title: Biodegradable packaging materials conception based on starch and polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with cellulose.
abstract: The plastic materials used for packaging are increasing leading to a considerable amount of undegradable solid wastes. This work deals with the reduction of conventional plastics waste and the natural resources preservation by using cellulosic polymers from renewable resources (alfa and luffa). Plasticized starch films syntheses were achieved at a laboratory scale. These natural films showed some very attractive mechanical properties at relatively low plasticizers levels (12 to 17 % by weight). Furthermore, mixtures including polylactic acid polymer (PLA) and cellulose fibers extracted from alfa and luffa were investigated by melt extrusion technique. When used at a rate of 10 %, these fibers improved the mixture mechanical properties. Both developed materials were biodegradable, but the plasticized starch exhibited a faster biodegradation kinetic compared to the PLA/cellulose fibers. These new materials would contribute to a sustainable development and a waste reduction.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Urban and Coastal Environments, National Engineering School of Sfax, BP 1173, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia.|Packaging Technical Centre (PACKTEC), Tunis, Tunisia.|Electrochemistry and Environment Laboratory, National Engineering School of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Masmoudi
authors.affiliation: Preparatory Institute for Engineering Studies of Gafsa, Gafsa, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Atef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bessadok
authors.affiliation: Packaging Technical Centre (PACKTEC), Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dammak
authors.affiliation: Electrochemistry and Environment Laboratory, National Engineering School of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaziri
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Urban and Coastal Environments, National Engineering School of Sfax, BP 1173, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia. ammarenis@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Emna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ammar
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism*; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide); D002482:Cellulose; D013213:Starch
keywords: Biodegradability; Biopolymer; Cellulose fiber; Mechanical properties; Starch