One of the activities most representative of the agricultural sector in Colombia is the production of biodegradable fique fiber. The efficiency of the defiberization process of the fique leaves is very low since a mere 4% of the total weight of the leaf (cabuya) is used and marketed. The remaining 96%, composed of fique juice and bagasse, is considered to be waste and discarded, impacting the environment. The aim of this work was to study fique bagasse as a source of cellulose nanoparticles (CNCs). CNCs were obtained by acid hydrolysis and added at 10% to films made from cassava thermoplastic starch (TPS) by the casting method. Structural changes in the CNCs, TPS, and their mixtures were characterized by FTIR-ATR and their morphology and particle size by SEM and TEM microscopy, respectively. Thermal properties were analyzed using DSC and TGA, along with their effect on mechanical properties. Changes in the FTIR spectra indicated that the chemical method adequately removed hemicellulose and lignin from the fiber surface of fique bagasse. The CNCs showed a diameter and length of 7.5 ± 3.9 and 52.7 ± 18.1 nm, respectively, and TPS 10% CNC obtained an increase in mechanical strength of 116%. The obtainment of CNCs from lignocellulosic materials can thus be viewed as a favorable option for the subsequent reinforcement of a polymeric matrix.

The coordinates and the total organic carbon content in compost were correlated. Two particle sizes of 0.5 and 2 mm were obtained in the compost samples; the surface color was analyzed with a colorimeter and the total organic carbon content by spectrophotometry at 588.9 nm. The results indicate that all chromaticity values were significantly affected (p < 0.001) by particle size. Chromaticity values a^∗, b^∗, C^∗, and h^° showed significantly strong Pearson correlations (r > 0.95). The coordinates a^∗ (r = −0.992) and b^∗ (r = 0.968) have the potential to be used in estimating the total organic carbon concentration in the compost samples analyzed.

El desarrollo de materiales biodegradables como reemplazo de los plásticos convencionales se ha estudiado y analizado hasta su punto de producción, sin embargo, existe pocos estudios sobre la determinación del tiempo de vida útil de los pellets a partir de almidón para obtener materiales biodegradables, la mayoría se han realizado con base a pellets de madera, utilizando recubrimientos, pretratamientos térmicos, aditivos, etc., con el fin de aumentar la vida útil o tiempo en almacenamiento. En este sentido, el objetivo de este estudio se basó en determinar los efectos de las condiciones de empaque y almacenamiento sobre las propiedades finales de los pellets y las películas producidas a partir de almidón de yuca termoplástico (TPS) y ácido poliláctico (PLA). Los pellets se almacenaron en tres tipos de empaque (celulosa multicapa, polietileno y papel), tres humedades relativas (70 %, 26 % y 10 %) y se procesaron en los días 0, 8, 20, 40 y 75 para obtener las películas flexibles y realizar una medición a sus propiedades mecánicas como variable de respuesta. Se obtuvo que los factores tipo de empaque y tiempo de almacenamiento de los pellets afectan significativamente las propiedades mecánicas de tracción de las películas obtenidas a partir de los pellets almacenados, presentando una disminución del esfuerzo en el sentido longitudinal de las películas de 15 MPa a 10 MPa y un aumento del porcentaje de deformación de aproximadamente 20 % con respecto a la muestra control, debido al proceso de retrogradación y plastificación que sufre el almidón cuando es almacenado. Los empaques de celulosa multicapa y el polietileno mostraron ser dos posibles tipos de empaque para almacenar los pellets por 20 días.

This article shows the different stages used for the design and production of a MOOC for biodegradable packing, the planning tools and methodologies used for the development of the themes and contents. Likewise, is shown the technological framework used making a surveillance technology to identify which stage the MOOC e-learning tech is and the search of terms related to biodegradable packing to identify potential topics. Finally, the software architecture for SELENE is explained and how is deployed in open edX platform.