The sustainable cycle of a new cacao-based bioplastic: from manufacturing to exploitable biodegradation products.

ABSTRACT: The exponential growth of plastic consumption in the last decade became a large economic and ecological issue; therefore, strategies have been used to mitigate the environmental impacts, including the manufacture of biodegradable bio-based plastics and biodegradation strategies. Herein, a new bio-based plastic was developed consisting of a polymeric recyclable matrix (polyethylene or polypropylene) with a vegetal polymeric material from cocoa husk. Mechanical and rheological properties were evaluated and the new material showed interesting tensile strength compared to completely non-biodegradable plastics. The new polymeric material was submitted to biodegradation processes using different fungi species. The biodegradation caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Xylaria sp.

SUBMITTER: Almeida ACA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9040866 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature