Feasibility of polyethylene composites reinforced by distillers dried fibers with solubles (DDFS) after different generations of ethanol fermentation

Abstract

In order to effectively evaluate the distillers dried fibers with solubles (DDFS) obtained from biorefinery processes, sorghum distiller (SD), cassava distiller (CD) and corn cob distiller (CCD) residuals from different generation bioethanol plants were used as the reinforcing phase for polyethylene composites. The mechanical performances and the physical properties of the polyethylene/DDFS composites were evaluated. The results showed that the CCD reinforced specimen offered the best mechanical performances, with a flexural strength of 21.8 ± 2.2 MPa and a tensile strength of 39.7 ± 3.2 MPa. After multigelation, the retention ratios of the rupture modulus and the elasticity modulus of the CCD reinforced specimen reached 88.7 ± 6.7% and 84.1 ± 2.7%, while after 2000 h of xenon lamp weathering they reached 96.2 ± 4.7% and 82 ± 1.8%, respectively. Hybridizing the biorefinery process with the process of composites production was feasible.