Formulation of bioplastic from two biopolymers

The good mechanical properties and low cost of petrochemical plastics have led to the intensive use of synthetic plastics of petrochemical origin in recent years.

Unfortunately the management of the waste generated by their use is a thorny problem.

Several ways are used to remedy this problem: recycling of synthetic polymers, burying and/or incineration of the latter in landfills, and the implementation of biodegradable polymers of substitution.

Our work focuses on this last way which protects the environment.

It is a question of formulating a biodegradable plastic film by combination of biopolymers chitosan and cassava starch, the latter being able to reduce the cost of production of the material and to improve the properties of the former and to propose a study of technical and financial feasibility of a unit of manufacture of the plastic films on an industrial scale Several studies have been done on chitin, which is the most abundant polysaccharide on Earth after cellulose.

Chitosan comes from the deacetylation of chitin contained in the shells of arthropods (crabs, etc.).