Transforming Agro-Industrial Waste into Bioplastic Coating Films.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Agro-industrial waste poses environmental challenges.
• Fruit and vegetable peels are abundant and underutilized resources.
• Development of sustainable bioplastics is crucial for reducing plastic pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the conversion of banana, potato, and orange peels into bioplastics.
• To evaluate the properties of bioplastics for thin coating film applications.
• To assess the environmental impact of utilizing agro-industrial waste for bioplastic production.

Main Methods:

• Six extracts were prepared from individual (banana peel, BP; orange peel, OP; potato peel, PP) and combined peel formulations.
• Spin-coating method was used to create thin films from the extracts.
• Characterization included yield measurement, atomic force microscopy, water vapor permeability, solubility, and antimicrobial efficacy tests.

Main Results:

• Orange peel (OP) extract yielded the highest bioplastic amount (860.33 mg/L).
• Films exhibited low surface roughness (<8 nm) and water vapor permeability (3.05–4.44 × 10⁻³).
• OP films showed lowest solubility (64.71% in water, 1.05% in ethanol) and possessed antimicrobial properties.

Conclusions:

• Banana, potato, and orange peels are viable substrates for producing eco-friendly bioplastics.
• The developed bioplastics are suitable for thin-film applications.
• This research offers a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, valorizing agro-industrial waste.