Developing antimicrobial, biodegradable, sustainable, and eco-friendly biofilms: harnessing tea waste for a greener future

In the present context, the increasing environmental issues, such as pollution, exhaustion of fossil resources, generation of non-biodegradable wastes and threatening effects on animals and humans, etc., associated with usage of plastics have led to the emergence of eco-friendly plastics in the field of research. Development of bioplastics has attracted immense interest worldwide. In view of the same, the present research work focuses on sustainable synthesis of eco-friendly biofilms from renewable and easily available tea waste. Various biofilms comprising different amount of tea waste (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g) along with corn starch, plasticizer, and citric acid were synthesized and compared based on their functional, morphological, and thermal behavior. The synthesized biofilms were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The results revealed that the biofilm consists of tea waste powder and corn starch in 3:2 proportion (sample BF-4) has lesser cracks and grooves and contains more amorphous character compared to the other biofilms. The produced biofilms show biodegradability and possess antimicrobial properties against microbes such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus flavus. The development of biofilms from tea waste presents a promising avenue for sustainable packaging materials. Harnessing naturally abundant resources like tea waste not only reduces waste but also offers a range of benefits, such as being low-cost, environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and biodegradable. Moreover, the antimicrobial properties inherent in tea waste can contribute to the preservation of packaged goods, enhancing their shelf life.

Graphical Abstract