POS9-0052
Upcycling Banana Pseudostem Residues into Sustainable PBAT Biocomposites: A Circular Material Approach
Topic
S9. Polymer Technology for Sustainability
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Jinkee HONG
Ki Su KIM
Presenter(s)
chen ming te (National Chung Hsing University,Doctoral Program in Biological and Sustainable Technology (DPBST))
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
This study explores the feasibility of upcycling banana pseudostem fibers into sustainable biocomposites through a circular material approach. Taiwan produces over one million metric tons of banana pseudostem residues annually, much of which remains underutilized. At the same time, conventional high-density polyethylene (HDPE) agricultural products, such as nursery pots and agricultural films, face increasing environmental concerns due to recycling difficulties, persistent plastic residues, and microplastic pollution. To address these challenges, banana pseudostem fibers with high holocellulose content of 74.1% were extracted and incorporated as reinforcing fillers into poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), a biodegradable polymer matrix. The effects of fiber loading from 10 to 40 wt% on thermal properties, mechanical performance, and practical processability were systematically evaluated.
Among the prepared formulations, the biocomposite containing 20 wt% banana fiber, designated PB20, showed the most balanced performance for agricultural product applications. The melt flow behavior of PB20 was comparable to that of conventional blow-molding grade high-density polyethylene, suggesting its potential compatibility with existing hollow blow-molding equipment. Mechanically, PB20 exhibited a tensile strength of 14.5 MPa and an elongation at break of 120.9%, indicating a favorable balance between stiffness, toughness, and handling durability. Thermal and spectroscopic analyses further confirmed that banana fiber incorporation promoted heterogeneous nucleation during processing while maintaining the thermal stability of the PBAT matrix at approximately 400 °C, without obvious chemical degradation.
For practical agricultural use, nursery pots fabricated from PB20 offer the potential advantage of direct transplantation without removing the pot, thereby reducing root damage and labor requirements. After use, the biodegradable matrix and plant-derived fibers may contribute to soil return pathways, while inherent mineral elements such as potassium and calcium from banana fibers could provide additional resource value. A preliminary life cycle carbon footprint assessment indicated that, compared with conventional high-density polyethylene pots, the PBAT/banana fiber biocomposite reduced carbon emissions by approximately 0.54 kg CO₂e per kilogram of product, corresponding to an estimated reduction of about 10%. Overall, this study demonstrates that banana pseudostem residues can be converted into renewable fillers for biodegradable polymer composites with suitable processability, mechanical performance, and carbon reduction potential. The proposed approach provides a practical pathway for agricultural residue valorization, plastic source reduction, and the development of sustainable materials for resilient agricultural systems.
Among the prepared formulations, the biocomposite containing 20 wt% banana fiber, designated PB20, showed the most balanced performance for agricultural product applications. The melt flow behavior of PB20 was comparable to that of conventional blow-molding grade high-density polyethylene, suggesting its potential compatibility with existing hollow blow-molding equipment. Mechanically, PB20 exhibited a tensile strength of 14.5 MPa and an elongation at break of 120.9%, indicating a favorable balance between stiffness, toughness, and handling durability. Thermal and spectroscopic analyses further confirmed that banana fiber incorporation promoted heterogeneous nucleation during processing while maintaining the thermal stability of the PBAT matrix at approximately 400 °C, without obvious chemical degradation.
For practical agricultural use, nursery pots fabricated from PB20 offer the potential advantage of direct transplantation without removing the pot, thereby reducing root damage and labor requirements. After use, the biodegradable matrix and plant-derived fibers may contribute to soil return pathways, while inherent mineral elements such as potassium and calcium from banana fibers could provide additional resource value. A preliminary life cycle carbon footprint assessment indicated that, compared with conventional high-density polyethylene pots, the PBAT/banana fiber biocomposite reduced carbon emissions by approximately 0.54 kg CO₂e per kilogram of product, corresponding to an estimated reduction of about 10%. Overall, this study demonstrates that banana pseudostem residues can be converted into renewable fillers for biodegradable polymer composites with suitable processability, mechanical performance, and carbon reduction potential. The proposed approach provides a practical pathway for agricultural residue valorization, plastic source reduction, and the development of sustainable materials for resilient agricultural systems.
