Plant Oil Renewable-Resource-based Biodegradable Blends as Green Alternatives in Biopackaging

Abstract

This preliminary work reports the development of biodegradable films using blends of dehydrated castor oil epoxy (DCOE) with poly (methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA). The biodegradability characteristics of the blends were investigated using degradation in phosphate buffer, activated sludge, and soil burial test measurements. The results revealed that the blends with higher content of DCOE underwent higher degradation as compared to the blends with lower DCOE content. Among the DCOE/PMMA and DCOE/PMAA blends, the latter were found to exhibit higher degradation, which was explained with the help of a suitable mechanism.

Keywords:

• biodegradable
• blend
• dehydrated castor oil epoxy
• poly(methylmethacrylate)
• polymethacrylic acid
• renewable resource