms exposed to the breakdown products for 28 days. Differences in weight were also recorded. In each case the production of juveniles was noted and all earthworms were examined for pathology. The results obtained were processed statistically using a t-test. The number of juveniles, produced from the breakdown products, was highly significant (P < 0.001) when compared to the earthworms added to the intact polymer. There was a definitely significant difference (P < 0.01, t = 3.25) in change in weight between the earthworms that were exposed to the polymer directly and those that were exposed to the breakdown products. There was no indication of any pathology of any earthworms. The polymer is considered safe for this species

Application of a quartz crystal microbalance to evaluate biodegradability of starch by Bacillus subtilis

Biodegradation of solution-cast starch films by Bacillus subtilis was monitored using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). A starch film was formed on the crystal by solution casting and exposed to the Bacillus subtilis culture in a bioreactor. The high sensitivity of the QCM could monitor small weight changes of the starch films on the crystal in the initial stages of biodegradation by secreted exo-enzymes of the bacterium. The feasibility of this approach as a means of quantification and characterisation of biodegradability of different polymeric materials by selected organisms is discussed.