The low availability of fossil resources, increased pollution caused by traditional plastics, and new regulatory restrictions pushed companies to adopt more sustainable solutions, especially for short lifetime applications such as packaging. The present research focuses on the development of a performing biocomposite that enhances the by-products of agri-food industries: POMOPLA^2 is an innovative material based on a plasticized polylactic acid (PLA) matrix filled with tomato scraps for both flexible and rigid packaging. PLA is a versatile bio-based and biodegradable polymer with high strength and stiffness, and good processability. However, brittleness limits its industrial applications where plastic deformation at high impact rate is required. To overcome this drawback, a renewable and biodegradable plasticizer (named LABD) obtained from esterification of butanediol with linseed fatty acids was mixed with the PLA. Once the optimal extruded formulation (PLA + 5% w/w LABD) was identified, powdered and dried industrial tomato waste composed mainly of tomato peels was added as filler to the matrix. The cooperative Finagricola (Battipaglia, Salerno, Italy) was selected as possible partner interested in recovering its by-products. Following the principle of circular economy, the concept was to give a second life to tomato waste through the development of POMOPLA^2, representing a promising substitute for current fossil-based plastics (e.g., PP, PE, PET) used by Finagricola to pack and sell fresh tomatoes.
La scarsa disponibilità di risorse fossili, l’aumento dell’inquinamento causato dalle plastiche tradizionali e le nuove restrizioni normative hanno spinto le aziende ad adottare soluzioni più sostenibili, soprattutto per applicazioni di breve durata come gli imballaggi. La seguente ricerca ha portato allo sviluppo di un nuovo biocomposito performante che valorizza i sottoprodotti delle industrie agroalimentari: POMOPLA^2 è un materiale innovativo a base di acido polilattico (PLA) plasticizzato e rinforzato con scarti di pomodoro per imballaggi rigidi e flessibili. Il PLA, oltre ad essere una bioplastica bio-based, biodegradabile, con un’elevata resistenza a temperatura ambiente e una buona lavorabilità, presenta anche alcuni svantaggi come la fragilità. Per migliore la tenacità del PLA ed ampliare il suo mercato di riferimento anche ai packaging flessibili, è stato aggiunto un plastificante naturale e biodegradabile (denominato LABD) ottenuto dall'esterificazione del butandiolo con acidi grassi dei semi di lino. Una volta individuata la formulazione ottimale (PLA + 5% LABD), gli scarti di pomodoro (composti principalmente dalle bucce) in polvere ed essiccati sono stati aggiunti come filler alla matrice. La società cooperativa Finagricola (Battipaglia, Salerno, Italia) è stata selezionata come possibile azienda partner interessata al recupero dei suoi sottoprodotti. Seguendo i principi dell’economia circolare l’idea è quella di dare una seconda vita agli scarti di produzione attraverso lo sviluppo di POMOPLA^2, che rappresenta un sostituto promettente delle attuali plastiche fossili (ad esempio PP, PE, PET) utilizzate da Finagricola per imballare e vendere i pomodori freschi.
POMOPLA^2 : bio-based composite with tomato by-products for circular packaging application
Rotondo, Benedetta
2020/2021
Abstract
The low availability of fossil resources, increased pollution caused by traditional plastics, and new regulatory restrictions pushed companies to adopt more sustainable solutions, especially for short lifetime applications such as packaging. The present research focuses on the development of a performing biocomposite that enhances the by-products of agri-food industries: POMOPLA^2 is an innovative material based on a plasticized polylactic acid (PLA) matrix filled with tomato scraps for both flexible and rigid packaging. PLA is a versatile bio-based and biodegradable polymer with high strength and stiffness, and good processability. However, brittleness limits its industrial applications where plastic deformation at high impact rate is required. To overcome this drawback, a renewable and biodegradable plasticizer (named LABD) obtained from esterification of butanediol with linseed fatty acids was mixed with the PLA. Once the optimal extruded formulation (PLA + 5% w/w LABD) was identified, powdered and dried industrial tomato waste composed mainly of tomato peels was added as filler to the matrix. The cooperative Finagricola (Battipaglia, Salerno, Italy) was selected as possible partner interested in recovering its by-products. Following the principle of circular economy, the concept was to give a second life to tomato waste through the development of POMOPLA^2, representing a promising substitute for current fossil-based plastics (e.g., PP, PE, PET) used by Finagricola to pack and sell fresh tomatoes.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2022_04_Rotondo.pdf
solo utenti autorizzati dal 08/04/2023
Descrizione: Testo della tesi Benedetta Rotondo
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59.68 MB
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59.68 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/188180