US-20260124600-A1 - WATER-ABSORBING COMPOSITE WITH BIODEGRADABILITY AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

US20260124600A1US 20260124600 A1US20260124600 A1US 20260124600A1US-20260124600-A1

Abstract

A water-absorbing composite with a biodegradability includes an egg white composition, an acylation reagent, and a crosslinking reagent. The egg white composition contains a plurality of proteins with an amount between 3 wt % and 5 wt %. The acylation reagent reacts with a part of amines of the proteins of the egg white composition, so that the egg white composition has a plurality of hydrophilic groups. A weight ratio of the acylation reagent to the proteins is between 0.05 g/g and 0.5 g/g. The crosslinking reagent bonds to another part of amines of the proteins of the egg white composition or a part of hydroxyl groups of the proteins of the egg white composition. A weight ratio of the crosslinking reagent added to the protein solution to the proteins is between 0.1 g/g and 0.7 g/g. A manufacturing method of the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability is also provided.

Inventors

Yi-Chen Chen
Yu-Shan Chang

Assignees

NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20250115
Priority Date: 20241105

Claims (10)

1 . A water-absorbing composite with a biodegradability, comprising: an egg white composition having a plurality of proteins, wherein a weight of the plurality of proteins accounts for between 3 wt % and 5 wt % of a weight of the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability; an acylation reagent reacting with a part of a plurality of amines of the plurality of proteins of the egg white composition, so that the egg white composition has a plurality of hydrophilic groups, wherein the acylation reagent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride or succinic anhydride; a weight ratio of the acylation reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.05 g/g and 0.5 g/g; and a crosslinking reagent bonding to another part of the plurality of amines of the plurality of proteins of the egg white composition or a part of a plurality of hydroxyl groups of the plurality of proteins of the egg white composition, wherein the crosslinking reagent is N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide or glycerol; a weight ratio of the crosslinking reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.1 g/g and 0.7 g/g.
2 . The water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the acylation reagent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride and the crosslinking reagent is glycerol, the weight ratio of the acylation reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.15 g/g and 0.25 g/g and the weight ratio of the crosslinking reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.3 g/g and 0.7 g/g.
3 . The water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the acylation reagent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride and the crosslinking reagent is N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide, the weight ratio of the acylation reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.15 g/g and 0.25 g/g and the weight ratio of the crosslinking reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.1 g/g and 0.16 g/g.
4 . The water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the acylation reagent is succinic anhydride and the crosslinking reagent is glycerol, the weight ratio of the acylation reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.05 g/g and 0.5 g/g and the weight ratio of the crosslinking reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.3 g/g and 0.7 g/g.
5 . A manufacturing method of a water-absorbing composite with a biodegradability comprising the following steps: step S1: providing a protein solution, wherein the protein solution has an egg white composition comprising a plurality of proteins; a weight of the plurality of proteins of the egg white composition accounts for between 3 wt % and 5 wt % of a weight of the protein solution; step S2: adding an acylation reagent to the protein solution, mixing and modulating a pH value of the protein solution to be between 8 and 12, wherein the acylation reagent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride or succinic anhydride; the acylation reagent reacts with a part of a plurality of amines of the plurality of proteins of the egg white composition, so that the egg white composition has a plurality of hydrophilic groups; step S3: adding a crosslinking reagent to the protein solution, mixing, and then heating the crosslinking reagent and the protein solution, wherein the crosslinking reagent is N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide or glycerol; the crosslinking reagent bonds to another part of the plurality of amines of the plurality of proteins of the egg white composition or a part of a plurality of hydroxyl groups of the plurality of proteins of the egg white composition to form a protein-based hydrogel; and step S4: drying the protein-based hydrogel containing the acylation reagent and the crosslinking reagent to form the dried protein-based hydrogel, thereby obtaining the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability.
6 . The manufacturing method of the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability as claimed in claim 5 , wherein step P1 is executed before step S1 and comprises providing an egg white liquid; the egg white liquid contains the egg white composition and is dried by freeze-drying, spray drying, or hot air drying, thereby obtaining an egg white powder; the egg white powder is dissolved in an aqueous solution to form the protein solution.
7 . The manufacturing method of the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a weight ratio of the acylation reagent added to the protein solution to the plurality of proteins is between 0.05 g/g and 0.5 g/g; a weight ratio of the crosslinking reagent added to the protein solution to the plurality of proteins is between 0.1 g/g and 0.7 g/g.
8 . The manufacturing method of the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability as claimed in claim 7 , wherein when the acylation reagent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride and the crosslinking reagent is glycerol, the weight ratio of the acylation reagent added to the protein solution to the plurality of proteins is between 0.15 g/g and 0.25 g/g and the weight ratio of the crosslinking reagent added to the protein solution to the plurality of proteins is between 0.3 g/g and 0.7 g/g.
9 . The manufacturing method of the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability as claimed in claim 7 , wherein when the acylation reagent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride and the crosslinking reagent is N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide, the weight ratio of the acylation reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.15 g/g and 0.25 g/g and the weight ratio of the crosslinking reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.1 g/g and 0.16 g/g.
10 . The manufacturing method of the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability as claimed in claim 7 , wherein when the acylation reagent is succinic anhydride and the crosslinking reagent is glycerol, the weight ratio of the acylation reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.05 g/g and 0.5 g/g and the weight ratio of the crosslinking reagent to the plurality of proteins is between 0.3 g/g and 0.7 g/g.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates generally to a water-absorbing composite, and more particularly to a water-absorbing composite with a biodegradability and a manufacturing method thereof. Description of Related Art Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) plays a significant role as a water-absorbing material in a water-absorbing product. Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is a petrochemical material and has a great water-absorbing capacity. Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is applied to the water-absorbing product such as diaper or absorbent pad for food. In addition, it is researched that superabsorbent polymer (SAP) could be applied to an agricultural field. Because superabsorbent polymer (SAP) has a function of absorbing a liquid and slowly releasing the liquid, it is researched that superabsorbent polymer (SAP) could be a fertilizer carrier or a soil water retention agent, could reduce a moisture transpiration rate of a soil, and could raise a water-containing amount of the soil, thereby helping a plant growth. However, because superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is the petrochemical material which could not be naturally decomposed or be reused, an abandoned water-absorbing composite product made of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) could not be effectively recycled, which causes a problem of environmental pollution. In addition, because superabsorbent polymer (SAP) applied to an agricultural irrigation could not be naturally decomposed by the soil, superabsorbent polymer (SAP) might cause the problem of environmental pollution. In addition, abnormal eggs containing broken eggs and soft-shelled eggs might be existed during a manufacturing process of eggs. Because the abnormal eggs could not be sold on a normal market, the abnormal eggs would be directly discarded, thereby wasting protein sources and increasing a pressure to dispose egg wastes. It is researched that protein of the eggs have a great water-absorbing ability. However, how to substitute a water-absorbing material made from the abnormal eggs for superabsorbent polymer (SAP) to improve the conventional water-absorbing material without a biodegradability is a problem needed to be solved. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a water-absorbing composite with a biodegradability and a manufacturing method thereof. The water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability is provided with an egg white composition of a plurality of abnormal eggs, so that the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability could be decomposed by natural creatures and has a water-absorbing function and a water-holding function. The manufacturing method of the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability undergoes an optimized process, thereby raising a manufacturing efficiency and reducing an energy dissipation. The present invention provides a water-absorbing composite with a biodegradability including an egg white composition, an acylation reagent, and a crosslinking reagent. The egg white composition has a plurality of proteins, wherein a weight of the proteins accounts for between 3 wt % and 5 wt % of a weight of the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability. The acylation reagent reacts with a part of amines of the proteins of the egg white composition, so that the egg white composition has a plurality of hydrophilic groups, wherein the acylation reagent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride or succinic anhydride. A weight ratio of the acylation reagent to the proteins is between 0.05 g/g and 0.5 g/g. The crosslinking reagent bonds to another part of the amines of the proteins of the egg white composition or a part of hydroxyl groups of the proteins of the egg white composition, wherein the crosslinking reagent is N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide or glycerol. A weight ratio of the crosslinking reagent to the proteins is between 0.1 g/g and 0.7 g/g. The present invention further provides a manufacturing method of the water-absorbing composite with the biodegradability including the following steps: step S1: providing a protein solution, wherein the protein solution has the egg white composition including the proteins. The weight of the proteins of the egg white composition accounts for between 3 wt % and 5 wt % of the weight of the protein solution. Step S2: adding the acylation reagent to the protein solution, mixing and modulating a pH value of the protein solution to be between 8 and 12, wherein the acylation reagent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride or succinic anhydride. The acylation reagent reacts with the part of the amines of the proteins of the egg white composition, so that the egg white composition has the hydrophilic groups. Step S3: adding the crosslinking reagent to the protein solution, mixing and then heating the crosslinking reagent and the protein solution, wherein the crosslinking reagent is N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide or glycerol. The