Synthesis, characterisation and application of bio-based polyester(amides) and polyester(imides) derived from waste sugar beet pulp
In his thesis, Jesse Jongstra explores sugar beet pulp as a source for sustainable, bio-based plastics. Current fossil-based 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, Jongstra produced a chemical building block called GalX, and used this 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.
Jongstra extensively analyzed the materials were 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.