Utilization of agro-industrial wastes (banana peel): development, characterization, and classification of biodegradable composite pots using PCA approach

Traditional plastic contributes significantly to environmental pollution due to their non-biodegradable nature, while banana peels, a common agro-industrial waste, are often discarded without proper utilization. The research envisages to develop an eco-friendly solution by creating biodegradable composite pots from banana peels. Banana peel powder and deoiled rice bran plasticized by cashew nut shell liquid and glycerol into pellets. Pellets were molded into pots using injection molding at suitable temperature and pressure. Processing resulted in significant changes in physical properties of the pot and raw materials. CNSL and biopolymers demonstrated strong physical interaction during the construction of a 3D network of pots. The novelty of the work lies in its innovative integration of waste management and sustainable product development. By employing principal component analysis (PCA) for characterization and classification, the research introduces a sophisticated analytical method to evaluate the properties and performance of the composite material. The pots made from 12% CNSL exhibited better mechanical and physical properties in comparison to pots made from glycerol. However, water binding capacity, porosity, and water solubility index (WSI) were higher in pots containing glycerol. SEM analysis evidenced a homogeneous and smoother surface in pots with CNSL. Pots with 12% GL and 12% CNSL degraded in 17 and 15 weeks, respectively. The study not only advances the application of banana peels in the development of sustainable products but also sets a precedent for the systematic analysis and optimization of biodegradable materials.