Physico-mechanical and biodegradability study of Mimusops elengi seed shell powder filled PVOH films produced through membrane casting method

Abstract

The development of biobased-plastic through natural filler addition into polymers has been the best method to resolve numerous environmental problems caused by overconsumption and the increasing waste disposal of non-degradable plastic films. This article produced biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) films by adding Mimusops elengi seed shell powder (MESSP) as a filler. The membrane casting method was used to develop the films instead of using the commercially studied solution casting method to avoid inconsistency in the thickness of the casted films. Increasing the MESSP loading enhanced the tensile modulus, resistance towards water absorption, and biodegradability of the PVOH/MESSP films. However, the tensile strength and elongation at break were reduced compared with the unfilled PVOH film. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the reduction of intermolecular bonding between the MESSP and PVOH with increasing the MESSP loading, which is responsible for the reduction in tensile strength, deformability and water absorption of the films. After soil burial exposure, unfilled PVOH films experienced swelling due to water absorption, and there was no evidence of bio-degradation after 9 weeks of exposure. Meanwhile, the PVOH/ MESSP films were prone to microorganism activity and biodegradation can be seen as early as 3 weeks after exposure to soil.