Biodegradable polymers based on natural carotenoids.

Abstract

Carotenoids such as curcumin and bixin are polyisoprenoids, and are responsible for red, orange or yellow colors. Curcumin is a yellow hydrophobic polyphenol that presents a low molecular weight. Bixin is a natural color extracted from the Annato tree and its color varies from yellow to red due to the presence of the isomer carotenoid trans-bixin. Food and cosmetic industries use them due to their antioxidant properties. The biodegrading properties of polymer blends can be improved by the addition of vegetable oil, organic and inorganic additives or by mixing them with a biodegradable polymer. According to previous studies, polymers produced by a mixture of Moringa polymer (PMO), polyethylene (PE) and commercial biodegradable polymers (PB), composed of PBAT (poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/PLA (polylactic acid), presented mechanical properties similar to those of PE, except for a higher biodegradation capacity. Vegetable oils can be used as plasticizers for polymer blends and Moringa oil and improved the biodegradation properties in other studies.