The potential of DNA from industrial vegetables byproducts for the preparation of sustainable materials

Abstract

Vegetables byproducts from the food ad agroforestry industry is a source of several molecules and macromolecules which can find application in the development of high added value materials, because their intrinsic properties. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is found in all the live systems, being wide available in nature. It is the macromolecule well known by its biological function related to carry and transmit the genetic information. The chemical composition and arrangement of this macromolecule can generate new materials with noble properties that still few explored for applications apart to its biological function. The purpose of this work was to study the film formation and its properties using the DNA extracted from the food industry byproducts, namely orange and banana, in order to evaluate their properties. The material was capable of forming large films with green, mild and easy processing techniques. The films were characterized by mechanical tensile tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), indicating their potential as an alternative natural material for developments in composite and biomedical fields.