Biodegradable plastics from cellulose extracted from caulerpa lentilifera and sugarcane baggasse for a sustainable environment

The primary objective of this investigation is to explore the fabrication of bioplastic films utilizing corn starch as the foundational component, along with cellulose extracted from Caulerpa lentilifera, a form of marine algae and sugarcane bagasse (SCB). The extraction process incorporates the application of innovative techniques, notably alkali sonicator extraction (UAE), in alignment with contemporary developments in algae biotechnology. These bioplastic films are systematically produced with varying concentrations of cellulose originated from Caulerpa lentilifera and SCB,specifically at levels of 10%, 15%, and 20% (w/w), with a control sample devoid of cellulose extract. Interestingly, all cellulose-reinforced bioplastic films exhibited lower tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EAB) compared to the control sample. In Caulerpa lentilliferabased films, increasing cellulose concentration led to slight improvements in TS and EAB, whereas SCB-based films showed minimal changes across concentrations. These results suggest that the addition of extracted cellulose, despite increasing film thickness, did not enhance mechanical performance as expected, indicating that factors such as cellulose dispersion or matrix interaction may play a more dominant role. Evaluation through bacterial susceptibility tests reveals a conspicuous absence of inhibition zones, signifying the absence of antibacterial properties in the cellulose extracts from both seaweed and SCB. Finally, the biodegradation process for the biofilms showed rapid biodegradation, completing within two weeks under soil burial conditions. While the incorporation of cellulose did not enhance mechanical performance relative to the control, the use of marine algae and agricultural waste demonstrates a promising step toward the development of biodegradable materials from renewable sources.