Desarrollo de una fibra textil sostenible a partir de la caseína de la leche mediante procesos fisicoquímicos

Abstract

The textile industry represents a serious threat to the environment due to its considerable carbon emissions, excessive water use and waste generation. This research proposes a sustainable alternative, the development of textile fibers from casein, the main protein in milk, which has ideal properties for creating fibers. Unlike synthetic fibers, which pollute due to the use of fossil fuels, the production of fibers from casein is a clean and sustainable process. The methodology employed combined qualitative and quantitative approaches, including a randomized block experimental design for casein powder and fiber manufacturing. It was possible to obtain a film with 0.2 M NaOH in Batch 1 and 2 instead of fibers due to several factors that could influence its development, limitations were observed in properties such as heat and tensile strength, on the other hand, the solubility it presents is a good property to certain compounds. The need for further research to improve these characteristics was identified, including exploring other crosslinkers to increase the film strength, since sulfuric acid and lactic acid did not give good results. The sustainability of the process, which does not involve the use of toxic chemical compounds, is highlighted, although it is recognized that, at the laboratory level, feasibility may be limited due to the availability of necessary equipment. Further investigation of the methods is suggested, as well as consideration of the long-term technical and economic feasibility to achieve a significant impact on the textile industry. It is concluded that it was possible to obtain a textile film, with good physical and chemical insolubility qualities, but in relation to tensile strength, good results were not obtained.