Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable Synthetic Thickener from Anionic Triglyceride Polylactic Acid

Abstract

In this research work, we report the synthesis of novel biodegradable synthetic thickener able to provide good quality prints with reduced wastewater pollution. Biodegradable triglyceride polylactic acid (TGPLA) star polymer hydrogel was prepared via one-pot reaction by direct polycondensation of lactic acid and glycerol. The chemical structure of the produced polymer was determined By Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The rheological properties and biodegradation of the novel thickening agent were investigated. The prints quality of the prepared thickening hydrogels increased with increasing lactic acid content, while the apparent viscosity and biodegradation rate increased. Technical evaluation of TGPLA as environmentally friendly thickening agent in printing of different fabrics was studied. In addition, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) were described. The use of such thickening composite in printing such variety of fabrics with pigment and different types of dyes including reactive, acid, metal complex, basic, and disperse dyes was described. It was established that the TGPLA composite paste is characterize by a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic performance, and their apparent viscosity increases upon neutralization. Printing pastes are very stable against storing compared to mypro-gum as natural thickener. Printing pastes thickened with TGPLA containing a ratio of 98% of lactic acid and 2% of glycerol; display similar K/S values and colorfastness properties compared to those prints from commercial synthetic thickeners.