Polymeric Films Based on Starch and lignosulfonates: Preparation, Properties and Evaluation of Biodegradation

We obtained polymer films from corn starch with lignin incorporation as lignosulfonate. The motivation is the use of starch in obtaining films, due to their potential for biodegradation, and the use of lignosulfonate waste from the pulp and paper industry. To obtain films of lignosulfonates various powders of lignosulfonate were used, varying type and proportion (1% to 4%). Analyses were performed on polymer films to compare thermal properties by Differential Scanning Calorimetry, and tensile properties in Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis, DMTA. We emphasize analyses of biodegradation and gas emission using gas chromatography. According to the results of DMTA, most polymeric films containing lignosulfonates showed lower tensile strength when compared to polymer films without lignosulfonates (1.024 MPa). However, the films containing lignosulfonate modified with sodium (Vixil S) showed higher tensile strength when compared to other films containing lignosulfonates (Vixil I and Vixil Tan). With some displacement of the main maximum peak temperatures for the films containing lignosulfonate (4% Vixil S), thermal analysis similarities between the two main types of polymer films (starch and starch with lignosulfonate) were observed. All materials are biodegradable, but higher CO2 and N2O emissions were observed for samples of the films containing 4% lignosulfonate type, Vixil S, compared to the samples without lignosulfonate.