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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Porous Thermoformed Protein Bioblends as Degradable Absorbent Alternatives in Sanitary Materials
ClearPLA-Chitosan Composites as Sustainable Alternatives for Menstrual Pads
Researchers developed biodegradable PLA-chitosan composite films as an environmentally friendly alternative to polyethylene in menstrual pads, demonstrating that the composite maintained absorbency and mechanical integrity while offering antimicrobial properties and full biodegradability.
Extruded Porous Protein–Lignocellulosic Blends as Fully Bio-Based Alternative to Single-Use Absorbent Plastics
Researchers developed fully bio-based porous absorbent materials through continuous extrusion of protein and lignocellulosic biomass blends including oat husk, wheat bran, and keratin fibres as sustainable replacements for single-use absorbent plastics. Saline absorption capacity increased up to twice the reference material when oat husk underwent delignification, demonstrating commercially competitive performance achievable from agricultural waste streams.
Extruded Porous Protein–Lignocellulosic Blendsas Fully Bio-Based Alternative to Single-Use Absorbent Plastics
Researchers developed fully bio-based porous absorbent materials by extruding blends of proteins and lignocellulosic residues — including oat husk, wheat bran, and keratin fibres — sourced entirely from biomass waste, as sustainable alternatives to single-use synthetic absorbent plastics. Saline absorption capacity increased 1.5 times with oat husk inclusion and doubled after a delignification step, demonstrating the potential of biomass-derived extrusion for competitive eco-friendly absorbents.
Natural Alternatives to Plastic Wrappers in Disposal of Sanitary Pads: a Review
This review examines the environmental impact of plastic components in disposable sanitary pads—which can contain up to 90% plastic—and proposes natural biodegradable alternatives such as bamboo fiber, jute, and plant-based coatings to reduce microplastic pollution from menstrual products.
Natural Alternatives to Plastic Wrappers in Disposal of Sanitary Pads: a Review
This review discusses how plastic-heavy disposable sanitary pads contribute to microplastic pollution and environmental waste, and evaluates natural material alternatives including cotton, bamboo, and plant-based polymers that could reduce the environmental footprint of menstrual hygiene products.
Superabsorbent Polymers: From long-established, microplastics generating systems, to sustainable, biodegradable and future proof alternatives
This review examined how conventional acrylate-based superabsorbent polymers generate microplastics due to their non-biodegradable nature, and assessed emerging biodegradable alternatives that could provide sustainable, future-proof replacements for hygiene and agricultural applications.
Valorization of Biopolymers in Sustainable Material Development
This research evaluates the potential of biopolymers such as polysaccharides, proteins, and microbial polymers as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. The study highlights how conventional plastics contribute to microplastic contamination in biological systems and examines how biopolymer valorization could help address ecological degradation from persistent plastic waste.
Disposal of Sanitary Pads
This paper discusses the environmental and public health challenges posed by improper sanitary pad disposal, highlighting that conventional pads release microplastics and toxins as they degrade. The authors advocate for incineration and biodegradable alternatives as solutions.
Using in vitro bioassays to guide the development of safer bio-based polymers for use in food packaging
Researchers tested bio-based packaging polymers derived from food-industry waste streams for endocrine-disrupting chemical leaching and found that several alternatives to conventional petroleum plastics showed significantly reduced hormonal activity, supporting their development as safer food contact materials.
Biodegradable Fiber-Reinforced Gluten Biocomposites for Replacement of Fossil-Based Plastics
Researchers created biodegradable biocomposites from wheat gluten reinforced with carbon fibers as an alternative to fossil-based plastics that shed microplastics. The materials could be processed using standard industrial plastic manufacturing equipment, achieved strength two to four times greater than unreinforced protein-based materials, and were confirmed to break down into environmentally harmless molecules. This demonstrates a viable path toward high-performance plastics that do not contribute to microplastic pollution.
Production and characterization of human hair keratin bioplastic films with novel plasticizers
Researchers extracted keratin protein from human hair waste and used it to create thin biodegradable plastic films as an alternative to conventional plastics. The films showed good structural integrity, absorbed minimal water, and broke down when exposed to fungi, suggesting potential use in sustainable packaging and disposable products.
Degradable poly(β-amino ester) microparticles for cleansing products and food fortification
Researchers developed degradable microparticles made from a material that breaks down into sugar and amino acid byproducts, designed to replace the non-degradable plastic microbeads used in cleansing products and food fortification. These new particles performed similarly to conventional plastic microbeads but dissolve harmlessly in the environment. This innovation could help reduce one significant source of microplastic pollution that enters waterways and the food supply.
Genipap Oil as a Natural Cross-Linker for Biodegradable and Low-Ecotoxicity Porous Absorbents via Reactive Extrusion
Scientists developed biodegradable porous absorbent materials made from agricultural protein waste and a natural plant-based crosslinker, as an alternative to fossil-fuel-derived absorbents. The resulting materials showed strong absorption capacity, good mechanical properties, and broke down completely in soil within six weeks without leaving toxic residues. This research offers a practical path toward replacing synthetic absorbents that contribute to microplastic pollution.
A Review on Biopolymer-Based Biodegradable Film for Food Packaging: Trends over the Last Decade and Future Research
This systematic review explores biodegradable packaging made from natural materials like starch and proteins as alternatives to conventional plastics. Reducing plastic packaging is important because traditional plastics break down into microplastics that contaminate food and the environment.
Innovative whey protein isolate-based biopolymer film with glycerol for sustainable food packaging applications
Researchers developed a whey protein isolate-based biodegradable film plasticized with glycerol as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging, demonstrating comparable barrier properties and mechanical performance without generating persistent microplastic residues.
A Review of Recent Developments in Edible Films and Coatings-Focus on Whey-Based Materials
This review examines how edible films and coatings made from whey protein could serve as biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastic packaging for food. By replacing conventional plastic wrapping, these materials could help reduce microplastic generation from food packaging, which is a significant source of human microplastic exposure.
Biodegradable Polymers: The Future of Sustainable Plastic Alternatives
This review examines biodegradable polymers as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, evaluating their potential to reduce microplastic pollution and ecological degradation. The authors assess the performance, environmental fate, and scalability of current biodegradable materials, identifying key challenges for widespread adoption across packaging and consumer product applications.
Reusable Sanitary Pad
Researchers developed and tested a reusable sanitary pad with wings composed of individually designed fabric layers as a sustainable alternative to disposable single-use pads. Testing demonstrated acceptable performance across drying time, pilling resistance, tensile strength, water vapor resistance, and air permeability, supporting reusable pads as an environmentally preferable option given that disposable pads typically end up in landfills or are incinerated.
Role of microalgae as a sustainable alternative of biopolymers and its application in industries
Not a microplastics paper — this review examines the potential of algae-derived biopolymers (such as alginate, carrageenan, and polyhydroxyalkanoates) as biodegradable, eco-friendly replacements for petroleum-based plastics, highlighting their advantages but noting challenges for large-scale production.
Protein Recovery from Ethanol By-Products: A Comprehensive Review of Zein Extraction, Processing Technologies, and Industrial Integration Across Dry-Mill Streams
This review paper is not about microplastics; it examines protein recovery from U.S. ethanol production by-products — particularly the corn protein zein — exploring extraction technologies and opportunities to turn low-value distillers' grains into high-value renewable materials for biorefinery applications.
Properties and Degradation Performances of Biodegradable Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Blends and Keratin Composites
Researchers tested biodegradable blends of polylactic acid and polyhydroxybutyrate with added keratin waste as fillers, assessing how well the composites degrade. The work contributes to developing plastic alternatives that break down in the environment rather than persisting as microplastics.
Biomimetic Design of Biodegradable Polymer Films for Sustainable Food Packaging: Integrating Indigenous Material Wisdom with Modern Chemistry
This paper is not primarily about microplastic pollution; it describes the development of biodegradable food packaging films from biopolymers like chitosan and alginate as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, with the goal of preventing microplastic generation at the source rather than studying existing contamination.
Performance Spectrum of Home-Compostable Biopolymer Fibers Compared to a Petrochemical Alternative
Researchers compared home-compostable biopolymer fibers to conventional petrochemical alternatives, evaluating their mechanical performance and degradability to assess whether biobased materials can serve as viable substitutes that reduce microplastic pollution.
Development of Eco-Friendly Silane-Treated Rice Flour/PBS Biocomposites with ENR-50 as a Compatibilizer: A Study on Phase Morphology, Properties and Biodegradation
Despite its title referencing biodegradable packaging, this paper studies the material properties of biocomposite films made from polybutylene succinate (PBS) and rice flour for use as food packaging — not microplastic pollution or health impacts. It examines how different filler amounts and compatibilizers affect mechanical and biodegradation properties and is only indirectly relevant to microplastics as an effort to replace conventional plastic packaging.