Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Development of bio-composite mulch film from cotton gin wastes: Study of pesticide residue and outdoor stability and degradation

Researchers developed biodegradable mulch films made from cotton gin waste — an agricultural byproduct — combined with polycaprolactone, and showed they can remain stable during a growing season while degrading more readily than conventional plastic films. Replacing non-degradable plastic mulch, which fragments into soil microplastics, with truly biodegradable alternatives is an important step toward reducing agricultural plastic pollution.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable, Flexible and Ultraviolet Blocking Nanocellulose Composite Film Incorporated with Lignin Nanoparticles

Composite films combining cellulose nanofibrils with lignin nanoparticles from two isolation methods were fabricated, producing biodegradable, flexible materials with strong UV-blocking performance suitable as plastic film replacements. The lignin-CNF composites achieved UV absorbance through the natural chromophore properties of lignin without requiring synthetic UV additives.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Cotton Gin Waste/Polycaprolactone Bio-Plastic with Adjustable Biodegradation Rate: Scale-Up Production through Compression Moulding

This paper is not directly about microplastics; it explores the development of a biodegradable composite bioplastic made from cotton gin waste and polycaprolactone, aimed at reducing conventional plastic waste through compostable alternatives.

2023 Polymers 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Hydrogen-bonded lignin-acrylic copolymer/WPU composites with Integrated UV shielding, antioxidancy and degradability

Researchers synthesized a lignin-acrylic copolymer from rice straw waste and blended it with waterborne polyurethane to create a composite film with 43% higher tensile strength, near-total UV blocking, and dramatically improved antioxidant capacity, offering a biodegradable, microplastic-reducing alternative to conventional plastic films.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Blends of Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Cottonseed Protein as Biodegradable Films

Researchers developed biodegradable films from blends of carboxymethyl cellulose and cottonseed protein as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic packaging. The study found that adjusting the proportions of these plant-based components produced films with varying levels of opacity, water vapor permeability, and mechanical strength, suggesting potential applications in water-soluble food packaging and agricultural coatings.

2024 Polymers 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Conversion of Cellulose and Lignin Residues into Transparent UV-Blocking Composite Films

Researchers developed UV-blocking composite films by chemically converting cellulose and lignin residues from three biomass sources (aspen wood, poplar wood, and corn stover) via a dissolution-regeneration process, assessing their UV-blocking performance as a sustainable alternative to petrochemical plastic films. Results showed that all three lignin residue types enhanced the UV-blocking properties of the composite films, supporting their potential in functional biorefinery-integrated packaging.

2022 Molecules 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanocellulose Hybrid Lignin Complex Reinforces Cellulose to Form a Strong, Water-Stable Lignin–Cellulose Composite Usable as a Plastic Replacement

This study developed a strong, water-stable composite material made from cellulose and lignin extracted from agricultural waste (sugarcane bagasse), as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. The lignin-cellulose composite showed dramatically improved wet strength compared to regular cellulose sheets, demonstrating potential as a biodegradable plastic replacement that would not generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 Nanomaterials 18 citations
Article Tier 2

MgO NPs reinforced PCL/PVC nanocomposite films with enhanced UV shielding and thermal stability for packaging applications

Researchers fabricated nanocomposite films from poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and polyvinyl chloride reinforced with magnesium oxide nanoparticles, finding enhanced UV shielding and improved thermal and mechanical properties, with potential applications in biodegradable packaging that reduces conventional plastic waste.

2025 Open Physics
Article Tier 2

Effect of the Addition of Fique Bagasse Cellulose Nanoparticles on the Mechanical and Structural Properties of Plastic Flexible Films from Cassava Starch

This paper is not about microplastics — it develops biodegradable flexible films from cassava starch reinforced with cellulose nanoparticles derived from fique plant waste, focusing on sustainable packaging material properties.

2023 Polymers 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of preparation techniques of cellulose II nanocrystals as reinforcement for tannery solid waste–based gelatin composite films

Researchers extracted cellulose II nanocrystals from wet wipes using three different hydrolysis methods and incorporated them into tannery-waste gelatin films, finding that hydrogen-peroxide-derived nanocrystals improved mechanical stiffness by 50%, enhanced UV barrier properties, and produced films that degraded 80% within 7 days in soil.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulosic Functional Bioplastic with Tunable Strength and Toughness Through Heat‐Treatment of Dynamic Covalent Networks

Researchers created a high-performance biodegradable film from cellulose and lignin using reversible chemical bonds that can be tuned through heat treatment. The material achieves impressive mechanical properties with tensile strength up to 52 MPa and elongation up to 545%, along with UV shielding and oxygen barrier capabilities. The study presents a scalable approach for producing recyclable bioplastics that could serve as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.

2025 Advanced Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of the Protective Function of a Lignin Coating of Natural Fiber Geotextiles against Biodegradation

Researchers investigated whether lignin coatings can protect natural fiber geotextiles from soil degradation and UV-driven breakdown, finding that lignin treatment can extend the functional lifespan of biodegradable geotextiles as a more sustainable alternative to synthetic ones.

2023 Materials 17 citations
Article Tier 2

All-biodegradable soy protein isolate/lignin composite cross-linked by oxidized sucrose as agricultural mulch films for green farming

Researchers developed an all-biodegradable mulch film made from soy protein, lignin, and oxidized sucrose as a green alternative to conventional plastic agricultural films. The film demonstrated improved tensile strength, UV-shielding capability, moisture retention, and controlled fertilizer release properties. Field tests showed higher cabbage seed germination rates compared to traditional polyethylene film, suggesting this bio-based material could reduce microplastic generation from agricultural practices.

2022 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Employment of Waste from the Textile Industry for the Production of Nanocomposites Aiming at the Generation of Thermal Shrinkable Films and the Non-Formation of Microplastics

Researchers used recycled textile waste to create nanocomposite materials for making heat-shrinkable films, aiming to reduce microplastic generation compared to conventional plastic films. The approach repurposes discarded clothing into functional materials, addressing both textile waste and the microplastic pollution from degrading synthetic fabrics.

2023 Materials Sciences and Applications 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Enzymatic Degradation and Pilot-Scale Composting of Cellulose-Based Films with Different Chemical Structures

Researchers investigated the enzymatic degradability and pilot-scale composting of 14 cellulose-based materials including regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate, methyl cellulose, and cellophane, finding that hydrolysis rate decreased exponentially as the degree of chemical substitution increased. The study establishes structure-biodegradability relationships to guide development of cellulose-based plastic alternatives that balance mechanical strength with natural biodegradability.

2019 Journal of Polymers and the Environment 114 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and Evaluation of Biodegradable Weed Control Mulch Mats from End-of-Use Cotton Waste

Researchers developed and evaluated biodegradable weed control mulch mats from end-of-life natural fiber materials, assessing their effectiveness at suppressing weeds and their degradation rate in soil as an alternative to plastic mulch films.

2024 Sustainability 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Aging Process of Biocomposites with the PLA Matrix Modified with Different Types of Cellulose

Researchers prepared polylactic acid composites with three different cellulose-based fillers and studied how they age under UV light exposure. The study found that the type of cellulose additive plays a crucial role in how well the material resists UV degradation, with some forms improving both mechanical properties and degradation timing. These findings support the potential of biodegradable polymer composites as alternatives to conventional plastics that generate persistent microplastic waste.

2023 Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Green and Scalable Preparation of Colloidal Suspension of Lignin Nanoparticles and Its Application in Eco-friendly Sunscreen Formulations

Researchers developed a scalable, solvent-free method to produce lignin nanoparticles and demonstrated their use as a natural UV-absorbing ingredient in eco-friendly sunscreen formulations, offering a biodegradable alternative to synthetic UV filters.

2021 ACS Omega 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Conversion of low-quality cotton to bioplastics

Researchers converted low-quality cotton fibers unsuitable for textile use into bioplastics as an eco-friendly alternative to petrochemical plastics, demonstrating a method to reduce microplastic contamination by substituting conventional plastics with bio-based materials.

2021 Cellulose 49 citations
Article Tier 2

3D-Printed Polylactic Acid/Lignin Films with Great Mechanical Properties and Tunable Functionalities towards Superior UV-Shielding, Haze, and Antioxidant Properties

Researchers incorporated lignin into polylactic acid (PLA) to create 3D-printable composite filaments, finding that lignin addition improved mechanical properties and enabled tunable functionalities in the resulting films, expanding options for sustainable additive manufacturing materials.

2023 Polymers 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Design of cellulose nanofibre-based composites with high barrier properties

Researchers tested four types of cellulose nanofibres and two clay mineral combinations for making composite films with gas barrier properties, finding that TEMPO-oxidized and cationized nanofibres with clay minerals produced films with superior mechanical and barrier performance. These plant-derived composites offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based packaging films.

2023 Cellulose 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Inherently Brittle, Biobased and Biodegradable Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Polymer by Cotton Fibre Reinforcement and Interfacial Grafting

This study developed biobased and biodegradable packaging films by modifying PLA and PBSA blends, achieving improved flexibility and toughness compared to brittle pure PLA, with the goal of replacing fossil-fuel-based packaging materials with compostable alternatives.

2025 Advanced Sustainable Systems 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A multifunctional biogenic films and coatings from synergistic aqueous dispersion of wood-derived suberin and cellulose nanofibers

Researchers developed multifunctional bio-based packaging films and coatings using suberin, an industrial byproduct, stabilized with amphiphilic cellulose nanofibers. The resulting materials demonstrated UV shielding and antimicrobial properties while serving as effective food packaging. The study presents a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic packaging that could help reduce microplastic pollution from packaging degradation.

2024 Carbohydrate Polymers 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of Lignin/Pbat Biodegradable Plastics Films via Reactive Extrusion and Their Thermal, Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties

Researchers developed biodegradable films made from poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and lignin as a sustainable alternative to conventional polyethylene packaging films. Replacing fossil-fuel-based plastic films with biodegradable alternatives could reduce the microplastic pollution that results from conventional plastic film degradation in the environment.

2023 Preprints.org 1 citations