Suzana Mali

Microstructural characterization of yam starch films

Yam starch films were produced by thermal gelatinization of starch suspensions using different starch and glycerol concentrations and were compared to control samples without glycerol. Films were characterized by polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), X-ray diffraction, water vapor permeability (WVP) and water sorption isotherms. The polarized light microscopy and DSC data showed that starch gelatinization for film formation was complete. Plasticized films have a homogeneous structure as observed by SEM. At water activities >0.43, glycerol increased the equilibrium moisture content of the films due to its hydrophilic character. X-ray pattern of the yam films could be assigned to a B-type starch; during storage this pattern remained almost the same, however a slight recrystallization process could be observed. Amylopectin retrogradation was not observed by DSC with storage time of the films. Glass transition temperatures of films with glycerol were lower than those of control films as measured by DSC and TMA. WVP of yam starch films increased with the presence of glycerol.

Relationships among the composition and physicochemical properties of starches with the characteristics of their films.

The physical, molecular, and functional properties of corn, cassava, and yam starches were related to the film properties of these starches. Corn, cassava, and yam starches contained 25%, 19%, and 30% amylose, respectively. Amylose from yam starch showed the smallest molecular weight among the starches and amylopectin from corn starch the smallest molecular weight. Cassava starch presented a higher amylopectin content, and its gels and films were less strong, more transparent, and more flexible than corn and yam films. Plasticized films of the three starches were more flexible, with a higher strain and lower stress at break when the glycerol content increased. Unplasticized films were brittle and had water vapor permeability values ranging from 6.75 x 10(-10) to 8.33 x 10(-10) g m(-1) s(-1) Pa(-1). These values decreased when the glycerol content reached 20 g/100 g of starch because a more compact structure was formed. Then, at a glycerol content of 40 g/100 g of starch, the WVP increased because the film matrixes became less dense.

Development of biodegradable flexible films of starch and poly(lactic acid) plasticized with adipate or citrate esters

Biodegradable films were produced from blends contained a high amount of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) plasticized with different adipate or citrate esters. It was not possible to obtain pellets for the production of films using only glycerol as a plasticizer. The plasticization of the PLA with the esters and mixture stages added through extrusion was critical to achieve a blend capable of producing films by blow extrusion. Adipate esters were the most effective plasticizers because they interacted best with the PLA and yielded films with appropriate mechanical properties.

Cassava starch films containing acetylated starch nanoparticles as reinforcement: Physical and mechanical characterization

This paper reports the use of acetylated starch nanoparticles (NPAac) as reinforcement in thermoplastic starch films. NPAac with an average size of approximately 500 nm were obtained by nanoprecipitation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that NPAac are more thermally stable and essentially amorphous when compared with acetylated starch. Thermoplastic starch films with different proportions of NPAac (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 10.0%, w/w) were obtained and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water vapor permeability (WVP), adsorption isotherms, TGA and mechanical tests. The inclusion of reinforcement caused changes in film properties: WVP was lowered by 41% for film with 1.5% (w/w) of NPAac and moisture adsorption by 33% for film with 10% (w/w) of NPAac; and the Youngs modulus and thermal stability were increased by 162% and 15%, respectively, for film with 0.5% (w/w) of NPAac compared to the starch film without the addition of NPAac.

Properties of extruded xanthan-starch-clay nanocomposite films

The aim of this work was to manufacture the biodegradable nanocomposite films by extrusion from different combinations of cassava starch, xanthan gum and nanoclays (sodium montmorillonite - MMT- Na) and to characterize them according to their microstructure, optical, mechanical and barrier properties. Films were manufactured from nine starch/xanthan/nanoclay combinations, containing glycerol as plasticizer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the starch-xanthan extruded films showed reticulated surface and smooth interior, indicating that the gum was mostly concentrated on the surface of the films, while starch/xanthan/nanoclays films showed a more homogeneous surface, suggesting that the introduction of nanoclays provided a better biopolymeric interaction. In general, nanoclays addition (2.5 - 5.0, w%) generated more transparent and resistant films, with lower water vapor permeabilities and lower water sorption capacities and xanthan gum addition improved the elongation ofa starch films.

Citric acid as multifunctional agent in blowing films of starch/PBAT

Citric acid was used as a compatibilizer in the production of starch and PBAT films plasticized with glycerol and processed by blow extrusion. Films produced were characterized by WVP, mechanical properties, FT-IR-ATR and SEM. WPV ranged from 3.71 to 12.73×10-11 g m-1 s-1 Pa-1, while tensile strength and elongation at break ranged from 1.81 to 7.15 MPa and from 8.61 to 23.63%, respectively. Increasing the citric acid concentration improved WVP and slightly decreased film resistance and elongation. The films micrographs revealed a more homogeneous material with the addition of citric acid. However, the infrared spectra revealed little about cross-linking esterification reaction

Biodegradable foams based on starch, polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan and sugarcane fibers obtained by extrusion

Biodegradable foams made from cassava starch, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), sugarcane bagasse fibers and chitosan were obtained by extrusion. The composites were prepared with formulations determined by a constrained ternary mixtures experimental design, using as variables: (X1) starch / PVA (100 - 70%), (X2) chitosan (0 - 2%) and (X3) fibers from sugar cane (0 - 28%). The effects of varying proportions of these three components on foam properties were studied, as well the relationship between their properties and foam microstructure. The addition of starch/PVA in high proportions increased the expansion index and mechanical resistance of studied foams. Fibers addition improved the expansion and mechanical properties of the foams. There was a trend of red and yellow colors when the composites were produced with the highest proportions of fibers and chitosan, respectively. All the formulations were resistant to moisture content increase until 75% relative humidity of storage.

COMPÓSITOS BIODEGRADÁVEIS DE AMIDO DE MANDIOCA E RESÍDUOS DA AGROINDÚSTRIA

BIODEGRADABLE COMPOSITES BASED ON CASSAVA STARCH AND WASTE FROM AGRO-INDUSTRY. The objectives of this work were to produce biodegradable composites using starch and different agro-industrial wastes (coconut fiber, soy bran and sugarcane bagasse) using a baking process, and to study the effects of these components on the resultant composite properties. The addition of different residues yielded trays with different properties. Samples manufactured with soy bran showed the highest density and water uptake at relative humidities ≥ 60%. The addition of sugarcane bagasse resulted in less dense and resistant samples whereas coconut fiber composites showed the highest breaking stress. The samples fabricated in this study represent an alternative packaging option for foods with low water content.

Propriedades físicas de filmes biodegradáveis à base de amido de mandioca, álcool polivinílico e montmorilonita

The objective of this work was to manufacture biodegradable films based on cassava starch, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT), using glycerol as a plasticizer. These films were characterized according to their microstructure, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties. The combination of starch-PVA-MMT resulted in films with a more homogeneous surface than starch films. The introduction of PVA into the starch matrix led to the formation of films with lower water vapor permeability (WVP), higher tensile strength and greater elongation. MMT was exfoliated in the films, resulting in greater stability for different relative humidities, lower WVP, higher resistance and lower flexibility.

Efeito de fibras vegetais nas propriedades de compósitos biodegradáveis de amido de mandioca produzidos via extrusão

A preocupacao com o volume de lixo tem gerado interesse no desenvolvimento de embalagens biodegradaveis capazes de substituir, ao menos em parte, os plasticos convencionais sinteticos, como e o caso das embalagens de poliestireno expandido (Isopor). Ojvetivou-se,neste trabalho caracterizar, quanto ao indice de expansao (IE), densidade, indice de absorcao em agua (IAA), indice de solubilidade em agua (ISA) e cor (coordenadas L*, a* e b*), compositos biodegradaveis expandidos produzidos via extrusao, a partir da mistura de amido de mandioca, glicerol (plastificante) e dois tipos de fibras vegetais. Os compositos foram preparados em extrusora mono-rosca, com tres diferentes teores de fibras de aveia ou de cana-de-acucar (0, 5 e 10 g/100 g amido), dois teores de umidade (18 e 26%) e teor fixo de glicerol (20g/100 g solidos). A adicao das fibras nao afetou significativamente o IE, a densidade e o IAA, porem diminuiu o ISA dos materiais, o que e uma vantagem, favorecendo a utilizacao das fibras no reforco dos compositos. A adicao de fibras levou ao escurecimento das amostras, com decrescimo da luminosidade (L*) e, ainda, ao aumento nos valores dos parâmetros de cor a* e b*. Este estudo e passo fundamental para producao em escala industrial dos compositos, que necessitam de condicoes de processo que fornecam resultados reprodutiveis de expansao e capacidade de absorcao e solubilidade em agua, propriedades de grande importância nesses produtos.