The current experimental investigation presents a comparative evaluation of selected biodegradable polymer blends and their composites, focusing on their material properties. Two biopolymers, polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT), along with pineapple fibers (F), as bio-reinforcement were taken for the analysis, which was conducted in two stages: During first stage, PBAT was melt-blended with PLA in varying weight fractions (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt%) to produce PLA/PBAT blend (B) and in second stage, PLA, PBAT, B 80/20 blend were reinforced with pineapple fiber (10, 20, and 30 wt%). The samples were fabricated using extrusion-injection molding. The samples were characterized for density, thermal degradation, crystallinity, and mechanical behaviour. Among the blends, the optimal B 80/20 combination exhibited tensile strength, flexural strength, and elongation at break of 47.9±2.4, 88.2±5.4 MPa, and 330.6±10.47%, respectively. Results indicate that the PLA-based composites (PF) exhibit significantly better density, tensile strength, and flexural strength as compared to neat polymers, blends, blend-based composites (BF), and PBAT-based composites (TF). Among the PF composites, the PF 70/30 composite demonstrated superior performance, with maximum tensile and flexural strength values of 73.9±1.3 and 107.1±4.3 MPa, respectively.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an eco-friendly biopolymer with outstanding structural and functional properties, offering promising applications in sustainable packaging and bio-based materials. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of producing BC via spontaneous fermentation, using grape pomace supplemented with sucrose as the sole carbon source, nutrient substrate, and microbial inoculum, without the addition of commercial strains or nitrogen supplements. Fermentation was conducted under static conditions, yielding biofilms with stable structural characteristics and BC production of up to 14.1 g/L, thereby confirming the efficiency of this low-cost, residue-based process. The films obtained exhibited well-organized polymeric networks, with thermal stability in the range of T_g ≈ 159–266 °C and mechanical resistance comparable to or higher than conventional biopolymers. Characterization confirmed reproducible chemical profiles, thermal stability, and measurable variation in mechanical performance, with a tensile strength ranging from 0.0001 to 105 MPa and an elongation at break of 15±5%. The process highlights a resource-efficient and sustainable pathway, adaptable to rural contexts and aligned with circular economic principles. While minor variations among replicates reflected the intrinsic variability of biological systems, mean values and standard deviations demonstrated reproducible physicochemical and mechanical properties. These findings demonstrate that BC derived from agro-industrial residues can be produced under simple, low-input conditions, opening opportunities for scalable valorization in functional and sustainable materials.

This study explores the mechanical properties and water resistance of polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with oil palm trunk (OPT) components, specifically vascular bundles (VB) and parenchyma cells (PC) particles, at 30 and 60 wt% content levels. The research addresses challenges posed by the inherent variability in density and moisture sensitivity of OPT in composite formulation. Utilizing a hot-pressing technique, we examined the effects of OPT type, filler content, and the addition of a maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP) coupling agent. The findings reveal that VB- and PC-reinforced PP composites show enhanced density, moisture resistance, and overall mechanical performance relative to untreated OPT. Notably, while increasing OPT content improves modulus and density, it negatively impacts tensile and flexural strengths due to poor interfacial bonding. The incorporation of MAPP significantly enhances interfacial adhesion between the PP matrix and OPT fillers, leading to reduced moisture uptake and dimensional swelling, particularly at higher filler loadings. These results highlight the potential of VB and PC as sustainable reinforcement materials for wood-plastic composites (WPC), providing critical insights for optimizing composite designs aimed at improving durability and water resistance.

Biocomposites have recently received more attention because of raising environmental awareness and the drive toward sustainable technologies. The most common biodegradable polymer is poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which has an excellent balance of physical and rheological properties, but there is some limit to its usage. PLA properties can be improved by adding different types of fibers or fillers that come from agricultural waste. In this study, corn cob and lavender stem were used to reinforce PLA without any coupling agent, and the properties of the composites were investigated. The melt flow rate (MFR) values decreased with the corn cob content and increased with the addition of lavender stem. Mechanical tests showed that the tensile and flexural modulus of the composites increased and the strengths decreased with the reinforcement material content. The rigidness of PLA slightly decreased with the addition of fillers. There was no significant effect on the thermal properties. The unremarkable improvement of the reinforcement was due to the lack of appropriate adhesion of the two phases. The structure of the compounds was found to be homogenous on the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. The incorporation of corn cob and lavender stem can reduce the production cost of materials.

The study investigates a ternary biopolymer blend composed of biopolymers polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate- co-valerate (PHBV), and lignin extracted from patchouli fiber waste for sustainable packaging applications. A PLA: PHBV blend (70:30) was enhanced by incorporating hydrophobic lignin as a filler in varying loadings of 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 wt%. The ternary blend was prepared using twin-screw extrusion process, pelletized, and compression-molded into specimens. Comprehensive characterization of the ternary blend included evaluations of water barrier, mechanical, functional, thermal, and morphological properties. Results demonstrated that lignin addition notably improved the compatibility between PLA and PHBV, leading to enhanced barrier performance, mechanical strength, and thermal stability. SEM morphology confirmed improved interfacial adhesion due to hydrophobic nature of lignin, which facilitated better dispersion at lower filler loadings. However, at 12 wt% lignin, property reductions were observed, attributed to lignin agglomeration and poor dispersion. Optimal performance was achieved at 9 wt% lignin loading, offering a balance of improved properties without compromising processability or structural integrity. This study highlights the potential of the PLA/PHBV/lignin ternary blend as a viable, eco-friendly material for sustainable packaging, showcasing improved functionality and environmental compatibility compared to conventional polymers.