| Abstract [eng] |
Oil-derived plastic consumption for daily and industrials needs is increasing every year, causing a lot of environmental and social issues. One of the biggest ones is generated waste and plastic pollution, as oil-derived plastics do not compose or biodegrade in the natural conditions and special waste management, transportation and recycling processes are needed in order to manage the generated plastic waste. Because of that, more sustainable alternatives to commonly used plastics are getting more and more attention. One of such are bio-based materials. Such biodegradable starch-based films were investigated in this study, to study their applicability in the industry. In order to improve properties of the films, samples, made with potato or tapioca starches, glycerol or sorbitol as plasticizers, lentil flour as a filler, were improved by adding peppermint or essential oil to the composition. 20 samples were made and compared by their appearance, mechanical properties, hydrophobicity and biodegradability, in order to investigate which composition is the most suitable for production of sustainable films and packaging. Essential oils were proven to have a slightly negative impact to the strength of the films but make them more resistant to water. In general, films made with starch as a base material are not as strong and resistant as oil-derived plastics but they are more environmentally-friendly and can decompose in the environment over time. The properties of the films with discussed composition need to be improved in order for them to be considered as an alternative to the widely-used man-made plastic materials. |
