Fast Preparation of Flexible Wet-Resistant and Biodegradable Films From a Stable Suspension of Xylan/Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complexes

摘要

Abstract Novel hemicellulose-based films from polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) of chitosan and xylan from sugar cane bagasse were prepared and characterized. PEC suspension from two different xylan to chitosan mass ratios (70/30 and 80/20) were considered. With the aim of shorten the whole film preparation process, PEC suspension was concentrated through a fast evaporation stage before casting. Results show that the concentration stage did not modify neither the size of the complexes, i.e., a size distribution with a mode at 450?nm and other at 5000?nm, nor the mechanical properties of the films. By the increment in xylan content from 70 to 80, the strain at break was decreased (up to a value of 7), the stress at break was increased (up to 22?MPa) and the swelling of the films was increased from 80 to 90. After 25?days under aerobic burial conditions, degradation of the films was similar to cellulose.Graphic Abstract