The synergistic influence of lemon extract on the physio-chemical properties of Kibisu silk reinforced wheat gluten biocomposite

Abstract

Plastic waste has become a pervasive and global threat to every ecosystem, and the continuous surge in plastic production has triggered the need for sustainable alternatives. This study focuses on harnessing a hundred percent biodegradable composite sheets with a natural crosslinker, which can be used in several end applications like seedling trays, gardening pots, sampling trays, one-time plates, ear and nasal swabs, etc. The proposed composite is manufactured with all-natural ingredients and zero harmful chemicals. The waste Kibisu silk or filature silk fibre (Bombyx mori) is used here as the fibre reinforcement, and wheat gluten (WG) is used as the matrix material. For plasticising and crosslinking the WG, castor oil and fresh lemon extract (Citrus limon) are used. In addition, pellets of sodium hydroxide are also added as a dispersion agent for WG. All the significant constituents used here are industrial waste or abundantly available in nature. The properties obtained from the characterisation processes indicate that natural crosslinker adds better physio-chemical properties in the developed samples.