Evaluation of the physical-chemical properties of blended films (starch + hemicellulose) and packaging application

• Grant number: 24/06791-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: November 23, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Michel Brienzo
• Grantee: Lucas La Scala
• Supervisor: Professor Joseph Patrick Kerry
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa em Bioenergia (IPBEN). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University College Cork (UCC), Ireland
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/13016-4 - Effect of thickness on the physicochemical properties of bioplastic composed of starch and hemicellulose, and the possibility of carrying seeds, BP.IC

Abstract

Contamination by plastics due to their non-biodegradable and accumulative nature is one of the main issues concerning the environment today. In order to reduce this contamination, the use of biodegradable plastics is proposed as an environmentally friendly alternative. The aim of this project is to evaluate the production of starch-based bioplastics in blends with hemicellulose, assessing the influence of adding 10% and 20% hemicellulose. The films will be evaluated for their physical and chemical properties and new treatments will be carried out, such as mocon water, oxygen barrier and its properties, surface tension, FT-NIR/MIR with microscopy DSC for thermal property assessment, also XRD and SEM testing. As a result of this project, films will be produced and tested and their possible commercial application will be evaluated