Production of Pectin-Cellulose Biofilms: A New Approach for Citrus Waste Recycling. (29th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bátori, Veronika; Jabbari, Mostafa; Åkesson, Dan; Lennartsson, Patrik R.; Taherzadeh, Mohammad J.; Zamani, Akram
• Other Names: Ragauskas Arthur J. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of polymer science. Volume 2017(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-10-29
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymers; Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1155/2017/9732329
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-9422

Abstract

Abstract : While citrus waste is abundantly generated, the disposal methods used today remain unsatisfactory: they can be deleterious for ruminants, can cause soil salinity, or are not economically feasible; yet citrus waste consists of various valuable polymers. This paper introduces a novel environmentally safe approach that utilizes citrus waste polymers as a biobased and biodegradable film, for example, for food packaging. Orange waste has been investigated for biofilm production, using the gelling ability of pectin and the strength of cellulosic fibres. A casting method was used to form a film from the previously washed, dried, and milled orange waste. Two film-drying methods, a laboratory oven and an incubator shaker, were compared. FE-SEM images confirmed a smoother film morphology when the incubator shaker was used for drying. The tensile strength of the films was 31.67 ± 4.21 and 34.76 ± 2.64 MPa, respectively, for the oven-dried and incubator-dried films, which is within the range of different commodity plastics. Additionally, biodegradability of the films was confirmed under anaerobic conditions. Films showed an opaque appearance with yellowish colour.