Abstract
In order to overcome the problem that represents the use of agricultural polyethylene-mulch films a bio-based and biodegradable alternative based on starch was proposed and evaluated. Starch phosphorylation followed by surface functionalization with chitosan was carried out in films made from corn (Zea mays) starch. The potential agricultural mulch films were manufactured from native and phosphorylated corn starch. The modification of the starch was made by means of two methodologies: wet chemistry by means of aqueous suspension method followed by extrusion and reactive extrusion in a single step. All film systems done were then obtained by thermo-molding. Thermal, barrier, mechanical and morphological characterization was carried out in order to evaluate the potential of these materials as agricultural mulches. The results suggested that the modification made on the starch and surface functionalization were not adequate to achieve the recommended properties for the agricultural usage. Phosphorylated starch films, however, showed adequate barrier and thermal properties, despite that their mechanical behavior still needs to be improved.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Mormile P, Stahl N, Malinconico M (2017) The world of plasticulture. Springer, Berlin, pp 1–21
Briassoulis D (2006) Mechanical behaviour of biodegradable agricultural films under real field conditions. Polym Degrad Stab 91:1256–1272. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.POLYMDEGRADSTAB.2005.09.016
Briassoulis D, Hiskakis M, Babou E (2013) Technical specifications for mechanical recycling of agricultural plastic waste. Waste Manag 33:1516–1530. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2013.03.004
Merino D, Mansilla AY, Casalongue C, Alvarez VA (2016) Propiedades fisicoquímicas y antibacteriales de mezclas PLA-Quitosano obtenidas por casting con potencial uso como acolchados agrícolas. Av Cienc Ing 7:27–39
Finkenstadt VL, Tisserat B (2010) Poly(lactic acid) and Osage Orange wood fiber composites for agricultural mulch films. Ind Crops Prod 31:316–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.INDCROP.2009.11.012
Ma Z, Ma Y, Qin L et al (2016) Preparation and characteristics of biodegradable mulching films based on fermentation industry wastes. Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 111:54–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IBIOD.2016.04.024
Liling G, Di Z, Jiachao X et al (2016) Effects of ionic crosslinking on physical and mechanical properties of alginate mulching films. Carbohydr Polym 136:259–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CARBPOL.2015.09.034
Martín-Closas L, Costa J, Pelacho AM (2017) Agronomic effects of biodegradable films on crop and field environment. Springer, Berlin, pp 67–104
Briassoulis D, Giannoulis A (2018) Evaluation of the functionality of bio-based plastic mulching films. Polym Test 67:99–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.POLYMERTESTING.2018.02.019
Mitrus M (2010) TPS and its nature. In: Thermoplastic starch. Wiley, Weinheim, pp 77–104
Seligra PG, Medina Jaramillo C, Famá L, Goyanes S (2016) Biodegradable and non-retrogradable eco-films based on starch–glycerol with citric acid as crosslinking agent. Carbohydr Polym 138:66–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.11.041
Alvarez V, Guarás M, Gutiérrez TJ (2017) Reactive extrusion for the production of starch-based biopackaging. In: Biopackaging. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 308–336
Scott G (1997) Abiotic control of polymer biodegradation. Trends Polym Sci 5:361–368
Merino D, Mansilla AY, Gutiérrez TJ et al (2018) Chitosan coated-phosphorylated starch films: water interaction, transparency and antibacterial properties. React Funct Polym. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.REACTFUNCTPOLYM.2018.08.012
Merino D, Casalongué C, Alvarez VA (2018) Polysaccharides as eco-nanomaterials for agricultural applications. In: Handbook of ecomaterials. Springer, Cham, pp 1–22
American Society for Testing and Materials (2002) ASTM E96-00e1 - Standard test methods for water vapor transmission of materials. ASTM International, West Conshohocken
ASTM D882-18 (2018) Standard test method for tensile properties of thin plastic sheeting
Gutiérrez TJ, Morales NJ, Pérez E et al (2015) Physico-chemical properties of edible films derived from native and phosphated cush-cush yam and cassava starches. Food Packag Shelf Life 3:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FPSL.2014.09.002
Wilhelm HM, Sierakowski MR, Souza GP, Wypychc F (2003) Starch films reinforced with mineral clay. Carbohydr Polym 52:101–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0144-8617(02)00239-4
Gutiérrez TJ, Tapia MS, Pérez E, Famá L (2015) Structural and mechanical properties of edible films made from native and modified cush-cush yam and cassava starch. Food Hydrocoll 45:211–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FOODHYD.2014.11.017
Li G, Zeng J, Gao H, Li X (2011) Characterization of phosphate monoester resistant starch. Int J Food Prop 14:978–987. https://doi.org/10.1080/10942910903514669
Landerito NA, Wang Y-J (2005) Preparation and properties of starch phosphates using waxy, common, and high-amylose corn starches. I. Oven-heating method. Cereal Chem J 82:264–270. https://doi.org/10.1094/CC-82-0264
Landerito NA, Wang Y-J (2005) Preparation and properties of starch phosphates using waxy, common, and high-amylose corn starches. II. Reactive extrusion method. Cereal Chem J 82:271–276. https://doi.org/10.1094/CC-82-0271
Gutiérrez TJ, Morales NJ, Tapia MS et al (2015) Corn starch 80:20 “waxy”: regular, “native” and phosphated, as bio-matrixes for edible films. Procedia Mater Sci 8:304–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MSPRO.2015.04.077
Niazi MBK, Broekhuis AA (2015) Surface photo-crosslinking of plasticized thermoplastic starch films. Eur Polym J 64:229–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.01.027
Galicia-García T, Martínez-Bustos F, Jiménez-Arevalo O et al (2011) Thermal and microstructural characterization of biodegradable films prepared by extrusion–calendering process. Carbohydr Polym 83:354–361. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CARBPOL.2010.07.050
Muhrbeck P, Svensson E, Eliasson A-C (1991) Effect of the degree of phosphorylation on the crystallinity of native potato starch. Starch–Stärke 43:466–468. https://doi.org/10.1002/star.19910431204
Colivet J, Carvalho RA (2017) Hydrophilicity and physicochemical properties of chemically modified cassava starch films. Ind Crops Prod 95:599–607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.11.018
Chakraborty D, Nagarajan S, Aggarwal P et al (2008) Effect of mulching on soil and plant water status, and the growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a semi-arid environment. Agric Water Manag 95:1323–1334. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AGWAT.2008.06.001
Zhao H, Wang R-Y, Ma B-L et al (2014) Ridge-furrow with full plastic film mulching improves water use efficiency and tuber yields of potato in a semiarid rainfed ecosystem. Field Crops Res 161:137–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FCR.2014.02.013
Steinmetz Z, Wollmann C, Schaefer M et al (2016) Plastic mulching in agriculture. Trading short-term agronomic benefits for long-term soil degradation? Sci Total Environ 550:690–705. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2016.01.153
Wortman SE, Kadoma I, Crandall MD (2015) Assessing the potential for spunbond, nonwoven biodegradable fabric as mulches for tomato and bell pepper crops. Sci Hortic 193:209–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCIENTA.2015.07.019
Briassoulis D (2004) An overview on the mechanical behaviour of biodegradable agricultural films. J Polym Environ 12:65–81. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOOE.0000010052.86786.ef
Sanyang M, Sapuan S, Jawaid M et al (2015) Effect of plasticizer type and concentration on tensile, thermal and barrier properties of biodegradable films based on sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) starch. Polymers 7:1106–1124. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym7061106
Schmitt H, Guidez A, Prashantha K et al (2015) Studies on the effect of storage time and plasticizers on the structural variations in thermoplastic starch. Carbohydr Polym 115:364–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.09.004
European S (2002) EN 13655. https://www.en-standard.eu/csn-en-13655-plastics-mulching-thermoplastic-films-for-use-in-agriculture-and-horticulture/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInJe15YPC2gIVhoaRCh0vZQn2EAAYASAAEgK88fD_BwE. Accessed 17 Apr 2018
Acknowledgements
Authors acknowledge the help provided by B.S.Chem. Andres Torres Nicolini during the extrusion process.
Funding
This study was funded by the National Research Council (CONICET), the National University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP) and the National Agency of Scientific and Technological Promotion (ANPCyT), Nro 0008.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Merino, D., Gutiérrez, T.J. & Alvarez, V.A. Potential Agricultural Mulch Films Based on Native and Phosphorylated Corn Starch With and Without Surface Functionalization with Chitosan. J Polym Environ 27, 97–105 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-018-1325-1
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-018-1325-1