The sustainable cycle of a new cacao-based bioplastic: from manufacturing to exploitable biodegradation products

Author(s)

de Andrade Almeida, Allan Calmont ^[1] ; de Moraes Pontes, Joao Guilherme ^[1] ; Alvarenga, Gabriel Rodrigues ^[1] ; Finocchio, Henrique ^[2] ; Fill, Taicia Pacheco ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Lab Biol Quim Microbiana LABIOQUIMI, Organ Chem, UNICAMP, POB 6154, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Afinko Solucoes Polimeros, BR-13570591 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: RSC ADVANCES; v. 11, n. 48, p. 29976-29985, SEP 8 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The exponential growth of plastic consumption in the last decade became a large economic and ecological issue; therefore, strategies have been used to mitigate the environmental impacts, including the manufacture of biodegradable bio-based plastics and biodegradation strategies. Herein, a new bio-based plastic was developed consisting of a polymeric recyclable matrix (polyethylene or polypropylene) with a vegetal polymeric material from cocoa husk. Mechanical and rheological properties were evaluated and the new material showed interesting tensile strength compared to completely non-biodegradable plastics. The new polymeric material was submitted to biodegradation processes using different fungi species. The biodegradation caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Xylaria sp. and Fusarium graminearum in the new polymeric material was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and tensile tests. Furthermore, ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) were applied to identify metabolites produced in consequence to the biodegradation process. Interestingly, some compounds produced present high economic value. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/20930-6 - Biodegradation and metabolic studies of phytopathogenic fungi from cocoa
• Grantee: Allan Calmont de Andrade Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 19/06359-7 - Understanding the chemical factors involved in the endophytism x pathogenicity of different Penicillium brasilianum isolates
• Grantee: Taicia Pacheco Fill
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/24462-4 - Understanding the virulence strategies of Penicillium digitatum against the host citrus
• Grantee: Taicia Pacheco Fill
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/03670-0 - Prospecting for anticancer secondary metabolites produced by phytopathogenic fungi
• Grantee: Jaqueline Moraes Bazioli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master