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Development of Bioplastic Films from Schizothrix lacustris Reinforced with Corn Cob Cellulosic Fibers
Summary
Scientists in Congo turned pond algae and corn cob leftovers into a plant-based plastic that breaks down naturally, unlike regular plastic that can linger for centuries and break into microplastics that end up in our food and water. Adding corn cob fibers to the algae mixture made the material stronger and less likely to absorb water, showing this waste-based approach could work as a real alternative to petroleum plastics. This matters because cutting down on conventional plastic production and pollution may help reduce the microplastics we're increasingly exposed to through food, water, and air.
The global dependence on conventional petroleum-based plastics is leading to a massive accumulation of non-biodegradable waste and exacerbating climate change. In this context, bioplastics represent a sustainable alternative. This study explores the production of bioplastic films from cyanobacterial biomass belonging to the genus Schizothrix, collected in the ponds of Maluku (Kinshasa, DRC), reinforced with cellulosic fibers extracted from maize cobs. Cyanobacterial glycogen was isolated after pretreatment, whereas the lignocellulosic fibers were obtained by alkaline delignification and bleaching. The films were made by casting/evaporation with different glycogen/fibre ratios. Physicochemical and functional analyses (drying time, thickness, water content, water retention, combustion and biodegradability) show that the incorporation of fibers improves mechanical strength, reduces hydrophilicity and accelerates drying. The yields obtained (glycogen: 66,03 ± 0,28 %; fibres: 48,17 ± 0,33 %) confirm the potential of these local biomasses to be used as raw materials for biodegradable bioplastics. This approach is a promising way to develop Congolese resources and reduce plastic pollution. Thus, this study makes an original contribution to the Congolese context by linking local data to global trends.