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Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is a widely studied biopolymer as an alternative to the use of conventional polymers. In this sense, the incorporation of fillers or reinforcements coming preferably from other substances of natural origin, can be an alternative to try to improve some mechanical and thermal properties of starch polymers. Thus, Kraft Lignin (KL), can be an excellent filler to be incorporated, since it presents mechanical and thermal properties and reduces the cost and weight of the final compounds. TPS films were prepared by casting using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent and additives with 2, 4 and 8% KL. Characterization of TPS films and compositions with KL were carried out by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Dynamic Thermomechanical Analysis (DMTA), tensile testing and contact angle. Samples were also analyzed for biodegradation and for the ability to remove contaminants in water, Metil Orange (MO), by Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The FT-IR spectra of the films showed bands typical of functional groups derived from starch and lignin, with the intensity of these bands varying among the samples studied. Micrographs revealed slightly different morphologies among the films, but all showed irregular shapes with structures that appeared as plots. Increasing the percentage of KL led to an increase in contact angle values, showing a more hydrophobic behavior. In the TGA analysis, it was possible to observe a change in the main degradation event of the films for lower temperatures, especially of TPS – 4 and 8% KL compared to the TPS film. Films with KL had the peak of maximum degradation shifted to temperatures below the starch film, where the decrease in intensity of the main peak in the TPS - 4% KL and TPS - 8% KL samples demonstrates that there was less mass loss in the event. There was also in the percentage of residue as the addition of KL was increased The DMTA analyses allowed for the conclusion that presence of KL in TPS film allowed for an increase in its energy storage property, and that the loss modulus followed a decreasing order of storage modulus values to TPS - 8% KL from TPS. For the tensile strength property only TPS - 4% KL has significant improvement, and the elongation at break showed an increase for TPS – 4 and 8% KL compared to TPS. Samples showed a continuous and progressive biodegradation process, being completely biodegraded within 10 days. The monitoring of the ability to remove contaminants from water by UV–Vis, also showed promising results of compounds for this application. The best results were obtained, in most tests, for the TPS- 4% KL films. • Improvement in thermal and mechanical properties in TPS films with KL • The increase in the KL percentage led to a more hydrophobic behavior in TPS films. • Using of KL as a material of added value for improvement of the thermal properties of TPS • The presence of lignin slow down the biodegradation process in TPS films • The KL reduces the mass loss of the TPS film, and can be applied in controlled release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on developing and enhancing the properties of durian peel fiber (DPF) reinforced thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS) composites. The proposed DPF was extracted from agro-waste and incorporated into TPCS with various contents of DPF (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt%) via compression molding. The mechanical and thermal characteristics of the fabricated composites were studied. The thermal properties of the biocomposite were improved with the addition of DPF, as evidenced by an increase in the material's thermal stability and indicated by a higher onset decomposition temperature. The integration of DPF into TPCS improved the biodegradation rate process of the composites. Besides, the results indicated that incorporating DPF in TPCS composites enhanced tensile and flexural properties, with a 40 wt% DPF content exhibited the highest modulus and strength. The tensile and flexural strengths of TPCS/DPF composites were raised significantly from 2.96 to 21.89 MPa and 2.5 to 35.0 MPa, respectively, compared to the control TPCS sample, as DPF increased from 0 to 40 wt%. This finding was consistent with Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron micrograph (SEM), which showed good interaction between DPF and TPCS matrix. The analysis revealed that DPF at a 40 wt% ratio was the best composition compared to the other ratio. Finally, based on improved results, DPF was identified as a potential resource of green reinforcement for the biodegradable TPCS matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil burial degradation was confirmed to be an efficient waste disposal method for the biodegradable materials with short service life, such as starch/poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composite. The biodegradation behavior about chemical and thermal properties of starch/PLA composite was analyzed by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared microscopy (IRM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). XPS and IRM results indicated that the biodegradation of PLA occurred at the ester groups in PLA chains. XPS demonstrated the cleavage of C O linkages between glucose rings in starch. DSC and TGA results showed that the starch/PLA composite degraded faster than the pure PLA. During the soil burial degradation, the glass transition temperature of starch/PLA composite exhibited an obviously decrease while it had a slight variation for PLA. The thermal stability of starch/PLA composite shifted towards to that of PLA when they were subjected to soil burial for the same time. It is established that the starch can accelerate the degradation of PLA-based materials, which will enlarge the markets of biodegradable PLA materials used for short service life products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]