Synthesis and Characterization of Latex Based Bio-adhesive By Blending Euphorbia Tirucalli (Kinchib) Latex with Cassava Peel Starch Filler

Abstract

In this study, an environmentally friendly, renewable latex-based bio-adhesive was synthesized by blending Euphorbia tirucalli (Kinchib) latex with cassava peel starch (CPS) as filler. The extracted latex from the Euphorbia tirucalli (ET) branch pH value, density, total solid content, and the functional group were characterized. Similarly, the starch extracted from cassava peel (CP) was characterized for its pH value, density, moisture content, and crystallite size. Thus, the result demonstrated that a pH value of 6.67±0.05 and 5.6±0.05 was recorded for ETL and CPS respectively. The density of ET was found as 0.967 gm/ml and 0.9758 gm/ml for CPS. The total solid content of ET was found 33.4±0.05%. The FTIR analysis revealed that various chemical groups and bands such as alkanes, amide, proteins, carbohydrates, aromatic, and halogen compounds are present in the ETL. The CPS crystallinity was discovered to be 6.468 nm. Besides the influence of latex concentration, CPS filler concentration, and mixing time on the viscosity and lab shear strength of the synthesized bio-adhesive was studied using central composite design (CCD). As a result, 35% latex concentration, 27,13% CPS concentration, and a mixing time of 44.9 minutes were found to be the predicted optimal conditions for viscosity and lab shear strength. An actual validation experiment of bio-adhesive was carried out to confirm the degree of accuracy of the predicted optimal conditions. Hence, the viscosity of 641±0.2 mPa.s and lab shear strength of 3.48±0.05 MPa were found with 98.9% and 97.47 % of accuracy respectively. Furthermore, the physio- mechanical property of the optimized bio-adhesive product was characterized for its pH, total solid content, viscosity, and lab shear strength. As a result, a pH value of 7.56 and total solid content of 47.3% were found. The finding of the study shows that ETL and CP are explored as promising alternative feedstock for the commercial production of bio-adhesive.