Synthesis and Characterization of Sustainable Bioplastics from Cotton Agricultural Waste

Abstract

Motivation and purpose(s) of research: Global plastic pollution and the accumulation of petroleum-based plastics pose severe environmental threats. Concurrently, agricultural regions generate massive amounts of biomass waste from cotton farming, which is often burned, releasing greenhouse gases. The purpose of this research is to upcycle this local agricultural byproduct by extracting its cellulose to synthesize a biodegradable plastic alternative, promoting a sustainable circular economy. Research methods and results: Raw cotton waste was mechanically shredded and subjected to an alkaline treatment using NaOH to extract and purify cellulose fibers. This purified cellulose was then blended with varying concentrations of a glycerol plasticizer (10%, 20%, and 30% w/w) and cast into thin films. Mechanical testing revealed that the 20% glycerol formulation provided the optimal balance of physical properties, yielding a tensile strength of 15.2 MPa and an elongation at break of 34%. Furthermore, soil degradation tests demonstrated a 68% mass loss within 30 days, indicating rapid environmental breakdown. Conclusions and future plan: The study successfully proved that cotton agricultural waste is a viable and highly effective feedstock for bioplastic production. The resulting films offer competitive mechanical properties and excellent biodegradability. Future plans include optimizing the extraction yield to reduce chemical usage, testing the bioplastic's moisture barrier properties for commercial packaging applications, and exploring the scalability of the production process for regional implementation.