Biodegradable plastics

• US 20040249065A1
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Saginaw Valley State University
• Original Assignee: Saginaw Valley State University
• Inventors: Schilling, Christopher H., Karpovich, David S., Tomasik, Piotr
• Application Number:
  US10/457,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249065A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 525/54.1
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 1/00 Macromolecular products derived from proteins food proteins A23; glue, gelatine C09H
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 8/00 Macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials pretreatment thereof B27N
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 1/02 Cellulose; Modified cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/06 Biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/26 Natural polymers, natural resins or derivatives thereof according to C08L1/00 - C08L5/00, C08L89/00, C08L93/00, C08L97/00 or C08L99/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/00 Compositions of polysaccharides or of their derivatives not provided for in groups C08L1/00 or C08L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 89/00 Compositions of proteins; Compositions of derivatives thereof foodstuff preparations A23J3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 89/005 Casein
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 97/02 Lignocellulosic material, e.g. wood, straw or bagasse manufacture of articles made from lignocellulosic material by dry processes B27N
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 99/00 Compositions of natural macromolecular compounds or of derivatives thereof not provided for in groups C08L89/00 - C08L97/00

Abstract

A method for producing biodegradable plastic from natural materials containing polysaccharides and oligosaccharides by treating the polysaccharide-containing or oligosaccharide-containing materials with a basic aqueous solution, subsequently treating the mixture with a modifying material to create an anionic product, and then contacting the anionic product with proteins to produce the biodegradable plastic material. The process provides relatively inexpensive methods for preparing biodegradable plastics that are useful for manufacturing various articles and also to provide an environmental solution that will reduce the amount of natural wastes that could be practically utilized for the benefit of mankind.

Claims

1. A method for the preparation of biodegradable plastics, said method comprising:

(I) providing a suspension in a basic aqueous carrier of a finely divided natural material containing a saccharide selected from the group consisting of

(i) polysaccharides,

(ii) oligosaccharides, and

(iii) a combination of (i) and (ii);

(II) adding water to the suspension;

(III) agitating the suspension for a period of time;

(IV) subjecting the product resulting from step (III) to derivatization selected from the group consisting of;

(A) acylation using a material selected from the group consisting of cyclic anhydrides selected from the group consisting of

(i) maleic anhydride,

(ii) succinic anhydride,

(iii) glutaric anhydride,

(iv) phthalic anhydride and,

(v) derivatives of (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv);

(B) carboxymethylation using materials selected from the group consisting of;

(i) haloalkanoic acids and

(ii) salts of haloalkanoic acids, and,

(C) oxidation using an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of;

(a) hypochlorites;

(b) hydrogen peroxide;

(c) ozone and

(d) air, to provide a solid anionic material, and thereafter,

(V) combining the material resulting from (IV) with a protein and allowing the resulting material and the protein to react with each other.

2. A plastic prepared by the method of claim 1.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the natural material is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) starchy materials,

(ii) cellulosic materials,

(iii) lignocellulosic materials,

(iv) hemicellulosic materials,

(v) plant gum containing materials,

(vi) polysaccharide-containing materials and,

(vii) oligosaccharide-containing materials.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the natural material is selected from the group consisting of:

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of: