Bioplastics

• US 9,085,677 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Erica Budina
• Original Assignee: Erica Budina
• Inventors: Budina, Erica
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailey, Patricia L
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, COLETTE B
• Application Number:
  US13/355,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20130186303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 11/00 Use of ingredients of unknown constitution, e.g. undefined reaction products
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/0016 Plasticisers
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/053 Polyhydroxylic alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 3/02 Starch; Degradation products thereof, e.g. dextrin
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/12 Agar or agar-agar , i.e. mixture of agarose and agaropectin; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 89/06 derived from leather or skin , e.g. gelatin
• 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

Abstract

Bioplastics including an oligosaccharide, a plasticizer, and an additive are described. Such bioplastics display advantageous attributes including tensile strength that can be tailored for particular uses. Processes for obtaining such bioplastics are also described.

Claims

1. A bioplastic comprising an oligosaccharide, a plasticizer, and an additive, wherein, the additive is selected from the group consisting of powdered clamshell, powdered eggshell, powdered coconut shell, gelatin, saw dust, and combinations thereof.

2. The bioplastic of claim 1, wherein the oligosaccharide is obtained by hydrolysis of a polysaccharide obtained from a renewable source.

3. The bioplastic of claim 2, wherein the hydrolysis is performed in the presence of an acid.

4. The bioplastic of claim 1, wherein the oligosaccharide is obtained by hydrolysis of starch, agar, or a combination thereof.

5. The bioplastic of claim 1, wherein the oligosaccharide is obtained by hydrolysis of agar.

6. The bioplastic of claim 1, wherein the oligosaccharide is obtained by hydrolysis of a starch.

7. The bioplastic of claim 6, wherein the starch is selected from the group consisting of corn starch, arrowroot starch, barley starch, cassava starch, maize starch, millet starch, oat starch, potato starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, sago starch, sorghum starch, sweet potato starch, wheat starch, soy starch, and combinations thereof.

8. The bioplastic of claim 6, wherein the plasticizer is glycerol;

the additive is a combination of powdered clamshell, powdered eggshell, and sawdust; and

the bioplastic further comprises gelatin.

9. The bioplastic of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of polyethers, polyols, ureas, polyethylene glycols, glycerol, and sorbitol.

10. The bioplastic of claim 1, wherein the additive is powdered clamshell.

11. The bioplastic of claim 1, wherein the additive is powdered eggshell.

12. The bioplastic of claim 1, wherein the additive is powdered coconut shell.

13. The bioplastic of claim 1, wherein the additive is sawdust.

14. An article including a bioplastic of claim 1.

15. A process for making a bioplastic, the method comprising:

heating a mixture comprising a polysaccharide obtained from a renewable source, water, a plasticizer, and an additive, the additive being selected from the group consisting of powdered clamshell, powdered eggshell, powdered coconut shell, gelatin, saw dust, and combinations thereof;

applying the heated mixture to a mold of desired structure;

cooling the heated mixture in the mold to provide a molded structure; and

,

removing the molded structure to form a bioplastic comprising an oligosaccharide, the plasticizer, and the additive.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein the polysaccharide is starch or agar.

17. The process of claim 15, wherein the mixture further comprises an acid.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein the acid is acetic acid.

19. A bioplastic obtained by the process of claim 15.