Agro-Waste Derived Biopolymers and Biocomposites

This book explores the innovative use of agro-waste to create biopolymers and their applications in sustainable food packaging, addressing both benefits and challenges.

This comprehensive book describes the fundamental principles and major advancements in the utilization of agro-waste for deriving biopolymers, and their applications to fabricate composite, nanocomposite, and hybrid food packaging films and coatings. It serves as a systematic account of contemporary developments in the area of novel and environmentally friendly valorization of agro- and food wastes into value-added products like biodegradable polymers and active functional agents for food packaging applications.

The book covers various hurdles and challenges faced in the commercialization of these biopolymer-based materials, including their composites, applications, safety, and legal ramifications. With fifteen chapters, it delves into different aspects of agro- and food waste utilization, focusing on the development of biodegradable polymers and their composites for sustainable food packaging. The initial chapters detail the processing of various agro- and food wastes of plant and animal origin to synthesize biopolymers such as starch, cellulose, chitosan, silk proteins, and pectin, presenting attractive alternatives to synthetic plastic packaging.

A dedicated chapter addresses biodegradability, analyzing various biodegradation reactions, including depolymerization and mineralization, in both soil and aquatic environments. The book concludes with a discussion on concerns regarding the potential migration of components from biodegradable packaging into food items. Researchers, scientists, engineers, and food entrepreneurs will find this book valuable for its insights into sustainable food packaging solutions.