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Biodegradable films based on gelatin extracted from chrome leather scrap
Xugang Dang1, Zhihua Shan1, Hui Chen1
1The Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu 61006 5, PR China; National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, PR China.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|September 24, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed a biodegradable film using gelatin from chrome leather scrap, enhanced with beta-cyclodextrin. This novel material shows improved physical properties and biodegradability, offering a sustainable alternative.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Gelatin derived from chrome leather scrap presents a potential source for biodegradable materials.
- Challenges with gelatin films include limited solubility and suboptimal physical properties.
- Beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is known to enhance the properties of biopolymers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare and characterize biodegradable films from gelatin extracted from chrome leather scrap.
- To investigate the effect of β-cyclodextrin modification on the properties of gelatin films.
- To evaluate the potential of these modified films as sustainable packaging or biomaterials.
Main Methods:
- Extraction of gelatin from chrome leather scrap.
- Characterization of extracted gelatin (amino acid profile, chrome content, molecular weight, particle distribution).
- Preparation of gelatin-β-cyclodextrin blend films at a 1:2 ratio.
- Evaluation of film properties: viscosity, biodegradability, thermal stability, physical strength, swelling, and solubility.
Main Results:
- Extracted gelatin characterized by low chrome content (30mg/kg) and suitable molecular weight (6.5–26.6 kDa).
- Gelatin-β-cyclodextrin blends exhibited excellent compatibility and film-forming ability.
- Modified films showed significantly enhanced viscosity, biodegradability (81% at 1:2 ratio), thermal stability, and physical properties (15.74% elongation, 122.34 MPa tensile strength).
- The blends demonstrated improved swelling properties and overcame the rapid solubility issue of pure gelatin films.
Conclusions:
- Biodegradable films can be successfully prepared from gelatin extracted from chrome leather scrap.
- Modification with β-cyclodextrin significantly improves the performance and overcomes limitations of gelatin films.
- The optimized gelatin-β-cyclodextrin blend (1:2 ratio) offers a promising material with enhanced biodegradability and mechanical strength for various applications.
