Bio-Degradation Study of ABS Protein Filled Nano Composite

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2021, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages: 233-241

J. Environ. Treat. Tech.

ISSN: 2309-1185

Journal web link: http://www.jett.dormaj.com

https://doi.org/10.47277/JETT/9(1)241

Bio-Degradation Study of ABS Protein Filled Nano

Composite

M. Khaj , N. Goudarzian , Kh. Yousefi

Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Received: 06/09/2020

Accepted: 08/11/2020

Published: 20/03/2021

Abstract

In this work we report the particular preparing as well as properties of nano blend according to acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene

terpolymer using improved nano silica, and also casein, in particular, most of us studied the effects of filler injections concentration on

morphology, as well as hardware overall performance, paying attention our consideration on the consequence with the biodegradation

phenomena with the casein modifiers. ABS/nano Si and casein blends are assumed to be biodegradable since both components are bio-

degradable in a variety of microbial circumstances. The particular processing and mechanical properties involving casein and also

ABS/nano Si blends have been well investigated and submitted to degradation by dirt interment tests in perforated boxes for 6 months

and later analyzed. After destruction, blends along with casein displayed FTIR signals of minimal intensity in comparison to the original

blends. These results exposed that ABS/nano Si’s biodegradability may be improved until casein is added to it. as to the actual mechanical

properties, the effect of casein content on the strain at break of the nano composites, it is seen that the strain at break and impact strength

of the nano composites get worse with the addition of casein where it decreases with increasing casein content while Young's modulus

is higher than that of pure ABS.

Keywords: Nano composites; Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene terpolymer; Bio-degradation; Nano Silica

another widespread route is the basis on the development of

Introduction

nanocomposites (14-16). The original aims of nanoparticles

addition to being able to immiscible polymer blends are

generally how the morphology of the blends is usually affected

by nanoparticles and also whether these types of additives can

easily play the role of compatibilizer in the blends (17-19). It

must be noted that the mechanism of action of nanoparticles to

modify the actual morphology are investigated, we aimed to

detect nano silica localization within an immiscible

ABS/nanoSi blend nanocomposites applying the actual

rheological. In this function, an endeavor was also meant to set

up a correlation concerning localization involving nanosilica

and it is an effect on morphology. The results revealed these

rheological methods, especially the oscillation mode, were

trustworthy tools to find clay-based localization specifically on

high silica loading. From the morphological research, it had

been identified which the localization associated with nano

silica within the matrix phase of the mixes led to improved

development in the morphology (20-24). Caseins are animal

proteins and are commonly found in milk, making up 80 % of

the proteins in cow milk and between 60 and 65 % of the

proteins in human milk. Casein molecular weight is between

The particular plastic-type industry offers knowledgeable

some sort of exceptional progress over the last several years,

and also parts have become found in every part connected with

enterprise and also lifestyle. The actual important enhance

inside pockets generation and also product or service era has

brought in the also important enhance inside plastic material

convenience. Plastic-type material waste materials, whoever

the main source will be product packaging, is among the

members towards waste materials administration difficulty

acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene terpolymer (ABS) plastic

material is probably the many dominating packaging in

addition to industrial supplies in today's modern society and it

is unable regarding self-decomposition (1-4).

Poly (Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene) (ABS) is usually

semi crystalline thermoplastic polyester widely used in textile

fibers making, food packaging as well as liquefied containers,

thermoforming purposes as well as engineering resins

frequently in combination with fillers during the past years (5-

). There has been growing attention to some courses

connected with the biodegradation plastic composites in which

acquiescence to help the environment, and also

nanocomposites, based on the dispersion of fillers at a

nanometric scale. Among the various kinds of nanoparticles,

lamellar fillosilicates just like montmorillonite and have been

carefully investigated (10-13). Polymer blending is a useful

method to beget materials with speciﬁc enhanced properties.

The blending of polyoleﬁns with engineering plastics is a path

to improve the mechanical confidants of polymeric materials

-1

,000 and 20,000 g.mol . Caseins include four different types.

Casein is the predominant protein and is characterized by an

open, random coil structure. By treating acid-precipitated

caseins with alkali solution, caseinates are produced. Both

caseins and caseinates from transparent films from aqueous

solutions without any treatment based on hydrogen bonds.

Caseins have shown to be useful in a great number of fields

Corresponding author: N. Goudarzian, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad

University, Shiraz, Iran. E-mail: ngoudarzian@iaushiraz.ac.ir

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2021, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages: 233-241

such as adhesives, controlled releases, and biomedical

applications (25-28).

under the air pressure for mechanical testing. The compositions

of nanocomposites were 10, 15, 20 w% casein. For the

mechanical tests of all nano composites with 3w% of nano, Si

was collected. The optimum formula for biodegradable exams

was obtained ABS 90 w% and casein 10w%, ABS 85 w%, and

casein 15w% and finally, ABS 80 w% and casein 20 w% all of

them have 3 w% nano silica.

Experimental details

. 1 Materials

Styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), (SAN w1540) was supplied

by Iran Petro Chemical Co., Ltd. (Iran), [MFR = 50 g/10 min

(

200 °C /21.6 Kg), Density

1.04 g/cm ] and

.2 The scanning electron microscope (SEM)

Utilize a focused beam of high-energy electrons to come up

Styrene/Butadiene/Styrene (SBS) was supplied by Amole

Plastic, Co, Ltd. Iran. Casein is a commercial material; it was

brought from local suppliers and used as received, nano silica

used in this study is commercially available as fine amorphous,

nonporous, and typically spherical particles, white color,

with a variety of signals in the surface area of stable

individuals. The actual impulses that obtain via electron sample

interactions reveal information about the sample including

external morphology chemical composition, as well as

crystalline structure and orientation of materials making up the

sample. In most applications, data are usually collected over a

chosen area of the surface of the sample, as well as a 2-

dimensional picture is earned which demonstrates spatial

variations inside these properties. Places ranging from

approximately 1 cm to 5 microns wide could be imaged in a

scanning mode using conventional SEM techniques. The actual

SEM is also capable of executing examines of determining

place spots for the sample, this method is especially helpful

within qualitative. The degree of biodegradation

ABS/Casein/nano Si blends ended up being measured using

their weight fractions and the exploitation with the

ABS/Casein/nano Si blends through separation this casein right

after 6month.

specific gravity 1.12, particle size 8-20 nm, SiO content 99.1%

and glycerol (Gl) 99.5% was a commercial grade without any

treatment. For the preparation of ABS nano composite from

SAN and SBS and nano silica we used SAN and SBS granules

that were mixed and deride at temperature 80-90 ºC for 6 h and

ABS were prepared using a laboratory scale twine extruder

(

DSE) (L/D=40, D=20 mm) which could be operated at

different amount SAN/ SBS (5, 10, 20, 30, 40 w%) and amount

of nano silica 1, 3, 5 w% at 160-190 ºC which could be operated

at a constant speed (200rpm). The physical and mechanical

study of these blends showed that the ABS with 20w% SBS

and 3 w% have the optimized characteristics so we used this

blends for biodegradation studies.

Composites preparation ABS granules and casein powder

were mixed manually and dried at temperature 110/125 ºC for

a 6 h. To improve the mixing of the blend components, the

casein was subjected to plasticization with glycerol. Glycerol

was chosen as a softener because of its high plasticizing ability

relative to that of casein and a quite satisfactory one relative to

ABS, as well as because of its nontoxicity and rather high

thermal stability. ABS/casein composites were prepared using

a laboratory scale Double screw extruder (DSE) (L/D = 28, D

3 Results and discussion

3.1 Biodegradation

3.1.1 Degradation soil burial test The soil burial tests started

in October 2014 and continued for 6 months at 35±2 C in an

environment in which the relative humidity was not less than

85%. ABS/Casein/nano Si blends were buried in a perforated

box to allow the samples to be attacked by the microorganisms

and moisture. The box was buried at a depth of 7 ± 9 in. beneath

the soil surface. After removal, all the samples were carefully

washed to stop the degradation and the plastic sheets

(thickness=0.423 mm) were stored in darkness until testing.

The soil burial tests started in October 2014 and continued for

6 months at 35±2 oC in an environment in which the self-

relative moisture was not less than 85%. ABS/Casein/nano Si

blends were buried in a perforated box to allow the samples to

be attacked by the microorganisms and moisture. The box was

buried at a depth of 7 ± 9 in. below the soil surface. After

removal, all the samples were attentively washed to stop the

degradation and the plastic sheets (thickness=0.423 mm) were

stored in darkness until testing.

20mm), which could be operated at different speeds, varied

from 0 to100 rpm. The screw has a fluted type mixing section

located before the metering zone (29) in this type of mixer the

material is forced to pass at high shear stress. This brings in

some level of dispersing action besides reorienting the

interfacial area and increasing the imposed total strain. The

flight depth of the screw in the metering zone was 1.56 mm,

and the helix angle 17.7º. The temperatures profile along the

barrel of the extruder were set at 160,160,160,190 °C (from

feed zone to die), and the screw speed was 40 RPM. The

composites were then extruded through a multi holes die (3

mm) and the extrudes were left to cool in the air and then fed

into a granulator which converted them into granules. The

obtained granules were then dried at temperature 110/125°C for

h before use. The prepared composites and ABS were

compressed and the molding temperature for the composites

and ABS were 200, 160 °C respectively. The molded

specimens were then cooled to 80 °C before removal from the

mold and cut into a dog bone - shaped sample (ASTM D638)

3.1.2 Weight lost

After 6 months the films and specimens calculated taking

their weight fractions and the weight lost number present in

table 1 and Fig. 1

Table 1: Durations of weight loss of ABS with different amounts of casein

SAMPLE (w 10% casein)

0.671gr

0.657gr

0.638gr

0.618gr

SAMPLE (w 15% casein)

SAMPLE (w 20% casein)

0.675gr

0.590gr

0.567gr

0.546gr

First weight

0.673gr

0.621gr

0.605gr

0.578gr

Weight after 2 months

Weight after 4 months

Weight after 6 months

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2021, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages: 233-241

biodegradation is about the original samples. However, as the

amount of casein is increased the degradability characteristics

will increase. This data table 1 indicates that the part of the

sample was not degraded during the soil burial test after 6

months.

10%weight of casein

5w% weight of casein

0w%weight of casein

.68

.66

.64

.62

.2 Mechanical properties

Fig. 2(a and b) shows the effect of casein content on the

strain at break of the nanocomposites; it is seen in these figures,

that the strain at break of the composites get worse with the

increase of casein where it decreases along with increasing

casein content, and also the presence of 15% of casein in the

composite caused a steep decline in the strain at break.

.58

.56

.54

.52

Fig. 3(a and b) shows the effect of protein content on

Young's modulus for the composites, it could be noted from

Fig. 3, that Young's modulus of the composites is higher than

that of pure ABS. It could be said that the addition of protein to

ABS follows the general trend for filler effects on polymer

properties [36]. The modulus increases due to the stiffening

effect of protein and the strain at break decrease sharply as the

protein content is increased. The increasing casein content

higher than 15% caused a sharp decrease in the stress at break.

Figure 4 (a and b) shows the effect of casein content on the

strain at break of the composites, it is seen in these figures, that

the strain at break of the composites get worse with the addition

of casein where it decreases with increasing casein content, and

the presence of 15% of casein in the composite caused a steep

decline in the strain at break.

first weight weight after

month

weight

after4month after6month

weight

Figure 1: Diagram of weight loss of ABS with different amounts of

casein

After the 6 months of soil burial test, the growth of

microorganisms on the plastic caused changes in some of its

physical and chemical properties that can be detected in the

weight lost analysis. From the weight lost curves for

ABS/Casein/nano, Si blends with glycerol, before and after

buried for 6 months Fig. 1, it was verified that all the samples

presented fewer stages of biodegradation after the period of soil

buried test. It was observed that after the soil burial test,

(a) Strain at break

(b) Strain at break after biodegradation

Protein content (wt%)

Figure 2: Strain at break versus casein content (0-30 w %); (a) before degradation (b) after degradation

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

050

000

950

900

4300

4200

4100

4000

3900

3800

3700

(a) Young's modulus

3600

3500

3400

3300

(

b) Young's modulus after

biodegradation

protein content (wt%)

Protein content (wt%)

Fig. 3 (a and b) Young's modulus versus casein content (wt. %); (a) before degradation (b) after degradation

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2021, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages: 233-241

(b) Stress at break after biodegradation

(a) Stress at break

Protein content (wt%)

protein content (wt%)

Fig. 4 (a and b) stress at break versus casein content (wt. %); (a) before degradation (b) after degradation

Impact tests were performed according to ASTM D-1709

Fig.5 shows impact strength. The decrease reflects the impact

strength with increasing protein content in ABS/Casein/nano Si

nanocomposites. It is more and more intense after increasing

protein.

3.3 SEM Analysis

typical morphology of the destruction of the

ABS/Casein/nano Si blends by the break up the casein after 2

and 6 months is shown in Fig. 6 to 9 in these figures the percent

of protein was different from 10% until 20%. The scanning

electron micrographs of the ABS/Casein/nano Si blends sheets

reveal the destroyed areas of casein that are the starting point

of degradation. In SEM micrographs, there are some significant

signs in terms of damaged holes and creak between the samples

before and after degradation. The diffusion or partition of

protein on the plastic surface areas is available for bacterial

attack. The number of pores on the surfaces is thus increased.

The primary mechanism must be microbial production of

casein in or near a pore, followed by diffusion of the

microorganisms into pores and diffusion of soluble digestion

products back to the surface where degradation would occur.

Protein %

Fig. 5: Impact strength (IS) of the nanocomposites versus casein

content (wt%) (kj/m ) impact

Fig. 6: SEM image of ABS/protein /nano Si nanocomposite before degradation: (a) 10 w% protein (b) 15 w% protein (c) 20 w% protein

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2021, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages: 233-241

Fig. 7: SEM image of ABS /nano Si nanocomposite with 10 w% proteins after (a) 2month (b) 6month

Fig. 8: SEM images of ABS /nano Si nanocomposite with 15 w% proteins after 2month (b) 6month

Fig. 9: SEM images of ABS /nano Si nanocomposite with 20 w% proteins after 2month (b) 6month

.4 FTIR analysis

The attendance of casein at contents of 15% or greater

degradability can be improved when incising casein in the

blend and the bacteria's helping promote the biodegradation of

ABS nano composite with a considerable increase in mass loss.

Break up the casein after 6 months is a lack of protein

functional group as carbonyl in 1745 Cm wide peak Fig. 10

to 13.

improved the destruction of the blends after 6 months,

ABS/nano Si blends together with casein offered merely

biodegradation phase with a substantial improve by mass loss.

Moreover, all attraction relevant to casein disappeared in FTIR

spectra after soil buried test, likely due to the usage of casein

by microorganisms. These results revealed that ABS’s

-1

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2021, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages: 233-241

Fig. 10: FTIR of ABS/Casein/nano Si blends before degradation (15% casein)

Fig. 11: FTIR of ABS/Casein/nano Si blends after 2-month degradation (15% casein)

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2021, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages: 233-241

Fig. 12: FTIR of ABS/Casein/nano Si blends after 4-month degradation (15% casein)

Fig. 13: FTIR of ABS/Casein/nano Si blends after 6-month degradation (15% casein)

Conclusions

ABS/Casein/nano si nanocomposites usually are pseudo

is noted in the stress at the break in casein levels higher than 15

w%, whereas Young's modulus of the composites is higher than

that of the pure polymer. To improve the impact properties of

nanoparticles in general and ABS in this research nano silica

was used, so that the results of the mechanical properties and

plastics in behavior, along with the shear sensitivity of the

composites is more than that of pure ABS. Mechanical results

show that the strain at break of the composites decreases

sharply with increasing casein content, and the same behavior

Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

2021, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages: 233-241

the resistance to shock increased, however ABS/Casein/nano

Si is a highly biodegradable nanocomposites and showed

strengthened the mechanical and physical properties. With

increasing protein (casein) biodegradation of ABS /nano Si

nanocomposites can be much less time to adjust to

environmental.by adding nano silica until 3 w% to the

biodegradable ABS/casein the impact strength increases and

with the rising of amount nano silica weight more than 3 w%

the impact strength is diminished. This phenomenon can also

be observed in tensile strength. The results showed that

nanocomposites with 15 w% casein have appropriate

mechanical properties, and good process capability. The

addition of casein to ABS plastics has been promoted as a

technique to attain biodegradability. Blends with casein

indicate more degradability compared to pure ABS. The

obtained results indicate that casein a natural crude material can

be used as an environmentally-friendly alternative to other

materials, and has superior properties.

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Acknowledgment

Support of this work from Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad

University, Shiraz, Iran, and the Iran Nanotechnology

Initiative Council is gratefully acknowledged.

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Ethical issue

Authors are aware of, and comply with, best practice in

publication ethics specifically with regard to authorship

(

avoidance of guest authorship), dual submission, manipulation

of figures, competing interests and compliance with policies on

research ethics. Authors adhere to publication requirements

that submitted work is original and has not been published

elsewhere in any language.

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silica/nano-alumina on mechanical and physical properties of

polyurethane composites and coatings. Transact Electric Electron

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8. Amani AM, Hashemi SA, Mousavi SM, Abrishamifar SM, Vojood

A. Electric field induced alignment of carbon nanotubes:

methodology and outcomes. Carbon nanotubes-recent progress:

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Competing interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that

would prejudice the impartiality of this scientific work.

9. Quercia G, Lazaro A, Geus J, Brouwers H. Characterization of

morphology and texture of several amorphous nano-silica particles

used in concrete. Cement and Concrete Composites. 2013;44:77-

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All authors of this study have a complete contribution for

data collection, data analyses and manuscript writing.

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co-acrylonitrile) copolymer/silicate nanocomposite by emulsion

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