Development of Eco-Friendly Composites Using Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and Diss Fibers (Ampelodesmos Mauritanicus)

Abstract

In response to the growing environmental threats and pollution linked to synthetic plastics, current scientific inquiry is prioritizing the advancement of biodegradable materials. In this context, this study investigates the possibility of developing fully biodegradable materials using plant fibers extracted from the Diss plant (Ampelodesmos mauritanicus) as reinforcement in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)-based biocomposites. The biocomposites were prepared by melt blending in the following weight ratio: PHBV/Diss fibers 80/20. The chemical structure of Diss fibers was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). The impact of Diss fibers on the mechanical properties of biocomposites has also been investigated in comparison to neat PHBV. FTIR and XRF analyses identified cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin as the main components of Diss fibers. On the other hand, the results showed a significant enhancement of Young’s modulus (~21%) of PHBV/DF biocomposites in comparison to neat PHBV due to a better dispersion of the fibers in the matrix, as confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) images.

Keywords

PHBV / Diss fibers / Biocomposites / Biodegradable materials

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Direction Générale de la Recherche Scientifique et du Développement Technologique (DGRSDT) and the Center for Scientific and Technical Research in Physicochemical Analysis (C.R.A.P.C), for their help in carrying out the various types of characterization. Also, the authors would like to thank Abdelhakim Benmekideche, Moncef Khitas, Boudjemaa Bensaadallah, Alane Arezki, Katia Aloui, Bénédicte Balcon, Anthony Magueresse and Hervé Bellegou for their assistance in the experimental work.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, B.R.; Methodology, B.R.; Software, B.R.; Validation, B.R., I.Z., M.K. and S.B.; Formal Analysis, B.R., K.Y. and A.K.; Investigation, B.R., I.Z., M.K. and S.B.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, B.R.; Writing—Review & Editing, I.Z., M.K. and S.B.; Visualization, B.R.; Supervision, I.Z., L.Z., K.Y., M.K., A.K. and S.B.

Ethics Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article.

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