Properties of polylactic acid and biochar-based composites for environment-friendly plant containers
Traditional, petroleum-based plastics are known to linger in the environment for years due to their non-biodegradability and non-sustainability, eventually fragmenting into microplastics and contaminating waterways and agricultural systems. Therefore, many researchers have focused on bio-based and b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Cleaner Engineering and Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824001307 |
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| author | Rachel Day Sushil Adhikari Yucheng Peng |
| author_facet | Rachel Day Sushil Adhikari Yucheng Peng |
| author_sort | Rachel Day |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditional, petroleum-based plastics are known to linger in the environment for years due to their non-biodegradability and non-sustainability, eventually fragmenting into microplastics and contaminating waterways and agricultural systems. Therefore, many researchers have focused on bio-based and biodegradable polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA). Biochar, a byproduct of the bio-fuel production process, has been investigated as a filler to reduce the amount of PLA used and improve mechanical properties. This research focuses on effect of biochar amount on PLA composites and the impact of individual additives consisting of polyethylene glycol, STRUKTOL® (a plasticizer), and cork particles. It was found that the cork-based composites (51–54 MPa) improved tensile strength more than both of the plasticizer-based composites (41–46 MPa). While the scanning electron microscopy images showed some aggregation in the 10 wt% biochar composite, the cork composites (1 and 3 wt%) showed slightly less aggregation than other composites. Additionally, analysis revealed high carbon (81%) and fixed carbon (74%) concentrations, respectively, in the hardwood-derived biochar, indicating potential for carbon sequestration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-82ed576c642b4a95a5cf53dbbda74f65 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-7908 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cleaner Engineering and Technology |
| spelling | doaj-art-82ed576c642b4a95a5cf53dbbda74f652025-08-20T01:58:30ZengElsevierCleaner Engineering and Technology2666-79082024-12-012310085010.1016/j.clet.2024.100850Properties of polylactic acid and biochar-based composites for environment-friendly plant containersRachel Day0Sushil Adhikari1Yucheng Peng2Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USADepartment of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA; Corresponding author.College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USATraditional, petroleum-based plastics are known to linger in the environment for years due to their non-biodegradability and non-sustainability, eventually fragmenting into microplastics and contaminating waterways and agricultural systems. Therefore, many researchers have focused on bio-based and biodegradable polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA). Biochar, a byproduct of the bio-fuel production process, has been investigated as a filler to reduce the amount of PLA used and improve mechanical properties. This research focuses on effect of biochar amount on PLA composites and the impact of individual additives consisting of polyethylene glycol, STRUKTOL® (a plasticizer), and cork particles. It was found that the cork-based composites (51–54 MPa) improved tensile strength more than both of the plasticizer-based composites (41–46 MPa). While the scanning electron microscopy images showed some aggregation in the 10 wt% biochar composite, the cork composites (1 and 3 wt%) showed slightly less aggregation than other composites. Additionally, analysis revealed high carbon (81%) and fixed carbon (74%) concentrations, respectively, in the hardwood-derived biochar, indicating potential for carbon sequestration.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824001307Polyethylene glycolSTRUKTOL®CorkPlasticizerInjection mold |
| spellingShingle | Rachel Day Sushil Adhikari Yucheng Peng Properties of polylactic acid and biochar-based composites for environment-friendly plant containers Cleaner Engineering and Technology Polyethylene glycol STRUKTOL® Cork Plasticizer Injection mold |
| title | Properties of polylactic acid and biochar-based composites for environment-friendly plant containers |
| title_full | Properties of polylactic acid and biochar-based composites for environment-friendly plant containers |
| title_fullStr | Properties of polylactic acid and biochar-based composites for environment-friendly plant containers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Properties of polylactic acid and biochar-based composites for environment-friendly plant containers |
| title_short | Properties of polylactic acid and biochar-based composites for environment-friendly plant containers |
| title_sort | properties of polylactic acid and biochar based composites for environment friendly plant containers |
| topic | Polyethylene glycol STRUKTOL® Cork Plasticizer Injection mold |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824001307 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rachelday propertiesofpolylacticacidandbiocharbasedcompositesforenvironmentfriendlyplantcontainers AT sushiladhikari propertiesofpolylacticacidandbiocharbasedcompositesforenvironmentfriendlyplantcontainers AT yuchengpeng propertiesofpolylacticacidandbiocharbasedcompositesforenvironmentfriendlyplantcontainers |