Banana Peel and Beyond: Transforming Agricultural Waste into Eco-Friendly, Biodegradable Plastics

Authors

  • Nageswara Rao Lakkimsetty

    Chemical Engineering, American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), Ras al Khaimah P.O. Box 10021, United Arab Emirates
  • Lakshmi Jayanthi Juturi

    Department of Chemical Engineering, RVR & JC College of Engineering (A), Chowdavaram, Guntur, AP, India
  • Amarender Reddy Kommula

    Department of Mathematics, Mazoon College, Muscat P.O. Box 101, Sultanate of Oman
  • Clement Varaprasad Karu

    Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sohar University, Sohar P.O. Box 44, Sultanate of Oman
  • Naladi Ram Babu

    Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Aditya University, Surampalem, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh 533437, India
  • Dadapeer Doddamani

    Mechanical and Industrial Engineering section, Mechanical Engineering specialization, College of Engineering and Technology, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Muscat P.O. Box 74, Sultanate of Oman
  • G. Kavitha

    Department of Chemical Engineering, RVR & JC College of Engineering (A), Chowdavaram, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh 522019 , India
  • Rakesh Namdeti

    Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, University of Technology and Applied Sciences-Salalah, Salalah P.O. Box 608, Sultanate of Oman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i5.8588
Received: 28 January 2025 | Revised: 17 February 2025 | Accepted: 19 February 2025 | Published Online: 17 April 2025

Abstract

The management of agricultural wastes is essential for resource conservation and environmental sustainability. Due to escalating worries regarding plastic pollution and the surging expenses linked to petroleum-based plastics, there has been a notable transition towards the creation of biodegradable alternatives sourced from natural materials. Biofibres and bioplastics, especially those derived from agricultural waste, have garnered significant attention for their prospective uses in food packaging, biomedical sciences, and sustainable manufacturing. This study examines the viability of employing banana peel as a natural and environmentally sustainable raw material for the production of biodegradable bioplastic sheets. Due to its abundant polysaccharides and lignocellulosic fibers, banana peel presents advantageous structural and mechanical characteristics for bioplastic manufacturing. Experimental findings demonstrate that bioplastic derived from banana peels has enhanced biodegradability and environmental compatibility relative to traditional synthetic plastics, positioning it as a feasible alternative to mitigate the worldwide plastic waste epidemic. An optimal formulation was constructed using Design Expert software, comprising 55.38 g of banana peel, 27.63 g of fish scales, and 20 g of chitosan powder. This formulation improves the film’s tensile strength, flexibility, and degradation rate, ensuring its efficacy in industrial applications including food packaging and molding. The study’s results highlight the promise of bioplastics made from banana peels as an economical and sustainable alternative, decreasing dependence on petroleum-based plastics and alleviating environmental pollution.

Keywords:

Biodegradable Plastics Banana Peel; Fish Scale; Chitosan; Design Expert Software

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How to Cite

Nageswara Rao Lakkimsetty, Lakshmi Jayanthi Juturi, Amarender Reddy Kommula, Clement Varaprasad Karu, Naladi Ram Babu, Dadapeer Doddamani, G. Kavitha, & Namdeti, R. (2025). Banana Peel and Beyond: Transforming Agricultural Waste into Eco-Friendly, Biodegradable Plastics. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 7(5), 17–29. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i5.8588

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 5 (May 2025): In Progress

Article Type

Article

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Copyright © 2025 Nageswara Rao Lakkimsetty, Lakshmi Jayanthi Juturi, Amarender Reddy Kommula, Clement Varaprasad Karu, Naladi Ram Babu, Dadapeer Doddamani, G. Kavitha, Rakesh Namdeti

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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