Menu
Eco-Friendly Durability with Nano-Engineered Bioplastics
Introduction
4o
A biopolymer blend is provided that comprises a combination of three components: poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT); agriculture sourced polylactic acid (PLA); and engineered proteinaceous eggshell nanoparticles. The two polymer components can be present in any ratio but an approximate 70:30 ratio is preferred. The engineered proteinaceous eggshell nanoparticles are preferably about 10-25 nanometers. Also provided are methods of preparing biopolymer film and packaging components. Pelleted poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) and agriculture sourced polylactic acid (PLA) are dissolved in chloroform and mixed together to form a polymer blend, and engineered proteinaceous eggshell nanoparticles are incorporated into the polymer blend, which is then extruded to create a biopolymer film or component.
The invention claimed is:
1. A method of preparing biopolymer blend film, the method comprising:
a) dissolving poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT) and agriculture based polylactic acid (PLA) in chloroform to form a polymer blend;
b) incorporating engineered proteinaceous eggshell nanoparticles (PENP) into the polymer blend to form a polymer nanoparticle blend;
c) precipitating and vacuum filtering the polymer nanoparticle blend to form a precipitated polymer nanoparticle blend; and
d) extruding the precipitated polymer nanoparticle blend to form a biopolymer film.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the PBAT to PLA ratio is a 70:30 ratio.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein an amount of the PENP is used at between 0.5 to 2% by weight of the polymer nanoparticle blend.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the PENP are between the size of 10-25 nanometers.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the PENP are crystalline, irregular and porous.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the PLA is derived from a renewable agriculture based source.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the renewable agriculture based source is at least one of corn, corn starch, tapioca roots, tapioca chips, tapioca starch, sugar beets, and sugarcane.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein an amount of the PENP is used at between 0.5 to 1% by weight of the polymer nanoparticle blend.
9. A method of preparing a biopolymer blend packaging component, the method comprising:
a) dissolving poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT) and agriculture based polylactic acid (PLA) in chloroform to form a polymer blend;
b) incorporating engineered proteinaceous eggshell nanoparticles (PENP) into the polymer blend to form a polymer nanoparticle blend;
c) precipitating and vacuum filtering the polymer nanoparticle blend to form a precipitated polymer nanoparticle blend; and
d) extruding the precipitated polymer nanoparticle blend to form a biopolymer component.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the PBAT to PLA ratio is a 70:30 ratio.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein an amount of the PENP is used at between 0.5 to 2% by weight of the polymer nanoparticle blend.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the PENP are between the size of 10-25 nanometers.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the PENP are crystalline, irregular and porous.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the PLA is derived from a renewable agriculture based source.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the renewable agriculture based source is at least one of corn, corn starch, tapioca roots, tapioca chips, tapioca starch, sugar beets, and sugarcane.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein an amount of the PENP is used at between 0.5 to 1% by weight of the polymer nanoparticle blend.
Share
Title
Nano engineered eggshell flexible biopolymer blend and methods of making biopolymer blend film and using such bioplastic blends for improved biodegradable applications
Inventor(s)
Vijaya Rangari, Boniface Tiimob
Assignee(s)
Tuskegee University
Patent #
11613648
Patent Date
March 28, 2023