Preparation and Characterization of Gelatin-Agarose and Gelatin-Starch Blends Using Alkaline Solvent

Plastic waste is a serious problem in modern society. Every day, mankind produces tons of waste that must be disposed of or recycled. The most common types of plastic waste are disposable tableware, bags, packaging, bottles, and containers, and not all are recycled. Therefore, there is a great interest in producing environmentally friendly disposable materials. In this study, modified gelatin blends using polysaccharides (e.g., agarose, starch) were produced to obtain a stable coating. Various techniques were used to characterize the obtained bioplastics, including FTIR spectroscopy (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis)/DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), contact angle measurements, and surface energy characterization. We also investigated the influence of thermal and microbiological degradation on the properties of the biocomposite. The addition of agarose increased the hardness of the blend by 27% compared to the control sample without added polysaccharides. Increases were also observed in the surface energy (24%), softening point (15%), and glass transition temperature (14%) compared to the control sample. The addition of starch to the biopolymer increased the softening point by 15% and the glass transition temperature by 6%. After aging, both blends showed an increase in hardness of 26% and a decrease in tensile strength of 60%.

Automated summary

Plastic waste is a major issue in modern society, and there is a need for environmentally friendly disposable materials. In this study, gelatin blends modified with polysaccharides were produced and characterized using various techniques. The addition of agarose increased the hardness, surface energy, softening point, and glass transition temperature of the blend. The addition of starch increased the softening point and glass transition temperature. Aging affected the hardness and tensile strength of both blends.