Valorizing Southeast Asian agricultural residues into high-performance mycelium-based biocomposites

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Sustainable Materials Science
• Waste Valorization

Background:

• Global waste generation is a significant challenge, particularly in Southeast Asia.
• Lignocellulosic residues from agriculture and industry, such as sugarcane bagasse, Albizia chinensis woodchips, and cassava pulp, are often underutilized.
• Effective waste management and valorization are crucial for environmental sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of lignocellulosic waste streams as feedstocks for high-performance mycelium-based composite materials.
• To investigate the influence of different substrate compositions on mycelium composite properties.
• To demonstrate a viable pathway for transforming agricultural and industrial waste into functional bio-based materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilized sugarcane bagasse, Albizia chinensis woodchips, and cassava pulp as substrates for mycelium composite production.
• Cultivated Ganoderma lucidum on various substrate combinations.
• Characterized the density, microstructure, and mechanical performance (compressive strength) of the resulting mycelium composites.

Main Results:

• Mycelium-based composites were successfully produced with an average density of approximately 365 kg/m³.
• Sugarcane bagasse and Albizia chinensis woodchips supported stable mycelial growth.
• Albizia woodchip substrates supplemented with cassava pulp achieved the highest compressive strength (0.63 MPa at 5% strain).

Conclusions:

• Substrate composition critically influences the microstructure and mechanical performance of mycelium composites.
• Underutilized lignocellulosic waste can be effectively valorized into high-performance bio-based materials.
• This study presents a sustainable approach to waste management and material innovation.