Value-added utilization of agricultural wastes in biocomposite production: Characteristics and applications

Agro-waste-based biocomposites are reinforced with natural fibers derived from agricultural residues. These biocomposite materials have attracted a great deal of interest in recent years due to their environmentally friendly and sustainable nature as an alternative to conventional synthetic materials. Issues of environmental sustainability and the search for waste management solutions have driven research into the development of materials that minimize reliance on nonrenewable resources and have a low environmental impact. This review presents an overview of the physical and mechanical properties of some selected biocomposites derived from rice husk, coconut shell, and sugarcane bagasse. Critical properties such as density, water absorption, tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance have been investigated, as these properties largely determine the practicality of the derived materials. In this regard, this paper reiterates the need for further investigation of agro-waste-based biocomposites as an effective alternative toward greener and more eco-friendly industrialization. These materials will offer great opportunities not only to reduce the environmental footprint, but also to increase the value of agricultural waste by promoting a circular economy.