Effect of clay content on morphology and processability of electrospun keratin/poly(lactic acid) nanofiber

Siriorn Isarankura Na Ayutthaya; Supachok Tanpichai; Weradesh Sangkhun; Jatuphorn Wootthikanokkhan

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.01.041

Effect of clay content on morphology and processability of electrospun keratin/poly(lactic acid) nanofiber

Int J Biol Macromol. 2016 Apr:85:585-95. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.01.041. Epub 2016 Jan 15.

Authors

Siriorn Isarankura Na Ayutthaya¹, Supachok Tanpichai², Weradesh Sangkhun³, Jatuphorn Wootthikanokkhan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Materials Technology, School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 126 Pracha Uthit road, Bang Mod, Thung khru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand; Nanotec-KMUTT Center of Excellence on Hybrid Nanomaterials for Alternative Energy (HyNAE), School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.
² Learning Institute, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 126 Pracha Uthit road, Bang Mod, Thung khru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand; Nanotec-KMUTT Center of Excellence on Hybrid Nanomaterials for Alternative Energy (HyNAE), School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.
³ Nanotec-KMUTT Center of Excellence on Hybrid Nanomaterials for Alternative Energy (HyNAE), School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁴ Division of Materials Technology, School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 126 Pracha Uthit road, Bang Mod, Thung khru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand; Nanotec-KMUTT Center of Excellence on Hybrid Nanomaterials for Alternative Energy (HyNAE), School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address: jatuphorn.woo@kmutt.ac.th.

PMID: 26776870
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.01.041

Abstract

This research work has concerned the development of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) removal filters from biomaterials, based on keratin extracted from chicken feather waste and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) (50/50%w/w) blend. Clay (Na-montmorillonite) was also added to the blend solution prior to carrying out an electro-spinning process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of clay content on viscosity, conductivity, and morphology of the electrospun fibers. Scanning electron micrographs showed that smooth and bead-free fibers were obtained when clay content used was below 2 pph. XRD patterns of the electrospun fibers indicated that the clay was intercalated and exfoliated within the polymers matrix. Percentage crystallinity of keratin in the blend increased after adding the clay, as evidenced from FTIR spectra and DSC thermograms. Transmission electron micrographs revealed a kind of core-shell structure with clay being predominately resided within the keratin rich shell and at the interfacial region. Filtration performance of the electrospun keratin/PLA fibers, described in terms of pressure drop and its capability of removing methylene blue, were also explored. Overall, our results demonstrated that it was possible to improve process-ability, morphology and filtration efficiency of the electrospun keratin fibers by adding a suitable amount of clay.

Keywords: Clay; Keratin; Nanofiber.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aluminum Silicates / chemistry*
Animals
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
Chickens
Clay
Feathers
Keratins / chemistry*
Lactic Acid / chemistry*
Nanofibers / chemistry*
Nanofibers / ultrastructure
Polyesters
Polymers / chemistry*
Solutions
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

Aluminum Silicates
Polyesters
Polymers
Solutions
Lactic Acid
poly(lactide)
Keratins
Clay