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Synthesis, Characterisation and Application of Bio-Based Polyester(amides) and Polyester(imides) Derived from Waste Sugar Beet Pulp
Summary
Scientists turned sugar beet pulp (a leftover from sugar production) into new types of plastic that are partly plant-based and biodegradable, offering a greener alternative to traditional petroleum plastics. While these materials didn't break down as quickly as hoped, tweaking their chemical makeup improved biodegradability, and early tests show promise for uses like slow-release fertilizer coatings. This matters because cutting down on petroleum-based plastics could help reduce plastic pollution and microplastic buildup in our environment, food, and bodies — though more research is needed before these materials are ready for widespread use.
This thesis explores the development of sustainable, bio-based plastics as an alternative to traditional petroleum-based materials. Current plastic production contributes to CO2 emissions, environmental pollution, and the growing accumulation of plastic waste in oceans. As a result, there is increasing interest in materials made from renewable resources that are also biodegradable.The research focuses on sugar beet pulp, a by-product of the sugar industry. From this biomass, a chemical building block called GalX was produced and used to create new polymers known as polyesteramides and polyimide(esters). These materials combine strength and flexibility with partial biodegradability. By adjusting the ratio between ester and amide groups in the polymers, properties such as thermal stability, and biodegradability could be tuned.The materials were extensively analyzed for thermal behavior, mechanical properties, and biodegradability. Although the polymers did not degrade rapidly, a higher ester content generally improved biodegradability. In addition, bio-based coatings were developed from these polymers. The coatings showed promising hardness, solvent resistance, and network formation properties.The results demonstrate that sugar beet pulp is a promising renewable raw material for sustainable plastics and coatings. Potential applications include coatings for controlled fertilizer release or seed coatings, where slow biodegradation can be beneficial. Further optimization is still needed to improve the balance between material performance and biodegradability for practical large-scale applications.