Lignocellulose sustainable composites from agro-waste Asparagus bean stem fiber for polymer casting applications: Effect of fiber treatment.

In the past decades, lignocellulose fibers have attracted significant attention due to their low density, environmental friendliness, and biodegradability. Consequently, researchers are intensifying their efforts to explore the potential of lignocellulosic fibers as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fibers in polymer composites. Among various natural fibers identified as potential reinforcements, agro-waste from the Asparagus Bean stem (ABS) which has been discarded as landfill after harvest has emerged as a promising source of lignocellulose fibers for promoting sustainability. This study investigates the reinforcement suitability of ABSF in polymer matrices. A water-retting process was used for extraction, followed by treatment with a 5 % alkali solution. Cellulose content was enhanced to 65 wt%, and fiber density increased to 1.13 g/cm3 after chemical treatment. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated improved thermal stability of the treated fibers up to 247 °C. Morphological analysis showed increased surface roughness and impurity removal. To evaluate the reinforcing effect of the chemical treatment, epoxy composites with 10 wt% reinforcement were developed. The mechanical properties of these composites improved significantly, with more than 1.1 times when used alkali-treated ABSF as reinforcement. Flexural properties were substantially enhanced, with flexural strength increasing from 90.53 MPa to 122.71 MPa and flexural modulus from 2.41 GPa to 2.95 GPa due to better fiber-matrix interaction and removal of weak, amorphous constituents. The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate that ABSF is a viable alternative raw material for composite reinforcement, suitable for developing lightweight structural applications.

Isolation and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from an agro-waste tamarind (Tamarindus indica) seeds and its suitability investigation for biofilm formulation.

The exploration of potential bio-fillers for bio-film application is a promising approach to ensure biodegradable, eco-friendly, good-quality materials with high-performance applications. This is a comprehensive study executed to establish the utility of an agro-waste Tamarindus indica seeds for microcrystalline cellulose production and to assess its feasibility for biofilm fabrication. The extraction was carried out through consecutive chemical-mediated alkalization, acid hydrolysis and bleaching. The isolated microcrystalline cellulose from Tamarindus indica seeds (TSMCC) was characterized through chemical, thermal and morphological characterization to validate the cellulose contribution, thermal resistance, and compatibility of the material. The physical parameters as density and yield percentage were assessed to evaluate its light-weight utility and economic productivity. These examinations revealed that TSMCC has good specific properties such as high cellulose content (90.57 %), average density (1.561 g/cm3), feasible average roughness (12.161 nm), desired particle size (60.40 ± 21.10 µm), good crystallinity (CI-77.6 %) and thermal stability (up to 230 °C); which are worthwhile to consider TSMCC for bio-film formulation. Subsequently, bio-films were formulated by reinforcing TSMCC in polylactic acid (PLA) matrix and the mechanical properties of the bio-films were then studied to establish the efficacy of TSMCC. It is revealed that the properties of pure PLA film increased after being incorporated with TSMCC, where 5 %TSMCC addition showed greater impact on crystalline index (26.16 % to 39.62 %), thermal stability (333oc to 389 °C), tensile strength (36.11 ± 2.90 MPa to 40.22 ± 3.22 MPa) and modulus (2.62 ± 0.55GPa to 4.15 ± 0.53GPa). In light of all promising features, 5 % TSMCC is recommended as a potential filler reinforcement for the groundwork of good quality bio-films for active packaging applications in future.