The Potential in Biodegradable Bipolymer Obtained from Whey Protein

Authors: Elena Popovska , Ema Gajdova

Faculty: Yahya Kemal College – Skopje

Country: North Macedonia

e-mail: sabirealkin@gmail.com

Since some of the plant-based materials (first generation feedstock) can take away food generally used for human or animal consumption, the preferred option is to utilize biomaterials which are by-products, wastes, or residues from other processes (second-generation feedstock).

We chose cheese whey, which is a by-product of cheese production, as a possible biomaterial for producing plastic. It contains whey protein, which is a group of globular (spherical, globe-like) proteins.  During cheese making, curdled casein is strained into cheese, thereby separating yellowish clear solution that is liquid whey. Nine parts of whey are generated per one part of cheese manufactured, of which approximately 0.55% is whey protein. Liquid whey contains about 2.5–7.2 g/L minerals, 44–52 g/L lactose, and 6–8 g/L proteins.