Complete conversion of xylose-extracted corncob residues to bioplastic in a green and low carbon footprint way

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass is a favorable resource for the production of plastics, which are traditionally based on fossil fuels. However, the production of bioplastics from woody biomass usually requires the fractionation of the main components, namely cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which increases the economic cost and environmental impact, and most bioplastics have poor water stability and mechanical properties, which seriously hinder the practical application. Herein, a simple method for the production of bioplastics was developed that avoids the fractionation of lignin from cellulose and produces bioplastics with good properties. Specifically, corn cob residues after xylose extraction, as a by-product of the existing xylose industry, were dissolved in a metal salt solution (ZnCl2/CaCl2 system) to produce high-performance bioplastics. The resulting lignocellulosic bioplastic is biodegradable, recyclable, water stable (No decomposition within two months), and most importantly, offers exceptional mechanical properties (136 MPa) and lower environmental impact compared to conventional plastics. Overall, this environmentally friendly lignocellulosic bioplastic demonstrated in our study could be a promising substitute for petrochemical plastics.