The effects of supercritical carbon dioxide on the degradation and antimicrobial properties of PLA biocomposite
Biopolymer products that is biodegradable presently attracting an attention from researchers and industry. The biodegradable packaging based on polylactic acid (PLA), durian skin fibre (DSF), epoxidized palm oil (EPO) and incorporated with cinnamon essential oil (CEO) as antimicrobial agent have...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
IIUM Press, International Islamic University Malaysia
2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/79057/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/79057/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/79057/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/79057/1/1140-Article%20Text-7687-2-10-20200116%20%281%29.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/79057/7/79057_THE%20EFFECTS%20OF%20SUPERCRITICAL%20CARBON%20DIOXIDE_wos.pdf |
| Summary: | Biopolymer products that is biodegradable presently attracting an attention
from researchers and industry. The biodegradable packaging based on polylactic acid
(PLA), durian skin fibre (DSF), epoxidized palm oil (EPO) and incorporated with
cinnamon essential oil (CEO) as antimicrobial agent have been developed and showed to
be a promising field of research. This paper reported the effects of supercritical carbon
dioxide on the degradation and antimicrobial properties of PLA biocomposite films
produced via solvent casting. The biocomposites underwent supercritical carbon dioxide
(SCCO2) treatment at two different conditions under 40 °C temperature and at 100 bar and
200 bar pressure. Water absorption test showed that the untreated PLA biocomposite
absorbed most water as compared to treated PLA biocomposite with SCCO2 at 5.1%. This
is due to the hydrophilic nature of the fibre that absorbed water molecules. Soil burial test
showed that the treated PLA biocomposite possessed the highest value of weight losses
after 80 days with 97.8%. Biocomposite with the presence of CEO demonstrated
antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. This showed
that SCCO2 significantly improved the properties of PLA biocomposite films. The
supercritical fluid treatment of PLA biocomposite could be an alternative for active
packaging industries to ensure that the packaging product meets the requirement by
consumers as well as being an eco-friendly product. |
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