Rice Bran-Based Bioplastics: Effects of Biopolymer Fractions on Their Mechanical, Functional and Microstructural Properties

Rice bran is an underutilized by-product of rice production, containing proteins, lipids and carbohydrates (mainly starches). Proteins and starches have been previously used to produce rice bran-based bioplastics, providing a high-added-value by-product, while contributing to the development of biobased, biodegradable bioplastics. However, rice bran contains oil (18–22%), which can have a detrimental effect on bioplastic properties. Its extraction could be convenient, since rice bran oil is becoming increasingly attractive due to its variety of applications in the food, pharmacy and cosmetic industries. In this way, the aim of this work was to analyze the effect of the different components of rice bran on the final properties of the bioplastics. Rice bran refining was carried out by extracting the oil and fiber fractions, and the effects of these two procedures on the final properties were addressed with mechanical, functional and microstructural measures. Results revealed that defatted rice bran produced bioplastics with higher viscoelastic moduli and better tensile behavior while decreasing the water uptake capacity and the soluble matter loss of the samples. However, no significant improvements were observed for systems produced from fiber-free rice bran. The microstructures observed in the SEM micrographs matched the obtained results, supporting the conclusions drawn.