3D-Printed PLA Filaments Reinforced with Durian (Durio zibethinus) Husk-Derived Carboxymethyl Cellulose for Methylene...

Although polylactic acid (PLA) filaments are currently the leading biodegradable polymer in three-dimensional (3D) printing due to their excellent printability, good mechanical properties, and environmental friendliness, they possess low thermal resistance and limited flexibility, which restricts their use in applications requiring enhanced material performance. PLA filaments were reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) derived from durian husk using a single-screw extrusion technique to produce PLA/CMC filaments. CMC was obtained via carboxymethylation of durian husk-derived cellulose using monochloroacetic acid (MCA) in the presence of NaOH. The incorporation of CMC improved the thermal and mechanical properties of the PLA filaments. The presence of carboxylate (-COO-) groups from CMC makes the filaments promising as an adsorbent for a dye pollutant, namely, methylene blue (MB). Adsorption tests showed that the performance of PLA/CMC filaments for MB removal was influenced by the CMC loading, with 0.1 wt.% CMC (PLA/CMC-30 (0.1)) being the optimal one for achieving a higher adsorption rate. Over the filaments, the removal of MB followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model, with a k₁ of 0.020 min^-1. Overall, this work demonstrates that PLA/CMC filaments derived from agricultural waste offer a sustainable and multifunctional material with enhanced performance for environmental remediation applications.