Journal article
Production of natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites through the use of polyhydroxybutyrate-rich biomass
Bioresource technology, Vol.99(7), pp.2680-2686
2008
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/109539
PMID: 17574844
Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated that production of natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (NFRTCs) utilizing bacterially-derived pure polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) does not yield a product that is cost competitive with synthetic plastic-based NFRTCs. Moreover, the commercial production of pure PHB is not without environmental impacts. To address these issues, we integrated unpurified PHB in NFRTC construction, thereby eliminating a significant energy and cost sink (ca. 30–40%) while concurrently yielding a fully biologically based commodity. PHB-rich biomass synthesized with the microorganism
Azotobacter vinelandii UWD was utilized to manufacture NFRTCs with wood flour. Resulting composites exhibited statistically similar bending strength properties despite relatively different PHB contents. Moreover, the presence of microbial cell debris allowed for NFRTC processing at significantly reduced polymer content, relative to pure PHB-based NFRTCs. Results further indicate that current commercial PHB production yields are sufficiently high to produce composites comparable to those manufactured with purified PHB.
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Details
- Title
- Production of natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites through the use of polyhydroxybutyrate-rich biomass
- Creators
- Erik R Coats - Department of Civil Engineering, University of Idaho, BEL 129, Moscow, ID 83844-1022, United StatesFrank J Loge - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United StatesMichael P Wolcott - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, 101 Sloan Hall, Spokane Street, Pullman, WA 99164, United StatesKarl Englund - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, 101 Sloan Hall, Spokane Street, Pullman, WA 99164, United StatesArmando G McDonald - Department of Forest Products, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1132, United States
- Publication Details
- Bioresource technology, Vol.99(7), pp.2680-2686
- Academic Unit
- Composite Materials and Engineering Center; Office of Clean Technology
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 99900547567801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article