Thermoplasticization of euglenoid β-1,3-glucans by mixed esterification.
We experimentally demonstrated that paramylon, a storage polysaccharide of Euglena gracilis, is efficiently thermoplasticized by adding acyl groups that differ in alkyl chain length. Glass transition temperature of mixed paramylon esters was higher than those of plant-based polylactic acid (PLA), poly 11-aminoundecanoic acid (PA11), and petroleum-based acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin and was comparable to that of cellulose acetate stearate (CAS). Their thermoplasticity was equivalent to or higher than those of these reference plastics. The bending strength and bending elastic modulus of injection molded test specimens made from mixed paramylon esters were comparable to those of the reference plastics. While their impact strength was lower than that of specimens made from ABS resin and CAS, it was comparable to those of PLA and PA11. Euglenoid β-1,3-glucans are thus a potential component of thermoplastic materials.
Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 6th, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan. Electronic address: moto.shibakami@aist.go.jp.
Motonari
M
Shibakami
Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 6th, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan.
Gen
G
Tsubouchi
Department of Marine Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen Kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan.
Masahiro
M
Hayashi
D004951:Esterification; D005056:Euglena gracilis; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D010968:Plasticizers; D047071:beta-Glucans; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan
Euglena; Mixed ester; Paramylon; Thermoplasticity; Wax ester; β-1,3-Glucan