Valorization of areca nut husk and water hyacinth fibers into biodegradable plates for sustainable packaging

Abstract

This study investigates the development of biodegradable plates using cellulose fibers derived from areca nut husk and water hyacinth, aiming to create an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic plates and mitigate environmental concerns associated with nondegradable packaging. Raw fibers from both sources were treated with an alkali solution to enhance surface properties. Alkali-treated fibers from both sources were blended in various proportions, doped with starch as a binding agent, and processed via thermo-expansion to develop biodegradable plates. The optimal formulation, comprising a 50:50 blend of areca nut husk and water hyacinth fibers, exhibited desirable properties like thickness of 1.93 ± 0.06 mm, grammage of 1315.67 ± 20.55 g/m², bulk density of 0.18 ± 0.02 g/mL, moisture content of 10.27 ± 0.26 %, water absorptiveness of 481.33 ± 61.04 g/m², tensile strength of 3.99±0.31 MPa. To enhance the hydrophobicity, these plates were coated with beeswax, which showed a significant improvement in water resistance and overall properties of the plate. Biodegradability tests revealed that plates exposed to soil exhibited nearly 70-75% mass loss within 6 weeks. This innovative approach not only offers a practical solution for sustainable packaging but also addresses the environmental challenges posed by agricultural waste and invasive plant species.