海洋由来のバイオポリマーを組み合わせ、合成プラスチック・フィルムの代替を目指す(Researchers Combine Biopolymers Derived From the Ocean to Replace Synthetic Plastic Films

2023-12-11 ノースカロライナ州立大学(NCState)

◆北カロライナ州立大学の研究によれば、カニ殻由来のキトサンと海藻由来のアガロースを組み合わせた生分解性のバイオポリマーコンポジットフィルムが、石油系プラスチックフィルムの代替として有望です。
◆この新素材は強度が向上し、抗菌性があり、水をはじき、透明性があります。これにより、将来的には食品や消費財の持続可能な包装材料として利用できる可能性があります。研究者はさらなる改良と大規模生産の実現を目指して取り組んでいます。

＜関連情報＞

多機能プラスチック代替としての階層的に強化されたバイオポリマー複合フィルム Hierarchically reinforced biopolymer composite films as multifunctional plastics substitute

Yosra Kotb, Orlin D. Velev
Cell Reports Physical Science Published: December 11, 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101732

Highlights

•Agarose films reinforced with fibrillar chitosan have outstanding properties
•Chitosan is prepared in the form of hierarchically branched soft dendritic colloids
•Biocomposite films are tough, transparent, bactericidal, and biodegradable
•Films with improved properties could serve as synthetic polymer film replacements

Summary

The replacement of synthetic plastics with biodegradable alternatives made from abundant and sustainable raw materials is a challenge of high societal importance. We report a class of high-performance multifunctional composite films made of nano- and microscale reinforced naturally sourced biopolymers. These films are made of an agarose matrix reinforced with hierarchically branched soft dendritic colloids (SDCs) from chitosan. Owing to the highly entangled hierarchical network of the SDC nanofibrils, the reinforced composite has excellent performance with more than 4× higher toughness than non-reinforced agarose, high visible light transmittance, improved hydrostability, and remarkable bactericidal activity. Thus, these reinforced biopolymer composites could match or exceed the excellent mechanical, barrier, and optical properties of common synthetic polymer films. We also demonstrate the soil biodegradability of this composite material in a controlled environment. The results suggest a universal strategy for manufacturing natural-source composite materials that could serve as substitutes for petroleum-based plastics.