Mechanical, structural, thermal, morphological, and migration properties of polylactic acid (PLA)/ostrich (struthio camelus) eggshell (OES) biocomposites for food packaging application

Lindani Koketso Ncube; Albert Uchenna Ude; Enoch Nifise Ogunmuyiwa; Isaac Nongwe Beas; Nastassia Thandiwe Sithole

Author(s)

Lindani Koketso Ncube Department of Mechanical, Energy and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST),Private Mail Bag, Palapye,Botswana

Albert Uchenna Ude Department of Mechanical, Energy and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET),Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Private Mail Bag, Palapye, Botswana;Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg,South Africa

Enoch Nifise Ogunmuyiwa Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg,South Africa;Department of Chemical, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Academic, FET, BIUST, Private Mail Bag, Palapye, Botswana

Isaac Nongwe Beas Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI),Private Bag, Gaborone,BotswanaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of South Africa,Florida, Johannesburg,South Africa

Nastassia Thandiwe Sithole Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg,,South Africa

Abstract

The advent of environmental awareness and the need for circular economies have led to huge efforts towards using sustainable materials. Packaging plastics are the biggest source of mismanaged waste. Biopolymers are expected to serve as alternatives, and polylactic acid (PLA) is a promising candidate. However, they still have some performance drawbacks that hinder their total domination of the plastic market. Several strategies to improve their performance include blending with fibers and fillers to produce biopolymer based composites. One such important filler is calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which is sourced from mining a sedimentary rock, a non-renewable resource. Aviculture waste valorisation of eggshells could serve as a suitable source of organic CaCO3. In this study, the biggest and calcite rich ostrich eggshells were proposed as a sustainable filler material for PLA biopolymer matrix. PLA was loaded with different weights of ostrich eggshell waste powder (OES) and subjected to characterisation tests, including mechanical, thermal, and food contact migration testing. 5wt% OES loading resulted in the optimum tensile strength. The composites had remarkably reduced water vapour permeability, and overall migration levels were far below the overall migration limit (10 mg/dm2). The results of this study primarily suggested potential for PLA/OES biocomposites application in food packaging.

Publication Details

Page(s) 1125-1138

DOI DOI not available

Published Journal: ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Volume: 20, Issue: 14, Year: 2025

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Keywords

aviculture waste, food packaging, waste valorisation, biocomposite, ostrich eggshell, Polylactic acid

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