Enzymatic degradation of Poly (ε-Caprolactone) and Starch blends bontaining SiO2 nanoparticle by Amyloglucosidase and α-Amylase

The aims of the study were to investigate the effect of poly(ε -caprolactone) (PCL) and nano- SiO2 within the thermoplastic starch (TPS) blends on the rate and extent of starch enzymatic hydrolysis using enzymes α-amylase and amyloglucosidase. The results of this study have revealed that blends with nano-SiO2 content at 6 wt% exhibited a significantly reduced rate and extent of starch hydrolysis. The results suggest that this may have been attributed to interactions between starch and nano- SiO2 that further prevented enzymatic attack on the remaining starch phases within the blend. The total solids that remained after 6000 min were 52 wt. % (TPS: PCL); 59 wt.% (TPS: PCL: 2% nano-SiO2); 64 wt.% (TPS: PCL: 4% nano-SiO2); 67 wt.% (TPS: PCL: 6% nano-SiO2). The rate of glucose production from each nanocomposite substrates was most rapid for the substrate without nano- SiO2 and decreased with the addition of nano- SiO2, for TPS: PCL blend (374 μg/ml.h), 246 μg/ml.h (TPS: PCL: 2% nano- SiO2), 217 μg/ml.h (TPS: PCL: 4% nano- SiO2) and 199 μg/ml.h for (TPS: PCL: 6% nano- SiO2). Enzymatic degradation behaviour of TPS: PCL: nano- SiO2 was based on the determinations of Water resistance, Weight loss and the Reducing sugars

Nanocomposites; Polymer composites; Biodegradable polymers; Water resistance; Reducing sugars.