Biocomposite based on whey protein isolate with the addition silica from rice husk ash

The fabrication of biocomposites studies based on whey protein isolate (WPI) and silica (SiO2) have been conducted. WPI is a biopolymer with high intermolecular bonds and SiO2 can improve the properties of biocomposites. This study aims to analyze the effect of adding SiO2 on the physical and chemical properties of biocomposites. In this work, WPI biocomposite materials containing 0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% (w/w) SiO2 were prepared by a casting scheme. The results found the increase of SiO2 material, the thickness of the biocomposite material sample increases from 0.178 to 0.205 mm. The water content and solubility in water are enriched under the stimulation of the addition of SiO2 substances, because SiO2 improves adhesiveness of the polymer matrix of the biocomposite. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra revealed that the intermolecular correlation in biocomposite appeared through O-H, C=O, and N-H. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) studies exhibited that the main structure amorph of biocomposite. The thermal characteristic of the biocomposite were raised by adding SiO2 from 137.48 °C to 153.40 °C. The findings revealed, the incoporation of SiO2 effectuated the water content, solubility in water and thermal properties biocomposite based WPI.