The use of formic acid as a common solvent for electrospinning of hybrid PHB/Soy protein fibers

The use of polymers naturally derived from green sources meet the requirements for the development of new sustainable and biodegradable materials. Soy protein (SP) are one of the most processed plant proteins which contain essential amino acid and valuable functional properties which could essentially tailor the hydrophobic poly beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biodegradable matrix. Novel blend nanofibrous nonwoven from SP and PHB at different proportions and increased hydrophilicity were successfully obtained by electrospinning from formic acid (FA) as a common solvent. The morphology and structure of electrospun blend nanofibers were investigated by SEM, FT-IR and WAXD analysis.

Automated summary

In this study, novel biodegradable materials were developed by using soy protein and poly beta-hydroxybutyrate, with blend nanofibers successfully obtained through electrospinning technique to enhance hydrophilicity. The research findings offer new insights for the development of sustainable and recyclable materials.