Agriculture

Research Conducted at French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) Has Provided New Information about Botany

  2012 MAY 10 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to the authors of a study from Paris, France, "Wheat flour was plasticized with glycerol and compounded with poly(lactic acid) in a one-step twin-screw extrusion process in the presence of citric acid with or without extra water. The influence of these additives on process parameters and thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of injected samples from the prepared blends, was then studied."

  "Citric acid acted as a compatibilizer by promoting depolymerization of both starch and PLA. For an extrusion without extra water, the amount of citric acid (2 parts for 75 parts of flour, 25 parts of PLA and 15 parts of glycerol) has to be limited to avoid mechanical properties degradation," wrote E. Chabrat and colleagues, French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA).

  The researchers concluded: "Water, added during the extrusion, improved the whole process, minimizing PLA depolymerization, favoring starch plasticization by citric acid and thus improving phases repartition."

  Chabrat and colleagues published the results of their research in Industrial Crops and Products (Influence of citric acid and water on thermoplastic wheat flour/poly(lactic acid) blends. I: Thermal, mechanical and morphological properties. Industrial Crops and Products, 2012;37(1):238-246).

  For additional information, contact E. Chabrat, INRA, LCA, Paris, France.

  The publisher of the journal Industrial Crops and Products can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Bv, PO Box 211, 1000 Ae Amsterdam, Netherlands.

  Keywords: City:Paris, Country:France, Region:Europe, Carboxylic Acids, Citrates, Citric Acid, Lactates, Lactic Acid, Organic Chemicals

  This article was prepared by VerticalNews Agriculture editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2012, VerticalNews Agriculture via VerticalNews.com.