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Effect of Nanoclay Addition on the Biodegradability and Performance of Starch-Based Nanocomposites as Mulch Films

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Abstract

The biodegradation and performance of potential agricultural mulch films prepared from native and oxidized corn starch nanocomposites with chitosan-modified bentonite were studied under simulated soil test conditions. Samples were removed at different times and their wet and dry weights were registered. A photographic register of films appearance was also included. Bio-physicochemical changes along biodegradation progress were followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Results indicate that all samples degraded in a three step process and that they almost fully degrade by 100 days of testing. The chemical modification of starch and the addition of fillers did not produce significant differences in biodegradation rate. Microbial attack, mainly by fungal microorganisms started at the end of the first week and produced a 50% weight loss in approximately 35 days. Biological assays indicate that germination was negatively affected by proposed starch-based films.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (ANPCyT), National Research Council (CONICET), and the National University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP) for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo de Materiales Compuestos Termoplásticos (CoMP), Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (INTEMA), Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP) y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Colón 10850, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Danila Merino & Vera A. Alvarez

  2. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. UE CONICET-UNMDP, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Dean Funes 3250, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Andrea Y. Mansilla & Claudia A. Casalongué

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  1. Danila Merino
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  2. Andrea Y. Mansilla
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  3. Claudia A. Casalongué
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  4. Vera A. Alvarez
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Correspondence to Danila Merino.

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Appendix

Appendix

See Fig. 8.

Fig. 8
figure 8

SEM micrographs. a Presence of mycelium and spores in TPS-4%Bent at 23 days of testing ( × 1000), b Presence of hyphae and spores in TPS-4%Bent at 23 days of assay ( × 5000) and c Presence structures of the yeast type in the sample TPS-Ox-4%Bent at 98 days of testing ( × 1000)

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Merino, D., Mansilla, A.Y., Casalongué, C.A. et al. Effect of Nanoclay Addition on the Biodegradability and Performance of Starch-Based Nanocomposites as Mulch Films. J Polym Environ 27, 1959–1970 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-019-01483-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-019-01483-2

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