Yeon Ju Lee, Ga Young Kim, Hye Jee Kang, Sri Suhartini, Nur Istianah, Young Lok Cha, Dong Seong Kim, Saroat Rawdkuen, Young Hoon Jung
Upcycling food byproducts into functional and sustainable biodegradable materials has emerged as a promising strategy to alleviate environmental impacts of food byproducts. This study investigates nano-sized biofillers derived from coffee silver skin (SS) and sweet pumpkin peel (SP) to enhance functionality of polylactic acid (PLA) films. SS and SP underwent mild chemical pretreatment and mechanical fibrillation, yielding nano-sized biofillers with comparable cellulose contents (∼28.0 %) but differing lignin levels (SS: 27.5 %, SP: 13.1 %). These biofillers were incorporated into PLA films at a low loading (1 phr) to examine their effects on composite performance. Characterization revealed that filler type significantly influenced PLA properties. Fracture surface images confirmed good dispersion without visible aggregation. SP-PLA exhibited enhanced viscoelastic behavior, while SS-PLA demonstrated greater surface hydrophobicity, suggesting improved moisture resistance. These findings highlight the influence of lignin modulation and fibrillation on biofillers performance in PLA and demonstrate the potential of upcycled food waste-derived biofillers as effective reinforcements for sustainable biopolymer applications. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea; Department of Agroindustrial Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Value Crop Research Institute, National Institute of Crop and Food Science, Rural Development Administration, Muan, 58545, South Korea; Unit of Innovative Food Packaging and Biomaterials, School of Agro-Industry, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand
