Obtención de biopolímeros a través de pleurotus ostreatus en theobroma cacao

Abstract

Plastics are one of the most widely used materials in this application as they have desirable characteristics such as transparency, efficient mechanical properties, and thermal stability. This study aimed to obtain biopolymers using Pleurotus ostreatus on Theobroma cacao as a substrate. A mixed methodology was used that combined quantitative and qualitative research to minimize potential weaknesses. Quantitative and qualitative information was collected, which was analyzed and converted into knowledge since the 2k factorial design method was applied to extract biopolymers from the Pleurotus ostreatus fungus's mycelium using different processes variables, such as RPM speed and grinding time. The best performance was obtained in the T3 treatment with high RPM speed and 60 seconds of crushing time, with a yield of 12.74%. The bioplastic was characterized, and better results were obtained in T2 regarding humidity, solubility, thickness, and maximum tensile stress. Finally, the biodegradability of the bioplastic in water, air and soil was evaluated for 28 days, obtaining favourable degradation percentages concerning those of commercial material. It is recommended to use different types of agro-industrial waste from the inter-Andean region in future research to increase the production and yield of Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium.