| 1. |
- Capezza, Antonio Jose, et al.
(författare)
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Novel Sustainable Superabsorbents : A One-Pot Method for Functionalization of Side-Stream Potato Proteins
- 2019
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Ingår i: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 2168-0485. ; 7:21, s. 17845-17854
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The functionalization of inexpensive potato protein concentrate (PPC) is presented as a simple and easily scalable method to produce bio-based superabsorbent powders. Five nontoxic acylating agents were evaluated at different reaction temperatures for solvent-free acylation of the protein. The best results were obtained for succinic anhydride (SA) and a reaction temperature of 140 degrees C. These conditions resulted in efficient functionalization that provided formation of a useful network, which allowed high uptake of fluids and little material disintegration during the uptake, that is, due to protein hydrolysis during the functionalization. The SA-acylated PPC showed increased water and saline swelling capacities of 600 and 60%, respectively, as compared to untreated PPC. The acylated potato protein also showed a saline liquid holding capacity of approximately 50% after centrifugation at 1230 rpm for 3 min, as well as a significant blood swelling capacity of 530%. This blood swelling represents more than 50% of that of a commercial fossil-based superabsorbent (SAP) used for blood absorption in sanitary health products. The swelling properties of these inexpensive protein-based acylated materials highlight their potential as sustainable SAP materials (from industrial side-streams) in applications such as daily care products that are currently dominated by fossil-based SAPs.
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| 2. |
- Capezza, Antonio Jose, et al.
(författare)
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Superabsorbent and Fully Biobased Protein Foams with a Natural Cross-Linker and Cellulose Nanofibers
- 2019
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Ingår i: ACS Omega. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 2470-1343. ; 4:19, s. 18257-18267
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The development of fully natural wheat gluten foams showing rapid and high uptake of water, sheep blood, and saline solution, while maintaining high mechanical stability in the swollen state, is presented. Genipin was added as a natural and polar cross-linker to increase the polarity of the protein chains, whereas cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were added as a reinforcement/stiffener of the foams, alone or in combination with the genipin. The presence of only genipin resulted in a foam that absorbed up to 25 g of water per gram of foam and a more than 15 g uptake in only 8 min. In contrast, with CNF alone, it was not possible to maintain the mechanical stability of the foam during the water uptake and the protein foam disintegrated. The combination of CNF and genipin yielded a material with the best mechanical stability of the tested samples. In the latter case, the foam could be compressed repeatedly more than 80% without displaying any structural damage. The results revealed that a strong network had formed between the wheat gluten matrix, genipin, and cellulose in the foam structure. A unique feature of the absorbent/foam, in contrast to commercial superabsorbents, was that it was able to rapidly absorb nonpolar liquids (here, n-heptane) due to the open-cell structure. The capillary-driven absorption due to the open-cell structure, the high liquid absorption in the cell walls, and the mechanical properties (both in dry and swollen states) of these natural foams make them interesting as a sustainable replacement for a range of petroleum-based foam materials, including absorbent hygiene products such as sanitary pads.
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| 3. |
- Das, Oisik, et al.
(författare)
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The development of fire and microbe resistant sustainable gluten plastics
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 222, s. 163-173
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study shows the improvement of fire and microbe resistance of sustainable (protein) plastics (i.e. wheat gluten, WG), by using triethylene glycol diamine and dialdehyde. In addition, an anti-microbial agent (lanosol) was also used separately and in combination with the diamine/dialdehyde. The network formed by the diamine and dialdehyde, during the production of compression-moulded plates, resulted in high fire performance index, large amount of char and low thermal decomposition rate. The best fire resistance was obtained by the combination of the dialdehyde and lanosol, which also yielded a char with the intact surface. The peak-heat-release-rate of this material was only 38% of that of the pure gluten material. This material also showed anti-bacterial (E. coli) properties. However, the diamine was more effective than the combination of dialdehyde/lanosol. Gluten materials with diamine resisted mould growth during a 22 days test at a relative humidity of 100%. The gluten material with the lanosol applied to the sample surface resisted mould growth during a three-week test at both ambient temperature and 37 degrees C. Despite the relatively high contents of the difunctional reagents used (15 wt%), leading to an increased stiffness in most cases, only the network formed with glyoxal resulted in a decrease in water uptake as compared to the pure gluten material.
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