Thermal Degradation Analysis of Biodegradable Plastics from Urea-Modified Soy Protein Isolate

Abstract

Environmental pollution caused due to petroleum-based plastics is growing worldwide. Soy protein isolate, a potential alternative to some petrochemical polymers, is cheap and available in plenty. This natural biopolymer is chemically modified with urea at 5, 10, and 20% (w/w) and 2M (molar) for better processing conditions. The FTIR spectra of the compounds have been studied to know the structure of biopolymers. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of these samples have been monitored. TGA of the modified material has been followed using a computer analysis method, LOTUS package, developed by us, for assigning the degradation mechanism and evaluating the kinetic parameters using a number of equations. The thermal degradation mechanism of this biopolymer is explained on the basis of the kinetic parameters.