Country: Germany Italy Spain
Plants
Cellulose
Biomaterials
bioplastics
Application
Description The project focuses on the synthesis of cellulose-aleuritic acid esters through a mixed anhydride system, utilizing microcrystalline cellulose and aleuritic acid. The resulting bioplastics exhibit improved mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, and solubility, making them suitable for various applications. The project explores the effects of aleuritic acid content on the thermal, mechanical, and solubility characteristics of the bioplastics, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymers. These materials show promising potential for use in coatings, packaging, and other eco-friendly applications.
Pathway Description: The process used in this project involves the acylation of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with aleuritic acid through a mixed anhydride system. This method uses trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoroacetic acid anhydride (TFAA) in a chloroform co-solvent system. The reaction results in the formation of cellulose aleuritate esters with varying degrees of substitution. The final bioplastics are characterized by their improved hydrophobicity, solubility, and mechanical properties.
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Tags: Hydrophobic BioplasticsCellulose EsterificationBioplastics Innovation
Biomaterials
bioplastics
Types of Feedstock
secondary agricultural residue
Name
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Form
powder form
Logistics
The synthesis involved varying molar ratios of aleuritic acid to the anhydroglucose unit (AGU) of cellulose specifically ratios of 1:2 3:2 and 6:2
Characteristics
Size: MCC particles range from 50–500 µm in diameter
Chemical
acylation,Esterification