Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Revaluation of a Soy Protein By-product in Eco-friendly Bioplastics by Extrusion

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymers and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Agri-food waste and by-products are being increasingly revalued, exploiting their potential. One of the attractive alternatives is their use as raw materials for the production of bioplastics due to their high protein content, generating eco-friendly bioplastics, since they come from renewable sources and are biodegradable. However, their industrial scalability is being difficult mainly due to their manufacturing process, which is generally expensive. Therefore, the objective of this work was to revalue a by-product from the industrial production of soybean oil as a raw material to process bioplastics by extrusion moulding (a process widely used in the manufacture of plastics). In this way, the use of this raw material could reduce costs and facilitate the scalability of these products. The results obtained in this work show that this by-product is a suitable raw material for the development of bioplastics. Furthermore, extrusion allowed obtaining bioplastics with different mechanical characteristics and water uptake capacity by modifying the temperature and screw speed of the process. Thus, higher temperatures generated better mechanical resistance, while lower temperatures improved the water uptake capacity. These results demonstrate the great capacity of this raw material and processing technique for the large-scale adaptation of bioplastics that can be used in different applications, such as packaging and hygiene products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gill M (2014) Bioplastic: a better alternative to plastics. Int J Res Appl Nat Soc Sci 2:115–120

    Google Scholar 

  2. Razza F, Innocenti FD (2012) Bioplastics from renewable resources: the benefits of biodegradability. Asia-Pacific J Chem Eng 7:S301–S309. https://doi.org/10.1002/apj.1648

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Selvamurugan Muthusamy M, Pramasivam S (2019) Bioplastics: an eco-friendly alternative to petrochemical plastics. Curr World Environ 14:49–59. https://doi.org/10.12944/CWE.14.1.07

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. European Bioplastics (2019) Bioplastics market data 2019. Global production capacities of bioplastic 2019–2024. Eur Bioplast 9:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  5. Karan H, Funk C, Grabert M et al (2019) Green bioplastics as part of a circular bioeconomy. Trends Plant Sci 24:237–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2018.11.010

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Shruti VC, Kutralam-Muniasamy G (2019) Bioplastics: missing link in the era of microplastics. Sci Total Environ 697:134139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134139

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Felix M, Perez-Puyana V, Romero A, Guerrero A (2017) Production and characterization of bioplastics obtained by injection moulding of various protein systems. J Polym Environ 25:91–100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-016-0790-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Omrani-Fard H, Abbaspour-Fard MH, Khojastehpour M, Dashti A (2020) Gelatin/whey protein-potato flour bioplastics: fabrication and evaluation. J Polym Environ 28:2029–2038. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-020-01748-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Jiménez-Rosado M, Zarate-Ramírez LS, Romero A et al (2019) Bioplastics based on wheat gluten processed by extrusion. J Clean Prod 239:117994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.117994

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Jiménez-Rosado M, Rubio-Valle JF, Perez-Puyana V et al (2020) Comparison between pea and soy protein-based bioplastics obtained by injection molding. J Appl Polym Sci. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.50412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Giosafatto C, Al-Asmar A, D’Angelo A et al (2018) Preparation and characterization of bioplastics from grass pea flour cast in the presence of microbial transglutaminase. Coatings 8:435. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings8120435

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Yue H, Zheng Y, Zheng P et al (2020) On the improvement of properties of bioplastic composites derived from wasted cottonseed protein by rational cross-linking and natural fiber reinforcement. Green Chem 22:8642–8655. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0GC03245J

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Yue H-B, Cui Y-D, Shuttleworth PS, Clark JH (2012) Preparation and characterisation of bioplastics made from cottonseed protein. Green Chem 14:2009. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2gc35509d

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Yamada M, Morimitsu S, Hosono E, Yamada T (2020) Preparation of bioplastic using soy protein. Int J Biol Macromol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.02.025

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Fernández-Espada L, Bengoechea C, Cordobés F, Guerrero A (2016) Protein/glycerol blends and injection-molded bioplastic matrices: soybean versus egg albumen. J Appl Polym Sci 133:42980. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.42980

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Álvarez-Castillo E, Del Toro A, Aguilar JM et al (2018) Optimization of a thermal process for the production of superabsorbent materials based on a soy protein isolate. Ind Crops Prod 125:573–581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.09.051

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Capezza AJ, Newson WR, Olsson RT et al (2019) Advances in the use of protein-based materials: toward sustainable naturally sourced absorbent materials. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 7:4532–4547. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b05400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Perez-Puyana V, Felix M, Romero A, Guerrero A (2018) Development of eco-friendly biodegradable superabsorbent materials obtained by injection moulding. J Clean Prod 198:312–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.07.044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rathna GVN, Damodaran S (2001) Swelling behavior of protein-based superabsorbent hydrogels treated with ethanol. J Appl Polym Sci 81:2190–2196. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.1655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Messia MC, Cuomo F, Falasca L et al (2021) Nutritional and technological quality of high protein pasta. Foods 10:589. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10030589

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2020) Increased agricultural production will keep food prices low for the next decade. http://www.fao.org/news/story/es/item/1201025/icode/. Accessed 17 Aug 2020

  22. Alias SA, Ishak KMK (2020) Preparation and characterization of protein bioplastics from fish waste using different plasticizers. Mater Sci Forum 982:67–72. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.982.67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Álvarez-Castillo E, Caballero G, Guerrero A, Bengoechea C (2021) Effect of formulation and pressure on injection moulded soy protein-based plastics. J Polym Environ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-021-02082-w

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Bouvier J-M, Campanella OH (2014) Extrusion processing technology: food and non-food biomaterials. Wiley, New Jersey

    Book  Google Scholar 

  25. Lafleur PG, Vergnes B (2014) Polymer extrusion. Wiley, New Jersey

    Book  Google Scholar 

  26. Verbeek C, Van Den Berg L (2010) Extrusion processing and properties of protein-based thermoplastics. Macromol. Mater. Eng

  27. Etheridge R, Pesti G, Foster E (1998) A comparison of nitrogen values obtained utilizing the Kjeldahl nitrogen and Dumas combustion methodologies (Leco CNS 2000) on samples typical of an animal nutrition analytical laboratory. Anim Feed Sci Technol 73:21–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-8401(98)00136-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. AOAC International (2005) Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International. AOAC International

  29. Beveridge T, Toma SJ, Nakai S (1974) Determination of SH- and SS- groups in some food proteins using Ellman’s reagent. J Food Sci 39:49–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1974.tb00984.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Thannhauser TW, Konishi Y, Scheraga HA (1984) Sensitive quantitative analysis of disulfide bonds in polypeptides and proteins. Anal Biochem 138:181–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Laemmli UK (1970) Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature 227:680–685. https://doi.org/10.1038/227680a0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Markwell MAK, Haas SM, Bieber LL, Tolbert NE (1978) A modification of the Lowry procedure to simplify protein determination in membrane and lipoprotein samples. Anal Biochem 87:206–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(78)90586-9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Perez V, Felix M, Romero A, Guerrero A (2016) Characterization of pea protein-based bioplastics processed by injection moulding. Food Bioprod Process 97:100–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2015.12.004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Jiménez-Rosado M, Bouroudian E, Perez-Puyana V et al (2020) Evaluation of different strengthening methods in the mechanical and functional properties of soy protein-based bioplastics. J Clean Prod 262:121517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121517

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Zárate-Ramírez LS, Romero A, Martínez I et al (2014) Effect of aldehydes on thermomechanical properties of gluten-based bioplastics. Food Bioprod Process 92:20–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2013.07.007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. AENOR (2012) UNE-EN ISO 527-2:2012. Plásticos. Determinación de las propiedades en tracción. Parte 2: Condiciones de ensayo de plásticos para moldeo y extrusión

  37. (2005) ASTM D570-98: Standard test method for water absorption of plastics

  38. Pearson A (1983) Developments in food proteins. In: Soy proteins. pp 67–108

  39. Félix M, Martín-Alfonso JE, Romero A, Guerrero A (2014) Development of albumen/soy biobased plastic materials processed by injection molding. J Food Eng 125:7–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2013.10.018

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Maruyama N, Adachi M, Takahashi K et al (2001) Crystal structures of recombinant and native soybean β-conglycinin β homotrimers. Eur J Biochem 268:3595–3604. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1432-1327.2001.02268.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Lu X, Cui Y, Guan J et al (2020) Establishment of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for soybean protein isolate and its application. Grain Oil Sci Technol 3:100–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaost.2020.02.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Türker-Kaya S, Huck C (2017) A review of mid-infrared and near-infrared imaging: principles, concepts and applications in plant tissue analysis. Molecules 22:168. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22010168

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Wang C, Jiang L, Wei D et al (2011) Effect of secondary structure determined by FTIR spectra on surface hydrophobicity of soybean protein isolate. Proc Eng 15:4819–4827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.08.900

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Freitas MLF, Albano KM, Telis VRN (2017) Characterization of biopolymers and soy protein isolate-high-methoxyl pectin complex. Polímeros 27:62–67. https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-1428.2404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Malhotra A, Coupland JN (2004) The effect of surfactants on the solubility, zeta potential, and viscosity of soy protein isolates. Food Hydrocoll 18:101–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0268-005X(03)00047-X

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Gedde UW, Hedenqvist MS (2019) Fundamental polymer science. Springer, Cham

    Book  Google Scholar 

  47. Fernández-Espada L, Bengoechea C, Cordobés F, Guerrero A (2016) Thermomechanical properties and water uptake capacity of soy protein-based bioplastics processed by injection molding. J Appl Polym Sci 133:43524. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.43524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Cuadri AA, Bengoechea C, Romero A, Guerrero A (2016) A natural-based polymeric hydrogel based on functionalized soy protein. Eur Polym J 85:164–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2016.10.026

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Martínez I, Partal P, García-Morales M et al (2013) Development of protein-based bioplastics with antimicrobial activity by thermo-mechanical processing. J Food Eng. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2013.02.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Jiménez-Rosado M, Perez-Puyana V, Sánchez-Cid P et al (2021) Incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles into soy protein-based bioplastics to improve their functional properties. Polymers (Basel) 13:10. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13040486

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Jerez A, Partal P, Martínez I et al (2007) Protein-based bioplastics: effect of thermo-mechanical processing. Rheol Acta 46:711–720. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-007-0165-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Jones A, Zeller M, Sharma S (2013) Thermal, mechanical, and moisture absorption properties of egg white protein bioplastics with natural rubber and glycerol. Prog Biomater 2:12. https://doi.org/10.1186/2194-0517-2-12

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Jansens KJA, Vo Hong N, Telen L et al (2013) Effect of molding conditions and moisture content on the mechanical properties of compression molded glassy, wheat gluten bioplastics. Ind Crops Prod 44:480–487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.10.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Mohanty AK, Tummala P, Liu W et al (2005) Injection molded biocomposites from soy protein based bioplastic and short industrial hemp fiber. J Polym Environ 13:279–285. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-005-4762-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Pommet M, Redl A, Morel M-H et al (2003) Thermoplastic processing of protein-based bioplastics: chemical engineering aspects of mixing, extrusion and hot molding. Macromol Symp 197:207–218. https://doi.org/10.1002/masy.200350719

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Zárate-Ramírez LS, Martínez I, Romero A et al (2011) Wheat gluten-based materials plasticised with glycerol and water by thermoplastic mixing and thermomoulding. J Sci Food Agric 91:625–633. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.4224

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Carvajal-Piñero JM, Ramos M, Jiménez-Rosado M et al (2019) Development of pea protein bioplastics by a thermomoulding process: effect of the mixing stage. J Polym Environ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-019-01404-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Gómez-Heincke D, Martínez I, Stading M et al (2017) Improvement of mechanical and water absorption properties of plant protein based bioplastics. Food Hydrocoll 73:21–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2017.06.022

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research work was financially supported by the “FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-Agencia Estatal de Investigación”, through the project RTI2018-097100-B-C21. The authors acknowledge their financial support. In addition, the authors are very grateful for the predoctoral grant of Mercedes Jiménez-Rosado (FPU2017/01718 - Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional) and her research stay grant (VIPPI-US) and the postdoctoral grant of Victor Perez-Puyana.(PAIDI-DOCTOR – Junta de Andalucía y Universidad de Sevilla).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Química, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Sevilla, Spain

    Mercedes Jiménez-Rosado, Víctor Perez-Puyana & Alberto Romero

  2. INRAE, UR BIA, 44316, Nantes, France

    Jean-Eudes Maigret & Denis Lourdin

Authors
  1. Mercedes Jiménez-Rosado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jean-Eudes Maigret
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Víctor Perez-Puyana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alberto Romero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Denis Lourdin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mercedes Jiménez-Rosado.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (TIF 353.5 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jiménez-Rosado, M., Maigret, JE., Perez-Puyana, V. et al. Revaluation of a Soy Protein By-product in Eco-friendly Bioplastics by Extrusion. J Polym Environ 30, 1587–1599 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-021-02303-2

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-021-02303-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation