Elaboración de un bioplástico a partir de colágeno obtenido de residuos de wet blue proveniente de una curtiembre de la ciudad de Ambato

Abstract

The study and development of bioplastics is an important issue in today's world due to the high incidence of conventional plastics in environmental pollution due to their accumulation given their low level of degradation and their widespread daily use that causes millions of tons to be produced per year and millions more end up as waste in the soil or in the oceans, which is why the proposal for a bioplastic that can replace common materials would allow outstanding innovation in the field of materials with improved characteristics. The present work focuses on the line of biotechnological research with a focus on the environment and for the elaboration of the proposed bioplastic, a formulation based on collagen obtained from wet blue shavings, residue obtained from tanneries, white carrot starch and plasticizers such as polyvinyl alcohol and glycerin was used. The objective was the elaboration of a material with optimal characteristics of tensile strength, elastic recovery, water permeability, water solubility and biodegradability. The product was developed with a view to proposing it as a replacement for plastic or low-density polyethylene covers, with the added value of containing in its formulation a waste that would typically be discarded and with the characteristics of ordinary plastic but obtained at a lower cost and with the ability to degrade naturally in a short period of time and that allows environmental sustainability in such a way that it satisfies the needs of human comfort while improving the impact on the ecosystem.