Biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and characterisation of its blend with oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers.
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-38 mol%-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-38mol%-3HV)] was produced by Cupriavidus sp. USMAA2-4 in the presence of oleic acid and 1-pentanol. Due to enormous production of empty fruit bunch (EFB) in the oil palm plantation and high production cost of P(3HB-co-3HV), oil palm EFB fibers were used for biocomposites preparation. In this study, maleic anhydride (MA) and benzoyl peroxide (DBPO) were used to improve the miscibility between P(3HB-co-3HV) and EFB fibers. Introduction of MA into P(3HB-co-3HV) backbone reduced the molecular weight and improved the thermal stability of P(3HB-co-3HV). Thermal stability of P(3HB-co-3HV)/EFB composites was shown to be comparable to that of commercial packaging product. Composites with 35% EFB fibers content have the highest tensile strength compared to 30% and 40%. P(3HB-co-3HV)/EFB blends showed less chemicals leached compared to commercial packaging.
School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
Yoga Sugama
YS
Salim
Amirul Al-Ashraf
AA
Abdullah
Coswald Stephen Sipaut Mohd
CS
Nasri
Mohamad Nasir Mohamad
MN
Ibrahim
D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D049921:Cupriavidus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism*; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
D010936:Plant Extracts; D011091:Polyesters; C512913:poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-block-poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate); D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates