Valorização do cipó-titica (Heteropsis flexuosa) e óleo de Andiroba (Carapa guianensis) para a produção de filmes celulósicos funcionalizados

Abstract

The increasing use of petrochemical-derived polymers, such as plastics, can cause significant environmental damage, destabilizing ecosystems, as they are often improperly disposed of, leading to pollution of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. An alternative to mitigate these impacts is the adoption of polymers from natural sources, such as cellulose, found in various plants. Research on the production, characterization, and application of cellulose at nanometric scales, specifically cellulose nanofibrils (NFC), is growing due to their potential for producing films, aiming to provide sustainable solutions. The use of underexplored raw materials enhances sustainability appeal, with titica vine (Hf) being a viable material in this context. Some substances, such as vegetable oils, can be added to the films to confer functional properties. An example is andiroba oil, known for its antibacterial and insecticidal properties. This study produced and characterized films based on titica vine functionalized with andiroba oil, evaluating their mechanical, barrier, biodegradability, and antioxidant activity properties. The Hf films were stabilized with 5% (w/w) Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) and added with different concentrations of andiroba oil (AO) emulsified with 2% (w/w) Tween 80: 0, 1, 3, and 5%, with percentages based on the solid content of Hf at 1%. The addition of andiroba oil increased the viscosity of the suspensions and altered the physical properties of the films. The use of andiroba oil resulted in the formation of films with less degradation in aqueous media, a higher contact angle, and a lower wetting capacity, although they exhibited considerable water vapor permeability. The An1 film exhibited hydrophobic character, with a contact angle greater than 93.07°, and higher puncture resistance of 6.70 N mm-1. On the other hand, the An3 films showed greater transparency and biodegradability, while the An5 films resulted in more opaque films with a higher thermal degradation temperature and elevated antioxidant activity. Films derived from Hf fibers functionalized with andiroba oil demonstrated potential as packaging materials for lightweight and low moisture content products, due to their suitable thermal and barrier properties.