Fabrication of waste cotton reinforced corn and potato starch sustainable bioplastics for eco-friendly packaging material

Non-biodegradability and widespread use of plastics have made them a significant environmental threat by polluting the atmosphere, degrading ecosystems, and endangering wildlife. Researchers are trying hard to find alternatives to non-biodegradable plastic. Environmentally friendly biopolymer film can be an excellent alternative to non-biodegradable plastic explored from starch and cellulose. This study developed sustainable bioplastics from corn and potato starch reinforced with waste cotton to be used for eco-friendly packaging. The compression molding was employed to fabricate the samples, and thickness, solubility, water absorbency, tensile strength, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), biodegradability, and moisture management properties (MMP) tests were employed to characterize the samples. Physical properties such as thickness (1.8 mm), solubility (41.43 %), and water absorbency (21.51 %) have shown the possibility of using this material as packaging. Also, the material has good tensile characteristics, with a maximum tensile strength of 2.80 MPa, and can withstand external forces during its intended application. FTIR spectra validate the existence of starch and cellulose (3309.85 cm⁻¹) in the chemical structure of the bioplastic. The intensity and position of XRD peaks provide valuable information about cellulose and starch's crystalline structure and orientation within the bioplastic matrix. Moreover, the MMP demonstrates the waterproof properties of developed bioplastic. Additionally, the soil burial biodegradability test reveals a 76 % weight loss by day 35, demonstrating its excellent biodegradable nature and making it an eco-friendly alternative to plastics.