Cellulose fibers production from agricultural waste and use as functional cellulose additive in polylactic acid bioplastic films

Filiz Boran; Nihal Güzel; Emel Tamahkar Irmak; Ömer Barışkan Yasan; Selin Karaca; Betül Türel Erbay

doi:10.38042/biotechstudies.1803284

Cellulose fibers production from agricultural waste and use as functional cellulose additive in polylactic acid bioplastic films

Abstract

This study explores a sustainable method for bioplastic production using agricultural waste. Polylactic acid (PLA)-based films were developed by incorporating cellulose extracted from rice husks (RH) and sunflower stalks (SS). The cellulose extraction process achieved an average efficiency of 85% based on total agricultural waste mass. Chemical structures of PLA and composite films were examined using FTIR spectroscopy. All films were flexible and transparent, with pure PLA films exhibiting higher transparency. Such properties make PLA films ideal for packaging, biomedical, and electronic applications due to their lightweight and adaptable nature. Films containing SS-derived cellulose showed slightly greater thickness (0.197–0.232 mm) compared to those with RH cellulose. FTIR analysis revealed interactions between PLA and cellulose, indicated by reduced intensity of the –OH stretching band at 3338 cm⁻¹ and PLA characteristic peaks at 1452, 1748, and 1181 cm⁻¹. These changes suggest hydrogen bonding and limited polymer chain mobility due to conformational adjustments. The spectra of composite films resembled those of PLA and cellulose, confirming enhanced crystallinity and molecular interactions. This is the first comparative study using cellulose from both RH and SS in PLA-based bioplastics, demonstrating their combined potential as sustainable reinforcements for biodegradable materials.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This study was financially supported by Presidency of Turkey, Presidency of Strategy and Budget coordinated by Council of Higher Education and organized by The Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Hitit University

Project Number

Project Number: MUH19011.21.001

Thanks

The authors thank to HUBTUAM (Hitit University Scientific and Technology, Aplication and Research Center) and R&D Center of Elif Plastik Ambalaj Sanayi ve Tic. A.Ş.-Huhtamaki Flexibles İstanbul for technical support.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Bioprocessing, Bioproduction and Bioproducts

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Filiz Boran ^*
0000-0002-4315-9949
Türkiye

Nihal Güzel
0000-0002-2387-9009
Türkiye

Emel Tamahkar Irmak
0000-0002-5913-8333
Türkiye

Ömer Barışkan Yasan
0000-0002-5344-1198
Türkiye

Selin Karaca
0000-0003-3987-535X
Türkiye

Betül Türel Erbay
0009-0008-2688-797X
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

October 14, 2025

Publication Date

March 5, 2026

Submission Date

March 11, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 17, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 35

DOI

https://doi.org/10.38042/biotechstudies.1803284

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA37GX39HR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Boran, F., Güzel, N., Tamahkar Irmak, E., Yasan, Ö. B., Karaca, S., & Türel Erbay, B. (2026). Cellulose fibers production from agricultural waste and use as functional cellulose additive in polylactic acid bioplastic films. Biotech Studies, 35, 1803284. https://doi.org/10.38042/biotechstudies.1803284

AMA

1.Boran F, Güzel N, Tamahkar Irmak E, Yasan ÖB, Karaca S, Türel Erbay B. Cellulose fibers production from agricultural waste and use as functional cellulose additive in polylactic acid bioplastic films. Biotech Studies. 2026;(35):1803284. doi:10.38042/biotechstudies.1803284

Chicago

Boran, Filiz, Nihal Güzel, Emel Tamahkar Irmak, Ömer Barışkan Yasan, Selin Karaca, and Betül Türel Erbay. 2026. “Cellulose Fibers Production from Agricultural Waste and Use As Functional Cellulose Additive in Polylactic Acid Bioplastic Films”. Biotech Studies, nos. 35: 1803284. https://doi.org/10.38042/biotechstudies.1803284.

EndNote

Boran F, Güzel N, Tamahkar Irmak E, Yasan ÖB, Karaca S, Türel Erbay B (March 1, 2026) Cellulose fibers production from agricultural waste and use as functional cellulose additive in polylactic acid bioplastic films. Biotech Studies 35 1803284.

IEEE

[1]F. Boran, N. Güzel, E. Tamahkar Irmak, Ö. B. Yasan, S. Karaca, and B. Türel Erbay, “Cellulose fibers production from agricultural waste and use as functional cellulose additive in polylactic acid bioplastic films”, Biotech Studies, no. 35, p. 1803284, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.38042/biotechstudies.1803284.

ISNAD

Boran, Filiz - Güzel, Nihal - Tamahkar Irmak, Emel - Yasan, Ömer Barışkan - Karaca, Selin - Türel Erbay, Betül. “Cellulose Fibers Production from Agricultural Waste and Use As Functional Cellulose Additive in Polylactic Acid Bioplastic Films”. Biotech Studies. 35 (March 1, 2026): 1803284. https://doi.org/10.38042/biotechstudies.1803284.

JAMA

1.Boran F, Güzel N, Tamahkar Irmak E, Yasan ÖB, Karaca S, Türel Erbay B. Cellulose fibers production from agricultural waste and use as functional cellulose additive in polylactic acid bioplastic films. Biotech Studies. 2026;:1803284.

MLA

Boran, Filiz, et al. “Cellulose Fibers Production from Agricultural Waste and Use As Functional Cellulose Additive in Polylactic Acid Bioplastic Films”. Biotech Studies, no. 35, Mar. 2026, p. 1803284, doi:10.38042/biotechstudies.1803284.

Vancouver

1.Filiz Boran, Nihal Güzel, Emel Tamahkar Irmak, Ömer Barışkan Yasan, Selin Karaca, Betül Türel Erbay. Cellulose fibers production from agricultural waste and use as functional cellulose additive in polylactic acid bioplastic films. Biotech Studies. 2026 Mar. 1;(35):1803284. doi:10.38042/biotechstudies.1803284