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Evaluation of Fishmeal as Starting Material for Producing Biodegradable Protein-Based Thermoplastic Polymers

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Abstract

Purpose

Evaluate low value marine waste material from farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as starting material for the production of low cost, biodegradable protein-based thermoplastic polymers.

Methods

Dynamic mechanical analysis, compression moulding, gel permeation chromatography, scanning electron microscopy and amino acid distribution analysis.

Results

Through a series of dynamic mechanical analysis studies it was shown that fishmeal can be plasticized with hydrophilic plasticizers to yield a material that can be successfully compression moulded into consolidated polymers at temperatures above the glass transition temperatures of the mixtures. Addition of SDS and urea further increased the processability of the fishmeal and homogenous polymers were produced. The mechanical properties of the polymers were poor and they were generally too brittle to allow extensive mechanical testing. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a sheet-like sub-structure within the polymer network which explained the poor mechanical properties. Gel permeation chromatography and amino acid distribution analysis of the fishmeal indicated that the proteins in the fishmeal are of low molecular weight with a high content of collagen. The fishmeal was also evaluated as part of polymeric blends with polyethylene, biodegradable polybutylene succinate and bovine bloodmeal.

Conclusion

It was possible to generate consolidated fish waste based polymeric materials. Fishmeal did not perform as well as bovine bloodmeal as a thermoplastic biopolymer mainly due to its low protein content and low molecular mass.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from MABIT (UB0047) and J.S is for grateful for this generous support. Jim Bier and Dr. Mark Lay are acknowledged for excellent technical assistance. Dr. Sarah Boucher is further acknowledged for supplying complementary data for Table 1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Tromsø, 9037, Tromsø, Norway

    Johan Svenson

  2. School of Engineering, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand

    Anuradha Sammanie Walallavita & Casparus Johannes Reinhard Verbeek

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  1. Johan Svenson
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  2. Anuradha Sammanie Walallavita
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  3. Casparus Johannes Reinhard Verbeek
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Correspondence to Johan Svenson.

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Svenson, J., Walallavita, A.S. & Verbeek, C.J.R. Evaluation of Fishmeal as Starting Material for Producing Biodegradable Protein-Based Thermoplastic Polymers. Waste Biomass Valor 4, 147–159 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-012-9186-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-012-9186-7

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