We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Corn Waste a Sustainable Solution for Plastic Pollution: A Mini Review
Summary
This mini-review examines the potential of corn waste—including husks, stalks, and cobs rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin—as a feedstock for biodegradable films to replace petroleum-based plastics. Corn waste films produced through casting and extrusion methods show mechanical and barrier properties comparable to conventional plastics with significantly faster biodegradation, and show promise for packaging and agricultural applications.
Plastic pollution is a critical environmental issue leading to extensive ecological damage and posing health risks due to the persistence of petrochemical-derived plastics. Biodegradable films particularly those derived from renewable resources like corn waste offer a promising solution to this issue. Corn waste including husks, stalks and cobs are rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin making it suitable for biodegradable film production. Various methods such as chemical treatments, enzymatic hydrolysis and mechanical processes are used to extract useful components from corn waste followed by film formation techniques like casting and extrusion. Corn waste films exhibit mechanical and barrier properties comparable to conventional plastics with the added benefit of faster biodegradability. These films have potential applications in packaging and agriculture reducing plastic waste and supporting sustainable practices.