Wheat Gluten Biocomposites Reinforced with Coconut Fiber

摘要

Environmental concerns about an increase in non-degradable plastic waste have generated significant interest in biopolymers from renewable natural sources. Wheat gluten (WG) is a complex protein, and has been investigated for potential use in food and non-food applications. WG-based plastics can potentially be used to substitute conventional petroleum-based plastics due to their non-toxicity, large- scale availability, low cost, biodegradability, and environmentally friendly properties. However, the plastics made from WG are quite brittle, and absorb water after being processed.