Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 28 No 1 (2024): 45-56

 

SYNTHESIS OF CARRAGEENAN-BASED BIOCOMPOSITE PLASTICIZED WITH DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ITS MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

 

(Sintesis Biokomposit Berasaskan Karaginan Diplastikkan dengan Pelarut Eutektik Dalam dan Penyifatan Ciri-Ciri Mekanikal)

 

Nur Amalina Ramli1, Fariha Rosli1, Mohd Aiman Hamdan2, and Fatmawati Adam1,3*

 

1Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology,

Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

2School of Food Industry, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry,

Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, 22200 Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia

3Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid and Processes,

Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: fatmawati@umpsa.edu.my

 

 

Received: 14 September 2023; Accepted: 12 January 2024; Published:  28 February 2024

 

 

Abstract

Carrageenan from seaweed tends to be brittle in the formation of hard capsules. In this study, a carrageenan-based biocomposite was synthesized to provide an alternative to gelatin hard capsules. This study aims to characterize the mechanical properties of carrageenan biocomposite plasticized with a deep eutectic solvent (DES) of choline chloride (ChCl) and glycerol. The carrageenan biocomposite was formulated at varying concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 v/v%) of DES to improve the strength and elasticity of carrageenan biocomposite films and hard capsules. The absence of the ChCl band at 1348 cm⁻¹ and the reduced intensity of the C–O glycerol band at 1107 cm⁻¹ in the ATR-FTIR spectra of DES were regarded as evidence for the formation of the eutectic mixture. This can be explained by the hydrogen bond donor and acceptor interaction between the DES constituents, which are chloride ions (Cl−) of ChCl and the hydroxyl group (–OH) of glycerol (Cl−···OH). The highest viscosity of Carra-DES 0.2 at 504.9 mPa∙s reflects the improved film tensile strength up to 60.1 MPa, which gives a positive effect after the addition of DES. The capsule loop strength reached its peak at 31.7 N for Carra-DES 0.4. A significant increase in the elongation at break of Carra-DES film was observed at DES concentrations of 0.2–0.6%. However, the concentration of DES should be controlled to achieve high tensile and loop strengths in hard capsule application. In conclusion, the incorporation of DES in carrageenan biocomposite can reduce its brittleness while improving its elasticity and strength in the production of hard capsules.

 

Keywords: Biocomposite, carrageenan, choline chloride, deep eutectic solvent, plasticizer

 

Abstrak

Karaginan daripada rumpai laut cenderung menjadi rapuh dalam pembentukan kapsul keras. Dalam kajian ini, biokomposit berasaskan karaginan telah disintesis sebagai alternatif kepada kapsul keras gelatin. Kajian ini bertujuan menyifatkan ciri-ciri mekanikal biokomposit karaginan yang ditambah pemplastik pelarut eutektik dalam (DES) yang diperbuat daripada kolina klorida (ChCl) dan gliserol. Biokomposit karaginan telah dirumuskan dengan DES menggunakan kepekatan yang berbeza (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, dan 1.0 v/v%) untuk meningkatkan kekuatan dan keanjalan filem biokomposit karaginan dan kapsul keras. Ketiadaan jalur penyerapan ChCl pada 1348 cm⁻¹ dalam analisis ATR-FTIR dan peralihan jalur getaran C–O dalam gliserol ke arah 1728 cm⁻¹ dianggap sebagai bukti pembentukan campuran eutektik. Ini boleh dijelaskan oleh interaksi penderma dan penerima ikatan hidrogen antara konstituen DES, iaitu ion klorida (Cl−) ChCl dan kumpulan hidroksil (–OH) gliserol (Cl−···OH). Kelikatan tertinggi Carra-DES 0.2 pada 504.9 mPa∙s mencerminkan kekuatan tegangan filem yang lebih baik sehingga 60.1 MPa dan memberikan kesan positif selepas penambahan DES. Kekuatan gelung kapsul mencapai kemuncaknya pada 31.7 N untuk Carra-DES 0.4. Peningkatan ketara pemanjangan filem Carra-DES semasa putus berlaku pada kepekatan DES 0.2% hingga 0.6%. Walau bagaimanapun, kepekatan DES harus dikawal untuk mencapai kekuatan tegangan filem dan gelung kapsul yang tinggi dalam aplikasi kapsul keras. Kesimpulannya, penggabungan DES dalam biokomposit karaginan dapat mengurangkan kerapuhan di samping meningkatkan keanjalan dan kekuatan dalam menghasilkan kapsul keras.

 

Kata kunci: Biokomposit, karaginan, kolina klorida, pelarut eutektik dalam, pemplastik

 

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