Riku A. Talja

Phase and state transition effects on dielectric, mechanical, and thermal properties of polyols

The present study investigated the glass transition, crystallisation and melting behaviour of erythritol, xylitol, and glucitol (sorbitol) using dielectric analysis (DEA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Sorbitol and xylitol were plasticised by water and their glass transition temperatures decreased when water content was increased. Erythritol crystallised rapidly, and its water plasticisation behaviour could not be determined. Melting of the crystalline polyols occurred at their specific melting temperatures. Melts of erythritol and xylitol crystallised on recooling and no glass transition was apparent on reheating. Quench cooled sorbitol melt remained amorphous and showed a glass transition on reheating. Glass transition and crystallisation were apparent in the DSC thermogram and the dielectric and the dynamic mechanical spectra of mixtures of amorphous and crystalline xylitol.

Effect of amylose content on physical and mechanical properties of potato-starch-based edible films.

The present study investigated the amylose content and the gelatinization properties of various potato starches extracted from different potato cultivars. These potato starches were used to prepare edible films. Physical and mechanical properties of the films were investigated. The crystallinity of selected native starches and edible films made of the same starches were determined by X-ray diffraction. The amylose content of potato starches varied between 11.9 and 20.1%. Gelatinization of potato starches in excess water occurred at temperatures ranging from 58 to 69 degrees C independently of the amylose content. The relative crystallinity was found to be around 10-13% in selected native potato starches with low, medium, and high amylose content. Instead, films prepared from the same potato starches were found to be practically amorphous having the relative crystallinity of 0-4%. The mechanical properties and the water vapor permeability of the films were found to be independent of the amylose content.

Simultaneous bench scale production of dissolving grade pulp and valuable hemicelluloses from softwood kraft pulp by ionic liquid extraction

Ionic liquid extraction of wood pulp has been highlighted as a highly potential new process for dissolving pulp production. Coproduction with a polymeric hemicellulose fraction was demonstrated in bench scale from softwood kraft pulp using extraction with the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIM OAc) and water. In total, the recovered pulp and hemicellulose fraction together yielded 95.5 wt.% of the pulp input. The extracted pulp had a remarkably high purity with an R18-value of 97.8%. The hemicellulose fraction consisted of galactoglucomannan, arabinoxylan and some cellulose and was precipitated from the ionic liquid-water mixture. After hydroxypropylation of the hemicellulose fraction, films were prepared and barrier and strength properties were compared to films from other polysaccharides. Reduced oxygen and water vapor permeation and good strength properties were demonstrated when compared to corresponding films from hydroxypropylated xylan from cold caustic extraction. The films have potential for applications in food packaging and edible films.