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A Fully Plant-Based Water- and Oil-Resistant Paper Composite
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Researchers developed a fully plant-based paper composite coated with lignin as a water- and oil-resistant alternative to plastic-coated or PFAS-treated food packaging. Optimized hot-pressing conditions produced a coating that resisted water for 100 minutes and oil for 25 minutes, and the material fully biodegraded in garden soil within 56 days.
Disposable tableware commonly used at gatherings and for takeout has switched from plastic to paper due to concerns about micro- and nanoplastic pollution. Their water and oil resistance are typically achieved by using either per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are harmful and persistent in the environment, or plastic coatings, which exacerbate the plastic pollution issue. Hence, safe and ecofriendly water- and oil-resistant materials are a crucial need. Emulating natural plant properties, we applied a seamless lignin film on paper via the hot-pressing method. By varying parameters such as lignin coating weight (10–40 g/m2), hot-pressing pressure (1–5 MPa), temperature (120–180 °C), and moisture content (10–50 wt %) of lignin micro and nanoparticles (LMNP) suspension before hot-pressing, we determined that 40 g/m2 of lignin coating weight applied at 3 MPa pressure, 160 °C temperature, and 30 wt % moisture content are the optimal condition. This yielded a lignin layer with exceptional waterproofing (100 min) and oil resistance (25 min). The paper composite board biodegraded within 56 days in garden soil, thereby providing a promising eco-friendly alternative to nonbiodegradable plastics and PFAS.
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Researchers developed a plastic-free, biodegradable paper coating made from chitosan and sunflower oil that provides oil and water resistance. Unlike conventional coatings, this material does not shed microplastics when disposed of, offering a promising sustainable alternative for food packaging.
New alternatives to single‐use plastics: Starch and chitosan‐graft‐polydimethylsiloxane‐coated paper for water‐ and oil‐resistant applications
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Researchers developed a fluorine-free, bio-based paper coating using starch and chitosan grafted with polydimethylsiloxane, achieving water- and oil-resistance comparable to conventional fluorochemical coatings while remaining biodegradable and compostable.
Fabrication of water/oil-resistant paper by nanocellulose stabilized Pickering emulsion and chitosan
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Researchers developed a plastic-free, biodegradable water- and oil-resistant paper coating using cellulose nanofibrils and chitosan in a Pickering emulsion system. The coating provided excellent barrier properties against water and oil while maintaining paper recyclability and compostability. The study offers a promising alternative to conventional plastic-based food packaging coatings that contribute to microplastic pollution.
Chitosan–Graft–Poly(dimethylsiloxane)/Zein Coatings for the Fabrication of Environmentally Friendly Oil- and Water-Resistant Paper
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Researchers developed a sustainable paper coating using chitosan-graft-poly(dimethylsiloxane) and zein biopolymers that provides oil and water resistance, offering a biodegradable alternative to conventional synthetic polymer coatings that contribute to microplastic pollution. The approach demonstrates a practical strategy for reducing plastic waste in paper packaging applications.
Sustainable Packaging with Waterborne Acrylated Epoxidized Soybean Oil
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Researchers developed a sustainable packaging material by coating kraft paper with waterborne acrylated epoxidized soybean oil. The study found that the coated paper demonstrated good water and oil resistance, compatibility with printing processes, and reached over 90% biodegradability within 90 days, offering a promising alternative to conventional plastic packaging.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.