title: Graft copolymerization of ethyl acrylate onto tamarind kernel powder, and evaluation of its biodegradability.
abstract: In the present study, tamarind kernel powder and ethyl acrylate were reacted by free radical polymerization to synthesize a grafted copolymer soluble in water. The grafted copolymer was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR); FTIR showed a shift of the vibration of R-CO-OR' from 1258 cm(-1) to 1253 cm(-1). This shift appeared because of the grafting copolymerization. Films were prepared to study the mechanical properties and the biodegradation of this material. The mechanical properties of the grafted copolymer were found to lie between those of the parent polymers, suitable for disposable products. The new grafted copolymer manifested a steady process of biodegradation under incubation with the bacterial strain Alicycliphilus sp. BQ1; this was proved by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nanotecnología, Centro de Física Aplica y Tecnología Avanzada, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro C.P. 76230, Qro., Mexico. Electronic address: adelreal@unam.mx.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Real
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico DF, Mexico. Electronic address: anywallander@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wallander
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico DF, Mexico. Electronic address: macielal@unam.mx.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico DF, Mexico. Electronic address: gcedillo@iim.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cedillo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, 04510 México DF, Mexico. Electronic address: hlozat@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Herminia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Loza
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D056450:Alicyclobacillus / Q000378:metabolism; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D058105:Polymerization; D011208:Powders; D012995:Solubility; D029861:Tamarindus / Q000737:chemistry*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D005609:Free Radicals; D011208:Powders; D014867:Water; C040833:ethyl acrylate
keywords: Biodegradable polymer; Graft polymer; Poly(ethyl acrylate); Tamarind seed polysaccharide