Nanostructured biofillers from upcycled food byproducts for reinforcing PLA films via lignin and cellulose modulation

초록

Upcycling food byproducts into functional and sustainable biodegradable materials has emerged as a promising strategy to alleviate environmental impacts of food byproducts. This study investigates nano-sized biofillers derived from coffee silver skin (SS) and sweet pumpkin peel (SP) to enhance functionality of polylactic acid (PLA) films. SS and SP underwent mild chemical pretreatment and mechanical fibrillation, yielding nano-sized biofillers with comparable cellulose contents (similar to 28.0 %) but differing lignin levels (SS: 27.5 %, SP: 13.1 %). These biofillers were incorporated into PLA films at a low loading (1 phr) to examine their effects on composite performance. Characterization revealed that filler type significantly influenced PLA properties. Fracture surface images confirmed good dispersion without visible aggregation. SP-PLA exhibited enhanced viscoelastic behavior, while SS-PLA demonstrated greater surface hydrophobicity, suggesting improved moisture resistance. These findings highlight the influence of lignin modulation and fibrillation on biofillers performance in PLA and demonstrate the potential of upcycled food waste-derived biofillers as effective reinforcements for sustainable biopolymer applications.

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