Browsing by Author "Acosta, Sandra"

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Biodegradable-disposable containers made of Achira´s leaves (Canna edulis) by thermoconforming
(LACCEI, Inc., 2019-07) Acosta, Sandra; Moreira, Cesar; Vargas, Angeline
This study evaluates the feasibility of using Achira´s leaves, plant native form Ecuador used by indigenous people for food cooking, as a raw material for the manufacture of disposable plates. For this purpose, the Achira´s leaf was coated with a dispersion made of rice starch and gelatin in a 50:50 ratio with 2% (w/w) of solids content adding to this matrix an antimicrobial agent. The used films, the uncoated and the coated leaves were analyzed for its moisture, thickness and mechanical properties, also, for its structure using X-ray diffraction and response for microbial attack In-vitro and In-vivo. Results suggested that the Achira´s laves are compatible with the active biodegradable coat used, due to a slight increment in the thickness of the leaves before and after application of the dispersion, additionally, the coating improves mechanical properties increasing the leaves elongation up to 40% which is desirable in materials subjected to process involving pressure and temperature. The X-ray diffraction values suggested that the matrix and the leaf may have a similar behavior in a thermoconforming process. Finally, the microbiological analysis performed suggested that the biodegrable active coating gives protection to the Achira´s leaves.
Study of the incorporation of wood fiber to cassava, rice and potato biodegradable matrices
(LACCEI Inc., 2018-09) Acosta, Sandra; Villavicencio, Maria; Escalante, Paola; Moreira, Cesar
The present work is based in a study starting from the behavior and characterization of films made from a 2% total solids (TS) dispersion of easy accessibility raw materials such as, cassava starch (Y), potato (P) and rice (A), combined with a protein i.e. gelatin (G) in a 50:50 ratio; adding guaiacum wood fiber of 75 and 150 µm (Ff and Fg respectively) until 1% (TS). Furthermore, glycerol was incorporated as plasticizer until 30% TS. The biodegradable films were elaborated by casting method. The films were characterized on the following parameters: thickness, water permeability and mechanical properties (Young modulus, tensile stress and elongation). It was found that the films made of AG-Ff and PG-Ff shown better barrier to the water vapor permeability with values of 2.5 and 2.4 (g. mm. KPa-1. h-1.m2) respectively. The PG-Ff film showed, also, better mechanical properties i.e. higher Force, Young modulus and tensile stress increasing with time, with the lower elasticity; the YG-Ff and YG-Fg films reported the higher elasticity, being this parameter of interest, we will continue with this formulae to other manufacturing processes.