Biobased composites from agro-industrial wastes and by-products

Abstract

The greater awareness of non-renewable natural resources preservation needs has led to the development of more ecological high-performance polymeric materials with new functionalities. In this regard, biobased composites are considered interesting options, especially those obtained from agro-industrial wastes and by-products. These are low-cost raw materials derived from renewable sources, which are mostly biodegradable and would otherwise typically be discarded. In this review, recent and innovative academic studies on composites obtained from biopolymers, natural fillers and active agents, as well as green-synthesized nanoparticles are presented. An in-depth discussion of biobased composites structures, properties, manufacture, and life-cycle assessment (LCA) is provided along with a wide up-to-date overview of the most recent works in the field with appropriate references. Potential uses of biobased composites from agri-food residues such as active and intelligent food packaging, agricultural inputs, tissue engineering, among others are described, considering that the specific characteristics of these materials should match the proposed application.

Keywords: Agri-food waste; Biodegradable; Biomass; By-products; Composite materials; Sustainability.

Fig. 1

Bioplastics classification according to production process and origin with some examples

Fig. 2

Biopolymer fillers sorting according to three different criteria with some examples

Fig. 3

Organic fillers main sources and some examples for each

Fig. 4

Schematic representation of the processing of biocomposite materials with inorganic fillers as well as some examples of SEM micrographs of different inorganic fillers

Fig. 5

Nanoparticles top-down and bottom-up synthesis

Fig. 6

Active and intelligent food packaging materials properties