Microbial-induced CaCO3 filled seaweed-based film for green plasticulture application

• Main Authors: Shawkataly, Abdul Khalil H. P., Chong, Eunice Wan Ni, Owolabi, Folahan Abdulwahab Taiwo, Mustapha, Asniza, Tye, Ying Ying, Tajarudin, Husnul Azan, Md Tahir, Paridah, Rizal, Samsul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2018
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/74962/1/Microbial-induced%20CaCO3%20filled%20seaweed-based%20film%20for%20green%20plasticulture%20application.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/74962/; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652618320900

This work aimed to develop green biodegradable film using red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) as a base matrix and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as a filler to enhance the properties of the red seaweed material for plasticulture purpose. CaCO3 which was produced by microbially induced precipitation (MB-CaCO3) using Bacillus sphaericus, was characterized and compared with the commercial CaCO3 (CCaCO3). FESEM image revealed that the size of MB-CaCO3 was smaller and more uniform compared to CCaCO3. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed the existence of crystalline polymorph of calcite in MB-CaCO3, which contained a higher percentage of calcite than CCaCO3. However, the crystallinity and thermal stability of MB-CaCO3 was lower than CCaCO3. From the results of physical, mechanical and thermal properties of composite films filled with CCaCO3 and MB-CaCO3 fillers, the optimum loading of CCaCO3 and MB-CaCO3 was found at 0.1% and 0.15%, respectively. Composite films filled with MB-CaCO3 promote brighter film, better water barrier, hydrophobicity and biodegradability compared to CCaCO3. Since the effect of MB-CaCO3 on film functional properties was comparable to CCaCO3, it can be used as an alternative to CCaCO3 as inorganic filler for composite films in agriculture applications.