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Microbial treatment of biodegradable wastes not only ensures neutralization of harmful substances such as volatile organic compounds but also enables valorization and bio-circularity within the society. Single cell protein (SCP) is a value-added product that can be obtained from biodegradable waste materials such as food waste via microbial fermentation. In this article, SCP derived from potato starch waste was demonstrated as a viable alternative to existing plant/animal proteins used in the production of films, for example, packaging applications. Flexible glycerol-plasticized SCP films were prepared through compression molding, and tensile tests revealed strength and stiffness similar to other plasticized protein films. The oxygen barrier properties were significantly better compared to the common polyethylene packaging material, but as with other highly polar materials, the SCP material must be shielded from moisture if used in, for example, food packaging. The biodegradation test revealed a similar degradation pattern as observed for a household compostable bag. The results showed that SCP-based bioplastic films can be considered as potential alternative to the existing plant/animal protein films and certain synthetic polymers. An important advantage with these protein materials is that they do not cause problems similar to microplastics., QC 20210629

På grund av ökad användning av plast har biobaserade polymerer som förpackningsmaterialfått stor uppmärksamhet de senaste åren på grund av miljöhänsyn. Flera proteinmaterial, t.ex.vetegluten har varit i fokus för betydande forskning kring ny biobaserad plast och resultatenär lovande. Det idag stora intresset för biobaserad och miljövänlig plast beror påväxthuseffekten från konventionell petroleumbaserad plast. Ett proteinmaterial från undersöktes här för dess plastmaterialegenskaper. Proteinrenheten varca. 65%. Filmerna skapades genom att först mala proteinflingorna till ett fint pulver ochblanda det med glycerol. Glycerolhalten var 30 %. Därefter varmpressades materialet. För atttesta plasten användes flera tekniker och metoder. TGA, DSC, FT-IR, WVTR, OTR ochdragprovning. I allmänhet var materialet relativt svagt. Liksom de flesta proteinplaster hadedet också dåliga vattenbarriäregenskaper, men hade relativt goda syrebarriäregenskaper. Sammanfattningsvis är det ett material som kan ha en ljus framtid eftersom det är tillverkat avbiomassa istället för petroleum, vilket innebär att det är mer miljövänligt. Med modifieringkan det bli en bra plast för flera ändamål., Due to increase use of plastics, bio-based polymers as packaging materials have garneredmuch attention in recent years due to environmental concerns. Several protein materials, e.g.wheat gluten, have been in focus for significant research towards new biobased plastics andresults are promising. Bio-based and environmentally friendly plastics gather much interestand attention today due to the green-house generating effects of conventional petroleum-basedplastics. A protein material was investigated here for its plastic material properties. The protein puritywas ca. 65 %. The films were created by first grinding the protein flakes to a fine powder andmixing it with glycerol. The glycerol content was 30 %. The material was subsequently hotpressed.To test the plastic, multiple techniques and methods were used. TGA, DSC, FT-IR, WVTR,OTR and tensile testing. In general, the material was relatively weak. As most protein plasticsit had also poor water barrier properties, however it had relatively good oxygen-barrierproperties. In conclusion it is a material that could have a bright future as it is made from biomass insteadof petroleum, which means that it is more environmentally friendly. With modification andimprovement, it can be a good plastic for several applications in future.