H.P.S. Abdul Khalil, E.W.N. Chong, F.A.T. Owolabi, M. Asniza, Y.Y. Tye, H.A. Tajarudin, M.T. Paridah, S. Rizal
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 (C–CaCO3). FESEM image revealed that the size of MB-CaCO3 was smaller and more uniform compared to C–CaCO3. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed the existence of crystalline polymorph of calcite in MB-CaCO3, which contained a higher percentage of calcite than C–CaCO3. However, the crystallinity and thermal stability of MB-CaCO3 was lower than C–CaCO3. From the results of physical, mechanical and thermal properties of composite films filled with C–CaCO3 and MB-CaCO3 fillers, the optimum loading of C–CaCO3 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 C–CaCO3. Since the effect of MB-CaCO3 on film functional properties was comparable to C–CaCO3, it can be used as an alternative to C–CaCO3 as inorganic filler for composite films in agriculture applications. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia; Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; Mechanical Engineering Department, Syiah Kuala University, Darussalam, Banda Aceh, 23111, Indonesia; Pulp and Paper Division, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria
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