Middle East Journal of Science

Abstract

Potato-based
polyurethane foams(PUFs)  were prepared
from the liquefied potato waste-based polyols. Potato wastes liquefied in the
presence of polyethylene glycol/glycerin-dominant liquefaction reagent by using
sulphuric acid as catalyst in a microwave oven system under stirring. The
liquefied potato waste-based polyols were characterized for the preparation of
polyurethane foams. The potato-based polyol which was obtained from 9% sulfuric
acid catalyst within 30 min liquefaction reaction period was chosen for the
preparation of PU foams. Biodegradation and water absorption properties of PU
foams were  measured and contrasted with
syntetic petroleum-based commercial foams. Prepared PU foam was cut into small
pieces of equal volume (10 mm x 10 mm x 10 mm) before biodegradation and water
intake test. Biodegrability of PU foam-based on liquefied potato
wastes-contained foams was determined according to service biodegradation test
for three months. The mean amount of water absorption of  potato wastes-based PU foams was measured
within 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hour. The weight losses (resulted from a
3-month service biodegradation test) of the liquefied potato wastes-based foams
along with commercial synthetic PU-type rigid foams had been found 17.84% and
0,107%  respectively. The mean amount
water intake at potato wastes-based PU foams were as to 137%, 156%, 226%, 249%,
393%, 608%, 1,030% within 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hour respectively. These
measurements were as to 35%, 42%, 52%, 65%, 76%, 84%, and 89% within 1, 2, 4,
8, 12, 24, 48 hour at  syntetic foams.
Biodegradation and water absorption properties were found to be higher than
those of petroleum-based PU foams dependently biomass content.