| dc.description.abstract | A significant global concern nowadays is plastic pollution, which is highly
damaging to ecosystems and public health. Consequently, development of
alternative materials derived from biodegradable natural polymers is important in
curbing this threat. In this study, starch was modified to be water resistant by
treating starch-DMSO solutions with soybean oil at high temperature in the
presence of sodium carbonate. The modified starch was evaluated by FTIR analysis
and contact angle value measurement of paper coated with it. FTIR analysis of
modified starch samples confirmed the substitution of hydroxyl groups with fatty
acid ester and provided an estimate of the degree of substitution (Machell &
Richards). The hydrophobicity of the coated paper was quite high, and was a
combination of two factors: changes in starch particle surface features by
replacement of hydroxyl groups with fatty acid chains and the high-roughness
surface of coated paper. The contact angle measurement of starch-coated paper
surfaces revealed values as high as 121o, demonstrating the high hydrophobicity
of the modified starch coating and its potential as a water-resistant treatment for
non-plastic materials, though some water absorption was still present due to
shortcomings of the coating and modification process. Overall, with more research
and refinement, this process has the potential to allow the widespread adoption
of similar hydrophobic modified biomaterials to replace plastic in daily life. | en_US |
