Biodegradability and nutrients release of thermoplastic starch and poly (ε-caprolactone) blends for agricultural uses

Ana Carolina Corrêa; Adriana de Campos; Pedro Ivo Cunha Claro; Gelton Geraldo Fernandes Guimarães; Luiz Henrique Capparelli Mattoso; José Manoel Marconcini

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.119058

Biodegradability and nutrients release of thermoplastic starch and poly (ε-caprolactone) blends for agricultural uses

Carbohydr Polym. 2022 Apr 15:282:119058. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.119058. Epub 2022 Jan 10.

Authors

Ana Carolina Corrêa¹, Adriana de Campos², Pedro Ivo Cunha Claro³, Gelton Geraldo Fernandes Guimarães⁴, Luiz Henrique Capparelli Mattoso², José Manoel Marconcini²

Affiliations

¹ Nanotechnology National Laboratory for Agriculture (LNNA), Embrapa Instrumentation, PO Box 741, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering (PPGCEM), Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rod. Washington Luiz, Km 235, São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: carol_correa@hotmail.com.
² Nanotechnology National Laboratory for Agriculture (LNNA), Embrapa Instrumentation, PO Box 741, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
³ Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering (PPGCEM), Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rod. Washington Luiz, Km 235, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
⁴ Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina, 6800 Highway, Antônio Heil, Itajaí, SC 88318112, Brazil.

PMID: 35123734
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.119058

Abstract

Driven by the environmental stress caused by plastics, the interest on eco-friendly polymers has attracted the attention of researchers and industry. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) and poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) blends are good examples of sustainable material, exhibiting synergism between economic viability and properties. However, its biodegradability aligned to nutrients release has been less explored in agricultural applications. Herein, it is proposed the investigation of biodegradability of urea plasticized TPS and PCL blends, compatibilized with PCL grafted with maleic anhydride (PCL-g-MA), aiming fertilizers and sustainable agricultural products. The blends were prepared in a twin-screw extruder using a flat film die. The mechanical, thermal, morphological, and physical properties of TPS-PCL films were characterized, including biodegradation analysis via Bartha respirometer and nitrogen release in the soil. The films presented biodegradability and nitrogen release as a function of TPS content on blends formulation, presenting flexibility and robust mechanical properties. These findings may open a way of multifunctional agricultural products applied as fertilizer materials through economical and sustainable mulching films.

Keywords: Biodegradable blends; Mulching; Nitrogen release; Sustainable films; Urea.