Development of Biodegradable Rigid Foams from Pineapple Field Waste
1
Issued Date
2023-07-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20734360
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85164745030
Journal Title
Polymers
Volume
15
Issue
13
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Polymers Vol.15 No.13 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Namphonsane A., Amornsakchai T., Chia C.H., Goh K.L., Thanawan S., Wongsagonsup R., Smith S.M. Development of Biodegradable Rigid Foams from Pineapple Field Waste. Polymers Vol.15 No.13 (2023). doi:10.3390/polym15132895 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/88037
Title
Development of Biodegradable Rigid Foams from Pineapple Field Waste
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Pineapple materials sourced from agricultural waste have been employed to process novel bio-degradable rigid composite foams. The matrix for the foam consisted of starch extracted from pineapple stem, known for its high amylose content, while the filler comprised non-fibrous cellulosic materials sourced from pineapple leaf. In contrast to traditional methods that involve preparing a batter, this study adopted a unique approach where the starch gel containing glycerol were first formed using a household microwave oven, followed by blending the filler into the gel using a two-roll mill. The resulting mixture was then foamed at 160 °C using a compression molding machine. The foams displayed densities ranging from 0.43–0.51 g/cm3 and exhibited a highly amorphous structure. Notably, the foams demonstrated an equilibrium moisture content of approximately 8–10% and the ability to absorb 150–200% of their own weight without disintegration. Flexural strengths ranged from 1.5–4.5 MPa, varying with the filler and glycerol contents. Biodegradability tests using a soil burial method revealed complete disintegration of the foam into particles measuring 1 mm or smaller within 15 days. Moreover, to showcase practical applications, an environmentally friendly single-use foam tray was fabricated. This novel method, involving gel formation followed by filler blending, sets it apart from previous works. The findings highlight the potential of pineapple waste materials for producing sustainable bio-degradable foams with desirable properties and contribute to the field of sustainable materials.