Journal article
Propionylation-modified chitin with improved solubility in green ethanol/water binary solvents for sustainable film and coating applications
Journal of cleaner production, Vol.250, p.119458
03/20/2020
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/121624
Abstract
The use of less-toxic solvents is highly desirable for biopolymer processing and applications to meet sustainability while alleviating environmental burdens. In this study, chitin was propionylated to improve its solubility. The highly propionylated chitin exhibited considerably improved solubility (up to 96%) in a binary ethanol/water solution as compared to almost insolubility in a single solvent (either ethanol or water). Transparent films were prepared with acidified solutions and possessed excellent mechanical properties with a tensile strength up to 40 MPa and Young’s modulus of 1.3 GPa. When the solution of the chitin propionate solution was employed as a coating on a paper substrate, the chitin propionate coating was found to improve the tensile strength of the paper from 64 MPa up to 84 MPa, and it also significantly decreased the surface energy to improve water resistance. These results suggest that chitin propionate that is dissoluble in ethanol/water binary solvents has potential use for new sustainable bio-based films and coatings in practical applications.
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•Highly propionylated chitin product was obtained.•Chitin propionate was insoluble in pure water or pure ethanol.•Solubility of chitin propionate was considerably improved in ethanol/water mixtures.•Transparent chitin propionate films with sound mechanical properties were obtained.•Chitin propionate coating on a paper substrate improved paper mechanical performance.
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Details
- Title
- Propionylation-modified chitin with improved solubility in green ethanol/water binary solvents for sustainable film and coating applications
- Creators
- Tuhua Zhong - Washington State UniversityMichael P Wolcott - Washington State UniversityHang Liu - Washington State UniversityJinwu Wang - Washington State University
- Publication Details
- Journal of cleaner production, Vol.250, p.119458
- Academic Unit
- Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles, Department of
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 99900619656801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article