title: Effect of clay content on morphology and processability of electrospun keratin/poly(lactic acid) nanofiber.
abstract: This research work has concerned the development of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) removal filters from biomaterials, based on keratin extracted from chicken feather waste and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) (50/50%w/w) blend. Clay (Na-montmorillonite) was also added to the blend solution prior to carrying out an electro-spinning process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of clay content on viscosity, conductivity, and morphology of the electrospun fibers. Scanning electron micrographs showed that smooth and bead-free fibers were obtained when clay content used was below 2 pph. XRD patterns of the electrospun fibers indicated that the clay was intercalated and exfoliated within the polymers matrix. Percentage crystallinity of keratin in the blend increased after adding the clay, as evidenced from FTIR spectra and DSC thermograms. Transmission electron micrographs revealed a kind of core-shell structure with clay being predominately resided within the keratin rich shell and at the interfacial region. Filtration performance of the electrospun keratin/PLA fibers, described in terms of pressure drop and its capability of removing methylene blue, were also explored. Overall, our results demonstrated that it was possible to improve process-ability, morphology and filtration efficiency of the electrospun keratin fibers by adding a suitable amount of clay.
authors.affiliation: Division of Materials Technology, School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 126 Pracha Uthit road, Bang Mod, Thung khru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand; Nanotec-KMUTT Center of Excellence on Hybrid Nanomaterials for Alternative Energy (HyNAE), School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Siriorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isarankura Na Ayutthaya
authors.affiliation: Learning Institute, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 126 Pracha Uthit road, Bang Mod, Thung khru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand; Nanotec-KMUTT Center of Excellence on Hybrid Nanomaterials for Alternative Energy (HyNAE), School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Supachok
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanpichai
authors.affiliation: Nanotec-KMUTT Center of Excellence on Hybrid Nanomaterials for Alternative Energy (HyNAE), School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Weradesh
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sangkhun
authors.affiliation: Division of Materials Technology, School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 126 Pracha Uthit road, Bang Mod, Thung khru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand; Nanotec-KMUTT Center of Excellence on Hybrid Nanomaterials for Alternative Energy (HyNAE), School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address: jatuphorn.woo@kmutt.ac.th.
authors.forename: Jatuphorn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wootthikanokkhan
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002645:Chickens; D000077215:Clay; D005241:Feathers; D007633:Keratins / Q000737:chemistry*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D007633:Keratins; D000077215:Clay
keywords: Clay; Keratin; Nanofiber