Advances in the development of formulations based on orange essential oil, expanded polystyrene, and sodium lignosulfonate for adhesive applications

Abstract

This work presents the initial advances in the formulation and characterization of films prepared by the solvent casting technique. Sodium lignosulfonate was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Films prepared using an EPS-to-orange essential oil ratio of 1:5 (g:mL) and different sodium lignosulfonate contents were evaluated in terms of density, minimum film formation temperature (MFFT), contact angle, and thermal stability. The incorporation of sodium lignosulfonate increased the density, contact angle, and char residue, while decreasing the MFFT, thereby promoting film formation at lower temperatures. These findings indicate that sodium lignosulfonate is a promising additive for tailoring the properties of formulations based on recycled EPS and orange essential oil, providing valuable information for the development of more sustainable adhesive materials.