Study of Food Packaging Production from PLA/Cellulose Biocomposite

• Main Author: Rahmani - Nim: 13013052, Afina
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/20786
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one alternative that could potentially replace plastic food packaging material because of the good biodegradation properties and can be derived from renewable recources. Nevertheless, 100% PLA film is too expensive for food packaging application. PLA-cellulose biocomposite is one of methods that has been developed because of the cheaper production cost. However, biocomposite from PLA that synthesized with polycondensation method has a poor mechanical properties due to the low molecular weight of PLA. Therefore, In this study, PLA was synthesize by ring opening polymerization (ROP) method from D,L-lactide to obtain PDLLA with high molecular weight. The aim of this study is to produce PLA-cellulose biocomposite that has good properties to be applicated for food packaging material. <br /> <br /> <br /> Lactide monomer that produced by polycondensation method at 200 mmHg and depolymerization temperature at 200°C has 9%-wt yield. The impurities removed by synthetic purification variation to get the purest lactide. Ring opening polymerization done at 140°C from various purified lactide with various reaction time at 3 and 4 hours. Synthesized PDLLA was obtain with best average molecular wight at 173,107.03 g/mol. PLA blend dipolimer then synthesized to improve the properties of PLA film. PLAcellulose biocomposite was made with PLA blend (PDLLA20/PLLA80) from PDLLA made by ROP method and PDLLA made by polycondensation method. In this research, maximum composition of cellulose is 10%-wt. Sample with highest mechanical properties is PDLLA ROP 20/PLLA 80+10% cellulose which has elongation at break 80,73%, tensile strength 963,92 kPa, and Young’s Modulus 1,19 MPa. While the highest water vapor resistance is sample PLA blend ROP without addition of cellulose, which has WVP at 2,61 x 10-13 g/m.s.Pa. Addition of 10%-wt cellulose to PLA blend from ROP can increase biodegradability of the film more than PLA blend from polycondensation until reached 45,21% of weight loss.