Valorisation des fractions de la production d'éthanol de maïs en bioplastique

Abstract

The main objective of this study was in one side, to estimate the effect of the protein content variation in fractions from corn ethanol production on the mechanical properties (Young’s elastic modulus in MPa, Elongation at break in %, Tensile strength in MPa) of the bioplastic made with the aforementioned fractions and in another side, to compare them to that of the bioplastic obtained from the commercial pure zein prepared in the same experimental conditions. In addition, the effects of the variation of constituents’ content such as fibers, lipids and minerals on the mechanical properties of every fraction were observed. Regarding the whole stillage fraction, more the rate of raw protein was high, more the bioplastic mechanical properties were high and converge to those of the pure zein. This fraction had none of its mechanical properties greater than those of the pure zein, no matter the proportion of pure zein added to this fraction. Except the Elongation at break of the fraction syrup which was bound to the percentage of protein, other results of the mechanical properties obtained for the fraction syrup and distiller grains without solubles did not correlate to the contents in protein. Values of Elongation at break of the syrup were superior to that of zein for rates of pure zein of 83% and 90% added to this fraction. As for values of the tensile strength were superior to those of zein for rates of pure zein of 62% and 70% added to the distillers grain without solubles fraction and of 83% and 90% added to the fraction syrup. Finally, values of elastic modulus were superior to those of zein for rates of pure zein of 62% and 70% added to this fraction. The variation of the mechanical properties could be attributable to the chemical composition of each fraction. Choosing one fraction of corn ethanol production in order to produce bioplastic, will depend on its final application.

Date	12 Mar 2012
Original language	French
Awarding Institution	École de technologie supérieure
Supervisor	Robert Hausler (Supervisor) & Gerald Rowe (Co-supervisor)