Towards a circular economy: valorization of banana peels by developing bio-composites thermal insulators

Abstract

The building construction materials are responsible for a large amount of energy and natural resource consumption. In light of the current challenges of resource scarcity and global climate change, the circular economy (CE) is a promising strategy to mitigate pressure on the environment, improve supplying of raw materials, and increase new market and employment opportunities. Developing eco-friendly thermal insulation materials based on agro-waste is a new waste management trend to achieve the sustainability of the resource and energy consumption in the construction sectors. In this work, banana-polystyrene composites were prepared by mixing the banana peels powder (BP) with polystyrene (PS) in different weight ratios (90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40). The physical and thermal properties such as thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), crystallographic structures of the fibers, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were carried out on BP and BP-PS1 that were prepared with ten wt.% and 20 wt.% of polystyrene powder (BP-PS2). The bio-composites results showed low thermal conductivity ranging from 0.028 to 0.030 W/m.K. The BP-PS2 exhibited a lower thermal conductivity of 0.027 W/m.K, while the pure peel powder demonstrated notable thermal stability, indicated by a total weight loss of 66.4% and a high crystallinity value of 56.1%. Furthermore, the thermal analysis (TGA) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that the pure banana peel has the highest thermal stability and crystallinity. These findings indicate that using banana peel-polystyrene composites represents an innovative solution for thermal insulation in buildings as an alternative to conventional materials to reduce energy and resource consumption.

Date pomace polysaccharide: ultrasonic-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction, physicochemical properties, biological activities, gut microbiota modulation, and rheological properties

“…Dates, being repositories of vital nutrients, are a staple component within the dietary frameworks prevalent in MENA regions [1]. The agricultural and food industries contribute to significant by-product generation; nonetheless, these by-products present opportunities for resource recovery, promoting sustainability and the adoption of circular economies [2]. The processing of date fruits results in various by-products, such as date seeds, pomace, and substandard fruits, all rich in bioactive constituents.…”

Chemical Activation of Banana Peel Waste-Derived Biochar Using KOH and Urea for CO2 Capture

“…Banana peel waste is part of the solid waste generated during the processing of this fruit and is mainly produced in homes, restaurants, and food outlets. Unfortunately, this waste does not provide any economic advantages and, instead, is a pollution source, leading to environmental issues, which makes this biomass troublesome in terms of disposal and storage [7]. The application of banana peels as a precursor to production activated carbons allows the use of raw materials that have not been used before and represents a new way of utilizing these wastes.…”