Evaluation of Fishmeal as Starting Material for Producing Biodegradable Protein-Based Thermoplastic Polymers

摘要

Abstract Purpose Evaluate low value marine waste material from farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as starting material for the production of low cost, biodegradable protein-based thermoplastic polymers. Methods Dynamic mechanical analysis, compression moulding, gel permeation chromatography, scanning electron microscopy and amino acid distribution analysis. Results Through a series of dynamic mechanical analysis studies it was shown that fishmeal can be plasticized with hydrophilic plasticizers to yield a material that can be successfully compression moulded into consolidated polymers at temperatures above the glass transition temperatures of the mixtures. Addition of SDS and urea further increased the processability of the fishmeal and homogenous polymers were produced. The mechanical properties of the polymers were poor and they were generally too brittle to allow extensive mechanical testing. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a sheet-like sub-structure within the polymer network which explained the poor mechanical properties. Gel permeation chromatography and amino acid distribution analysis of the fishmeal indicated that the proteins in the fishmeal are of low molecular weight with a high content of collagen. The fishmeal was also evaluated as part of polymeric blends with polyethylene, biodegradable polybutylene succinate and bovine bloodmeal. Conclusion It was possible to generate consolidated fish waste based polymeric materials. Fishmeal did not perform as well as bovine bloodmeal as a thermoplastic biopolymer mainly due to its low protein content and low molecular mass.