Abstract
Dialdehyde starch (DAS) and zein, a hydrophobic corn protein, were investigated to produce biodegradable plastics with improved water resistance and mechanical properties. In the study, dialdehyde starch and zein ratio, plasticizers, and degree of starch oxidation were examined. Increased molding temperature and level of starch oxidation decreased water absorption of the plastic. Tensile strength and Young's modulus increased with starch oxidation. The biodegradation of starting materials and ground plastic specimens was studied in aerobic soil reactors maintained at 25°C for 180 days. Biodegradation of corn starch, zein, and dialdehyde starch for 180 days produced CO2 equivalent to 64, 63, and 10% of theoretical carbon, respectively. Specimens of molded DAS and zein (3 : 1) plastic showed accelerated CO2 evolution compared to DAS and other raw materials alone. By 180 days, specimens made with starch of low oxidation (1 and 5% oxidized) demonstrated a 60% biodegradation, and specimens with highly oxidized starch (90% oxidized) achieved 37% biodegradation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anonymous (1992)Polym. News 17 150.
J.-L. Jane, S.-T. Lim, and I. Pactau (1993) in D. Kaplan, E. Thomas, and E. Ching (Eds.),Biodegradable Polymers and Packaging, Technomic, Lancaster, PA, pp. 63–73.
S. Lim and J. Jane (1992) in M. Yalpani (Ed.),Carbohydrates and Carbohydrate Polymers, ATL Press, Mount Prospect, IL, pp. 288–297.
E. L. Jackson and C. S. Hudson (1937)J. Am. Chem. Soc. 59 2049–2050.
N. L. Fein and E. M. Filachione (1957)J. Am. Leather Chem. Assoc. 52 17.
E. M. Filachione, M. L. Harris, A. H. Fern, J. N. Korn, and P. A. Wells (1958)J. Am. Leather Chem. Assoc. 53 77–85.
Y. Nayudamma, K. T. Joseph, and S. M. Bose (1961)J. Am. Leather Chem. Assoc. 56 548–567.
K. D. Schwenke, K.-J. Linow, B. Raab, and J. Uhlig (1978)Nahrung 22 169–177.
F. B. Weakley, C. L. Mehltretter, and C. E. Rist (1961)Tappi 44 456–459.
J. W. Sloan, B. T. Hofreiter, R. L. Mellies, and I. A. Wolff (1956)Ind. Eng. Chem. 48 1165–1172.
A. K. Chatterji and L. K. Arnold (1965)J. Polym. Sci. A 3 3857–3863.
K. K. Kalia (1965)Production of an Adhesive Polymer from Zein and Dialdehyde Starch, Thesis, Iowa State University, Ames.
C. L. Mehltretter (1963)Staerke 15 313–319.
C. M. Wilson (1987) in S. A. Watson and P. E. Ramstad (Eds.),Corn: Chemistry and Technology, Am. Assoc. Cereal Chem., St. Paul, MN, pp. 273–310.
J. W. Paulis (1982)J. Agr. Food Chem. 30 14–17.
A. F. Pomes (1971)Encycl. Polym. Sci. Technol. 15 125–132.
C. L. Mehltretter (1964) in R. L. Whistler (Ed.)Methods in Carbohydrate Chemistry, Vol. 4, Academic Press, Orlando, FL, pp. 316–317.
I. Paetau, C.-Z. Chen, and J. Jane (1994)Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 33 1821–1827.
V. Shah (1984)Handbook of Plastics Testing Technology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 478–482.
C. L. Swanson, R. L. Shogren, G. F. Fanta, and S. H. Imam (1993)J. Environ. Polym. Degrad. 1 155–166.
D. Raghavan, G. C. Wagner, and R. P. Wool (1993)J. Environ. Polym. Degrad. 1 203–211.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Journal Paper J-15927 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Project No. 3258.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spence, K.E., Jane, Jl. & Pometto, A.L. Dialdehyde starch and zein plastic: Mechanical properties and biodegradability. J Environ Polym Degr 3, 69–74 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02067482
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02067482