posted on 2020-03-20, 19:42authored bySyeda
Shamila Hamdani, Zhao Li, Muhammad Rabnawaz, Donatien Pascal Kamdem, Bilal Ahmed Khan
Excessive use of
synthetic nondegradable polymers has led to the
proliferation of microplastics in the oceans as well as polluted landscapes.
Herein, we report a new sustainable approach for the development of
oil- and water-resistant paper. Chitosan–graft–poly(dimethylsiloxane) (CHI–g–PDMS)
copolymers were prepared by the reaction of poly(dimethylsiloxane)
(PDMS) with chitosan. The CHI–g–PDMS
graft copolymer was characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR) analysis. Zein, a coproduct of the bioethanol industry,
was blended with CHI–g–PDMS in a water/ethanol
solution and subsequently applied as a coating on an unbleached Kraft
paper. The coated paper substrates were evaluated for their oil resistance
via kit rating and oil contact angle measurements, while the water
resistance was determined via Cobb60 value and water contact angle
measurements. In addition, the pulp was successfully recovered from
the coated paper. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was
used to investigate the variation in the texture of the paper before
and after the coating treatment. Thanks to the efficient pulp recovery
and the biodegradable nature of the coating ingredients (chitosan
and zein), this novel water- and oil-resistant paper will positively
impact the environment by offering potential replacements for single-use
plastic applications, and will thus help to minimize ocean microplastics
and the burdens placed on landfills.