International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 4, Issue ŗŖ, Œ˜ber 2013 ISSN 2229-5518

Evaluation of Physio-chemical and Thermal properties of Soy Protein Concentrate and Different Binary Mixtures Based Graft Copolymers

Jaspreet Kaur, Balbir Singh Kaith, Rajeev Jindal*

Abstract— Present investigation deals with the modification of biopolymer to improve physio-chemical and thermal properties. In air synthesis of graft copolymers of soy protein concentrate (SPC) with vinyl monomer mixtures of ethylmethacrylate (EMA) with methylmethacrylate (MMA), methylacrylate (MA) and ethylacrylate (EA) was carried-out using ascorbic acid/ potassium persulphate (AAc/ KPS) redox initiator system. Graft copolymers formed were characterized using techniques like FTIR, SEM and XRD. Initial optimization of different reaction parameters was carried out for graft copolymerization of principal monomer EMA onto soy protein concentrate to get maximum graft yield (134.12%). The maximum graft yields with binary monomer mixtures; EMA+MMA, EMA+EA and EMA+MA were 120.54%, 142.38% and 293.58%, respectively. The graft copolymers were studied for thermal stability and were found to show high thermal stability. Modified protein was found to show improved chemical resistance toward acid and base. Moreover, grafted protein also showed enhanced moisture retardance.

Index Terms— Soy protein concentrate, graft copolymerization, binary monomer mixture, moisture resistance, thermal stability.

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1. INTRODUCTION

   ncreased consumption rate of petroleum based polymers resulted in the problem of waste management and envi- ronmental hazards. Polymers from natural resources have offered scientists a possible solution to the problem associated with traditional non-biodegradable polymers. Biopolymers from natural resources such as starch, cellulose and proteins have been regarded as an alternative material due to their re- newability, abundance and biodegradable nature [1], [2], [3]. Various vegetable proteins like corn, silk, wheat and soy have been investigated for various applications [4], [5], [6]. Due to abundance and relatively low cost soy is attracting much at- tention. Soy protein obtained from plant Glycine max contains about 20% of oil and 50% of proteins [7]. Among the commer- cial available varieties of soy i.e. soy flour, soy protein concen- trate and soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate (SPC) contains about 65% proteins and 18% carbohydrates. SPC can be obtained from defatted soy flour by removal of soluble car- bohydrates [8]. Soy proteins have been used by scientists for developing adhesives, plastics, composites and elastomers [9],[10], [11] but the problem of low mechanical strength and high moisture absorbance required the modification of soy protein. Soy proteins have been modified using alkali, urea, guanidine hydrochloride and sodium dodecylsulphate [12],

   
   

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   Jaspreet Kaur Bhatia is assistant Professor at Lyallpur Kahalsa College, Jal- andhar, Punjab, India PH: 0181-2465104 E. Mail: jaspreetbhatia81@gmail.com

   Balbir is Kaith is Professor at Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punja, India, PH: 9780684883 E. Mail: bskaith@yahoo.co.in

   Rajeev Jindal is Associate Professor at Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punja, India, PH: 09779914264 E.Mail: r_jindal@nitj.ac.in

   
   

   [13], [14]. Cross linking [15], acylation [16], blending with oth- er polymers [17] and enzymatic modifications [18] are the oth- er methods to modify the soy proteins.

   Graft copolymerization is one of the techniques employed for the incorporation of desired properties into the backbone [19], [20], [21]. Graft copolymerization of different vinyl monomers onto natural polymers like starch [22], [23], chitosan [24], [25], casein [26], silk [27] and wool [28] has been reported. However, only a very few authors have studied soy protein isolate graft copolymers [29], [30], whereas no report was found about the graft copolymerization onto soy protein concentrate. Graft copolymerization of binary monomer mixtures is of special importance as it results in the incorporation of properties of both monomers [31], [32], [33]. Grafting of binary monomer mixture inducts the tailor-made properties for specific applications.

   In the present investigation the graft copolymerization of

   binary vinyl monomer mixtures was carried-out onto SPC in aqueous medium using ascorbic acid (AAc) and potassium persulphate (KPS) as an initiator system. Graft copolymers formed were evaluated for their thermal behaviour. The behaviour of graft copolymers towards acid, base and moisture were studied to find out the effect of modification of soy protein concentrate on its physio-chemical properties.

   
   

2. EXPERIMENTAL

   1. Materials

      Ethylmethacrylate (EMA), methylmethacrylate (MMA),

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      ethylacrylate (EA) and methylacrylate (MA) used were ob- tained from e-Merck chemicals. Ascorbic acid (AAc) and po- tassium persulphate (KPS) were procured from S.D. Fine chemicals ltd.

      
      

   2. Synthesis of graft copolymers

      Soy protein concentrate (SPC) was obtained from defatted soy flour after removal of sugar and other minor constituents us- ing aqueous alcohol process [34]. SPC (0.5 g) was immersed in known amount of distilled water in reaction flask. A definite ratio of AAc - KPS was added to the reaction flask followed by drop by drop addition of monomer. The reaction was carried- out for specific time interval at a definite temperature. Homopolymer formed was removed on soxhlet extraction with acetone for 24 hours. Graft copolymer obtained was dried at 40 oC to constant weight. % graft yield (Pg), was cal- culated as [35] :

      Percentage graft yield (Pg)= [ (W2 –W1)/W1] x 100

      where W1 = initial wt. of sample and W2 = wt. of sample (after

      ated SO4-* free radical ions [Eq. 1] which in the aqueous me- dium gave rise to OH* free radicals [Eq. 2]. Ascorbic acid re- leased an electron to OH* and get converted to ascorbic acid free radical [III, Eq. 3]. Persulphate ions further generated SO4-* in the presence of ascorbic acid free radicals [Eq. 4]. Thus, ascorbic acid free radicals and SO4-* free radical ions act as the primary free radicals to initiate the graft copolymeriza- tion by generating the active sites on the monomer and the backbone [Eqs. 5-7]. Further propagation resulted in the grow- ing active c hains [Eq. 8] and graft copolymers are formed by reactions between active backbone and growing monomer chains [Eqs 9-11]. The reaction between two live chains resulted in the termination of growing chains [Eq. 11 or 12]. Ascorbic acid free radicals also play important role in termination by inter- acting with the active chains [Eqs. 13 and14].

      
      

      Initiation

      removal of homopolymer).

      S O 2- -

      SO -* HSO -

      (1)

      AH2 +

      

      2 8 AH + 4 + 4

   3. Characterization

      ( I) (II)

      -* H O OH* HSO -

      IR spectra were recorded with Perkin Elmer Fourier transform

      

      SO4 + 2

      + 4 (2)

      infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer using KBr pellets. X-Ray

      

      AH- + OH*

      AH*

      + OH-

      (3)

      diffraction studies were performed on XPERT-PRO X-Ray

      ( II )

      ( III )

      diffractrometer at 40 kV Iand 35JmA. The Ssamples were ER

      scanned from 50 to 500 at 2θ scale using Cu Kα X-Ray radia-

      

      2-

      AH* + S2O8

      4

      A + SO -* +

      4

      HSO -

      (4)

      4

      tions of 1.5418 A0. Scanning Electron Microscopic studies of SPC and its graft copolymers were carried-out on electron mi- croscope machine LEO 435 VP. TGA, DTA and DTG studies

      (III)

      Propagation

      (IV)

      [X* = AH* OR SO -* ]

      were carried-out in the temperature range of 50O –700 OC at a

      SPC +

      

      

      X* SPC* + X H

      (5)

      heating rate of 10 OC/minute on TG/DTA 6300, SII EXSTAR 6000.

      

      

      M + X* X M*

      (6)

   4. Acid and base resistant studies

      SPC

      

      

      + X M* SPC M*

      + X H

      (7)

      Acid resistance of the grafted vis-à-vis ungrafted sample was

      SPC M* +

      

      

      

      nM SPC (M)n M*

      (8)

      studied by putting a known weight of sample (0.1 g) in 25 ml

      SPC*

      

      

      

      + nM SPC M(n-1) M*

      (9)

      1N HCl and the weight of each sample was noted at the inter-

      X M* nM X M M*

      (10)

      val of every 6 hours till a constant weight was obtained. Simi- larly, base resistance was studied with 1N NaOH. % weight

      

      

      

      

      +

      Termination

      (n)

      loss was calculated as [36] :

      

      

      SPC M

      

      M* X M

      

      

      

      

      M* SPC M X

      % Wt. loss = [(Wi -Wf) / Wi] x 100

      where, Wi = initial wt. of sample; Wf = final wt. of sample.

      (n)

      + (n)

      (2n+2)

      Graft co-polymer

      (11)

   5. Moisture resistant studies

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      SPC M(n-1) M* + SPC M(n-1) M* SPC M(n-1) M2 M(n-1) SPC

      (12)

      Moisture absorbance studies were carried out as per ASTM D5229 standard. Percentage moisture absorbance was found

      

      

      X M(n) M* +

      

      

      

      

      

      *M M(n) X X M(2n+2) X

      Hompolymer

      (13)

      by placing a known weight (Wi) of dry grafted and ungrafted samples in the appropriate environment having %RH= 80 for 24 hours. Final weights (Wf) of the samples were taken and %

      

      

      SPC M(n)

      

      

      M* +X* SPC M

      

      (n+1) X

      (14)

      moisture absorbance was calculated as:

      % Moisture absorbance = [(Wf -Wi) / Wi] x 100

      where, Wi = initial wt. of sample; Wf = final wt. of sample..

      
      

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

   
   

   1. Mechanism

      Potassium persulphate in the presence of ascorbic acid gener-

      Where SPC = Soy protein concentrate; M = Monomer ; AH2 = Ascorbic acid

      
      

   2. Effect of binary mixture concentration on percentage grafting

      In case of graft copolymerization of EMA onto soy protein concentrate maximum graft percentage was found to be 134.12% and optimum conditions for maximum graft percent- age were: reaction time (minutes), 120; reaction temperature

      (OC), 40; solvent (ml), 100; AAc : KPS (molar ratio), 1:1.25; EMA concentration (mol L-1), 2.43x 10-3 and pH, 8.0 [37]. Graft- ing of different binary mixtures, EMA+MMA, EMA+EA and EMA+MA, using EMA as a principal monomer under pre- optimized reaction conditions showed graft percentage of 120.54%, 142.38% and 293.58%, respectively (Figs. 1-3).

      polymer chains and as a result higher percentage of grafting is observed. Further, it is supported by the higher r1 value result- ing in higher copolymer formation and suppression of homopolymerization. In case of EMA+EA binary mixture though r1 value (0.91) is lower than r2 value (1.06) which ex- hibits the higher reactivity among the similar monomeric units giving rise to homopolymerization yet a higher graft yield was found. This can be explained on the basis that percentage graft yield also depends on rate of free radical transfer towards the backbone and monomeric moieties thereby resulting in more generation of free radical sites and hence higher graft yield [39]. Moreover, it also depends upon rate of propagation and termination and gave rise to higher graft yield. The low graft yield with EMA+MMA binary mixture was again due to ten- dency of MMA and EMA units to react with their own mono- mer radicals and resulted in more homopolymerization in place of copolymerization. Thus, gave rise to low graft yield. This is further supported by monomer reactivity ratios (r1=0.798, r2 =1.058) [40].

      
      

   3. FTIR analysis

      

      IJSER

      FT-IR spectrum of SPC showed a broad peak at 3284.4 cm- 1 due to free –OH and –NH groups, peak at 1653.3 cm-1 due to C=O stretch of amide group (amide-I) and a peak at 1540.4 cm-1 due to N-H bending (amide-II) (Fig. 2a). SPC-g-

      poly(EMA-co-MMA) showed peak at 1731.9 cm-1 due to ester carbonyl group of MMA along with peaks at 1242 cm-1 and

      

      1148.2 cm-1 due to C-O stretchings (Fig. 2b). SPC-g-poly(EMA- co-EA) exhibited peaks at 1736.1 cm-1 due to C=O group of EA and at 1243.1cm-1 and at 1151.5cm-1 due to C-O stretch (Fig. 2c). In case of SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA) peaks due to C=O stretch of MA was observed at 1737.9 cm-1 and due to C-O stretch were obtained at 1240.6 cm-1 and 1147.8cm-1 (Fig. 2d). The presence of additional peaks in the IR spectra of graft gave evidence of grafting on protein backbone.

      
      

      Fig. 1 Effect of concentration of (a) MMA (b) EA (c) MA in binary mixture on Pg; [EMA] = 2.39 x 10-3 Mol L-1

      
      

      It is evident that in case of binary mixtures consisting of EMA with MA and EA higher percentage grafting has been found as compared to EMA alone (134.12%). The higher percentage of grafting in case of these binary monomer mixtures can be explained by the fact that addition of electron acceptor mono- mers increased the reactivity of EMA towards graft copoly- merization. The reactivity ratio values of these monomer mix- tures were calculated with the help of Price-Alfrey’s Q-e ap- proach [38]. The reactivity ratio values in case of binary mon- omer mixture EMA+MA were found to be r1 = 1.47, r2 = 0.65. Low r2 value shows that MA reacts with EMA in preference to their monomeric units thus producing more of growing co-

      
      

      Fig. 2 FTIR spectra of (a) SPC (b) SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MMA) (c) SPC-g- poly(EMA-co-MA) (d) SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA)

   4. XRD Studies

      XRD pattern of soy protein showed the amorphous nature of soy protein. However, on grafting with vinyl monomers, crystallinity of the backbone sample was found to increase which is evident from increase in coherent length along with increase in d-spacing values and increase in Pg. The experi- mental data of XRD was computed for coherent lengths by using Scherrer equation [41]:

      L = 0.9 λ / B cosθ

      where λ is the wavelength of X-Ray radiations for Cu-Kα, equal to 1.5418 AO. θ is glancing angle in radians and B is the width of peak at half of the maximum intensity. Coherent lengths and d-spacings at different 2θ scale in case of SPC and grafted protein concentrate with different % graft yields are given in Table 1. Thus, with increase in Pg, anisotropy kept on increasing and SPC became more crystalline in nature on in- corporation of monomer chains with graft copolymerization process.

      through covalent bonding.

      
      

      

      TABLE 1

      . X-RAY DIFFRACTION STUDIES OF SPC AND GRAFTED SPC WITH

      BINARY MONOMER MIXTURES

      Sample		Pg	2θ(o)	d- Spacing	Coherent length (L)
      Backbone	--		19.70	4.5067	14.15
      	120.54 116.36 110.60		17.30 17.48 18.13	5.1270 5.0745 4.8925	40.69 36.65 26.91
      SPC-g-poly(EMA-
      co-MMA)	108.46		18.13	4.8925	24.46
      	106.74		18.68	4.7507	23.75
      	142.38 116.44 114.78		17.30 18.57 18.66	5.1255 4.7772 4.7533	33.26 26.86 26.67
      SPC-g-poly(EMA-
      co-EA)	112.04		18.76	4.7294	23.02
      	99.06		19.08	4.6525	22.98
      	293.58 278.10		18.80 18.83	4.7212 4.6228	50.64 40.45
      SPC-g-poly(EMA-	120.68		18.99	4.6285	31.21
      co-MA)	115.36		19.68	4.5810	20.17
      	107.54		19.77	4.5103	17.38

      IJSER

      Fig. 3 Scanning Electron Micrograph of (a) SPC (b) SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MMA)

      (c) SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-EA) (d) SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA)

      
      

      3.6 Thermal Studies

      Thermogravimetric analysis of grafted and ungrafted soy pro- tein concentrate was carried-out as a function of % wt. loss vs temperature. Soy protein has a three dimensional structure involving sequence of amino acids. Covalent bonds present in soy proteins are either peptide bonds between amino acid res- idues or disulphide bonds. Proteins also have electrostatic- hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding.

      In case of SPC two phase decomposition was found in tem- perature range of 2180 - 501.40C with 62.7% wt. loss and 501.40- 561.70C with 21.3% wt. loss (Table 2). Initial decomposition corresponds to elimination of water and dissociation of qua- ternary structure of proteins. First phase of decomposition involved two stages, one in the temperature range of 2180- 358.90C (43.7% wt. loss) due to cleavage of peptide bonds of amino acid residues and second in the temperature range of 358.90-501.40C (19.0% wt. loss) corresponding to dissociation of S-S, O-O and O-N bonds. Second phase decomposition in- volved complete decomposition of proteins, resulting in the liberation of various gases like CO, CO2, and NH3 [42]. In case of grafted proteins with binary monomer mixtures, EMA+MMA, EMA+EA and EMA+MA, two phase thermal decomposition was found. SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MMA) showed thermal decomposition in the temperature range of

   5. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

A clear cut morphological differentiation has been observed in the scanning electron micrograph of SPC, SPC-g-poly(EMA- co-MMA), SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-EA) and SPC-g-poly(EMA-co- MA) (Figs. 3a-d). The heterogeneity of soy protein concentrate was found to increase on graft copolymerization. This exhibit- ed the incorporation of monomer chains onto SPC backbone

262.80 - 388.80C (76.7% wt. loss) and 388.80- 595.20C (12.2% wt.

loss). Thermal decomposition stages observed in case of SPC-

g-poly(EMA-co-EA) are in the temperature range of 241.50-

358.70C (79.1% wt. loss) and 358.70- 597.60C (14.7% wt. loss).

In case of SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA) thermal decomposition was observed at 241.90- 398.80C (72.9% wt. loss) and 398.90-

589.1OC (19.3% wt. loss).

TABLE 2

THERMAL STUDIES OF SPC AND GRAFTED SPC WITH BINARY MONOMER MIXTURES

IJSER

The initial decomposition temperatures as well as final de- composition temperature of grafted proteins were found to be higher than that of SPC. Thus, the grafted soy protein was found thermally more stable than ungrafted PC. This in- crease in thermal stability was due to incorporation of polyvi- nyl chains onto SPC backbone through covalent bonding.

In case of DTA studies, SPC showed three exothermic peaks at 329.20C (29.2µV), 500.40C (152.4µV) and 503.80C (98.6 µV) cor-

responding to TGA decomposition stages of 2180-358.90C, 358.90-501.40C and 501.40-561.70C. Whereas, SPC-g-poly(EMA-

co-MMA), SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-EA) and SPC-g-poly(EMA-co- MA) showed their respective exothermic decompositions at 371.50C (18.28µV), 397.70C (64.6µV) and 389.80C (92.3µV), re-

spectively.

Thermal decomposition in case of DTG analysis of SPC,

showed exothermic peaks at 63.20C, 320.50C and 496.90C with

0.0841mg/min, 0.439 mg/min and 0.884 mg/min weight loss,

respectively. Whereas, in case of SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MMA), SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-EA) and SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA) exo-

thermic peaks were found at 366.40C, 391.00C and 389.30C with 0.718mg/min, 2.258mg/min and 2.659mg/min weight loss, respectively (Table 2).

1. Acid and Base Resistant Studies

   Acid and base resistance of grafted protein concentrate was found to higher as compared to ungrafted SPC. Moreover, acid and base resistance was found to increase as % grafting

   increased (Figs. 4-5). This could be due to fact that poly(EMA), poly(MMA), poly(MA) and poly(EA) chains being highly hy- drophobic in nature, possess less chemical affinity for both acid and base. Thus, incorporation of hydrophobic monomer chains onto SPC backbone through graft copolymerization resulted in increased acid and base resistance. [43].

   Fig. 4 Acid Resistance Studies of (a) SPC (b) SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MMA) (c)

   SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA) (d) SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA

   TABLE 3

   

   MOISTURE RESISTANCE STUDIES OF SPC AND GRAFTED SPC WITH

   BINARY MONOMER MIXTURES

   
   

   
   

   	Sample		Pg	% Weight Gain
   	Backbone	--		62.225
   		120.54 116.36		30.345 32.647
   		110.60		34.778
   	SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MMA)	108.46		37.846
   		106.74		39.042
   		142.38 116.44		23.778 31.806
   		114.78		32.963
   	SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-EA)	112.04		36.775
   		99.06		42.156
   		293.58 278.10		20.014 21.965
   	SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA)	120.68		24.845
   		115.36		33.856
   		107.54		36.887

   IJSER

   mer has been found to be thermally more stable in comparison to backbone. These thermally and chemically stable products with high moisture retardance are important components for

   Fig. 5 Base resistance studies of (a) SPC (b) SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MMA) (c)

   SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA) (d) SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA

   
   

2. Moisture Resistant Studies

It was found that grafting of binary monomer mixtures on soy protein concentrate backbone had made impact on the mois- ture absorbance behaviour of protein. SPC showed 62.2% wt. gain whereas SPC-g-poly(EMA-co-MA) showed 20% wt. gain in 24 hours. (Table 3). This was due to incorporation of hy- drophobic poly(EMA), poly(MMA), poly(MA) and poly(EA) chains onto sites vulnerable for moisture absorbance, thereby resulting in moisture retardancy. Moisture absorbance of soy protein concentrate decreased with increase in % grafting as with the increase in Pg more and more active sites, responsible for moisture absorbance, get incorporated with hydrophobic monomers [43].

4 CONCLUSION

The grafting of each monomer mixture of EMA+MMA, EMA+EA and EMA+MA onto soy protein concentrate in the presence of ascorbic acid/potassium persulphate as a redox initiator system has been found to influence the physico- chemical, thermal as well as morphological properties of pro- tein backbone. The incorporation of poly(EMA+MMA), poly(EMA+EA) and poly(EMA+MA) chains onto soy protein concentrate resulted in higher resistance towards the attack of acid and base. Moreover, lesser moisture absorbance has been observed in case of grafted protein. Further, the graft copoly-

various industrial applications.

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