Fiber obtained from Helianthus tuberosus residue and its application in the development of biodegradable composite materials based on starch

SIERRA MONTES, L.; MELAJ, M.; TORRES, M.R.; LORENZO, C.; RIBBA L.; GARCIA, M. A.

CABA

Congreso; 11th World Congress of Chemical Engineering; 2023

Comité organizador del 11th World Congress of Chemical Engineering

The use of reinforcing agents in polymeric matrices allows the design of materials with optimized properties suitable for different applications. Natural fibers are of great interest since they are low cost, low density, high resistance and biodegradable. The cultivation of Topinambur (Helianthus tuberosus) has aroused the interest of producers since it is a source of inulin and can be used for biofuels obtaining. During tuber processing the aerial part of the crop remains as a by-product with no practical application. The aims of this work were to characterize the fibers obtained from the aerial part of Topinambur and to evaluate its reinforcement potential in cassava starch-based films. Residue fiber chemical composition and its morphologic characteristics were evaluated. Starch-based films with Topinambur fibers (0, 5 and 10%), were prepared by extrusion and thermocompression. Color, UV-visible barrier capacity and mechanical properties were evaluated. Topinambur residue contains 88,6% of total fiber, 8,5% ash and 0,68% lipid. The fiber was incorporated into the polymer matrix, presenting a good interaction, with aggregates of up to 10%. UV-visible capacity, opacity and the chromaticity parameters of TPS films increased with fiber content in the formulation. Mechanical film properties evidenced the reinforcement action of Topinambur fiber since it was able to increase the Young modulus and tensile stress of TPS films, and reduce its maximum deformation. Thus, Topinambur residue can be effectively used as a reinforcing agent for TPS materials, being an innovative additive within the circular economy premises.