Herin, a biodegradable bioplastic composite packaging film was prepared by utilizing bamboo powder partially in replace of plastic. Bamboo powder lignocellulose and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) resin granules were mixed together with certain percentage to form bamboo-plastic complex, and then through hotpressed to obtain the bamboo/PBAT bioplastic composite films. The effect of bamboo powder content on overall properties of the composite film was systematically investigated. Results showed that the addition of bamboo powder could greatly improve the mechanical properties of composite films, especially the tensile strength and elastic modulus increased by 18.90 %, 251.58 %, respectively. Besides, the bioplastic composite film exhibited superior water resistance including the high water contact angle value of 108.13 degrees, low water absorption rate (2.38 %), and water absorption thickness expansion rate (1.08 %) with 10.0 % bamboo powder content. Notably, the enhanced bonding between bamboo powder and PBAT contributed to the excellent gas barrier performance (1.48 x 10- 2 cm3 & sdot;m/(m2 & sdot;24 h & sdot;0.1 MPa)). With the increase of bamboo powder addition, the melt flow rate of the composite was increased, indicating the improved processing performance. More importantly, the bamboo/PBAT bioplastic composite film showed good packaging preservation ability for strawberry and excellent biodegradability in soil, presenting feasible and green alternatives to biodegradable plastic food packaging material.

This work explored whether partial cellulose bioconversion with fungal mycelium can improve the properties of cellulose fibre-based materials. We demonstrate an efficient approach for producing cellulose-mycelium composites utilizing several cellulosic matrices and show that these materials can match fossil-derived polymeric foams on water contact angle, compression strength, thermal conductivity, and exhibit selective antimicrobial properties. Fossil-based polymeric foams commonly used for these applications are highly carbon positive, persist in soils and water, and are challenging to recycle. Bio-based alternatives to synthetic polymers could reduce GHG emissions, store carbon, and decrease plastic pollution. We explored several fungal species for the biofabrication of three kinds of cellulosic-mycelium composites and characterized the resulting materials for density, microstructure, compression strength, thermal conductivity, water contact angle, and antimicrobial properties. Foamed mycelium-cellulose samples had low densities (0.058 - 0.077 g/cm3), low thermal conductivity (0.03 - 0.06 W/m center dot K at + 10 degrees C), and high water contact angle (118 - 140 degrees). The recovery from compression of all samples was not affected by the mycelium addition and varied between 70 and 85%. In addition, an antiviral property against active MS-2 viruses was observed. These findings show that the biofabrication process using mycelium can provide water repellency and antiviral properties to cellulose foam materials while retaining their low density and good thermal insulation properties.

Plastics are the most popular choice for packaging materials due to their strength, flexibility, and affordability. Their non-biodegradability, however, is an environmental concern and a serious human health issue that necessitates the development of sustainable and biodegradable alternatives. Towards this end, lignocellulosic residue from biowaste stands out as a viable option due to its robust structure, biocompatibility, biodegradability, low density, and non-toxicity. Herein, the lignocellulosic fiber from banana peel was extracted by alkali and bleaching treatment, solubilized in 68% ZnCl2 solution, and crosslinked through a series of Ca2+ ion concentrations, and films prepared. Results suggest that increasing Ca2+ ions concentration significantly increases the film's tensile strength but decreases moisture content, transparency, moisture absorption, water solubility, water vapor permeability, and percentage elongation. Films have a half-life of 15.26-20.72 days and biodegrade more than 50% of their weight within 3 weeks at a soil moisture of 21%. Overall, banana peel fiber could aid in designing and developing biodegradable films and offer a sustainable solution to limit the detrimental effects of plastics.