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Impact of Steam-Exploded Feather Incorporation on the Biodegradation Performance of Renewable Biocomposites
Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Spain.
Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Spain.
Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Spain; University of the Basque Country, Spain.
Normec OWS, Belgium.
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2025 (English)In: Polymers, E-ISSN 2073-4360, Vol. 17, no 7, article id 910Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The increasing environmental concerns regarding plastic waste, especially in agriculture, have driven the search for sustainable alternatives. Agricultural plastics, such as mulching films and greenhouse covers, are heavily reliant on petrochemical-derived materials, which persist in the environment and contribute to long-term pollution. This study explores the use of biodegradable biocomposites made from steam explosion-treated chicken feathers and various polymer matrices to address these issues. Chicken feathers, a waste by-product of the poultry industry, present an excellent biodegradability as a result of the steam explosion treatment and contain nitrogen, potentially enhancing soil fertility. The biocomposites were characterized by thermal stability, mechanical properties, and biodegradability, and ecotoxicity assessments were carried out studying the incorporation of feathers into the soil. Results showed that the incorporation of treated chicken feathers increased the water absorption capacity of the composites, promoting faster disintegration and biodegradation. In particular, biocomposites made with polyhydroxyalkanoates and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) exhibited a significant increase in degradation rates, from 3–10% in the first month for pure matrices to 40–50% when reinforced with treated feathers. Meanwhile, those made from polylactic acid showed slower degradation. Furthermore, the addition of feathers positively influenced crop growth at low concentrations, acting as a slow-release fertilizer. However, high concentrations of feathers negatively affect plant growth due to excess nitrogen. These findings highlight the potential of poultry feathers as a valuable, sustainable filler for agricultural bioplastics, contributing to waste valorization and environmentally friendly farming practices. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) , 2025. Vol. 17, no 7, article id 910
Keywords [en]
Effluent treatment; Nitrogen fertilizers; Plastic films; Reinforced plastics; Agricultural bioplastic; Agricultural plastics; Bio-plastics; Biocomposite; Biodegradation performance; Chicken feathers; Environmental concerns; Film cover; Plastics waste; Renewables; Disintegration
National Category
Chemical Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-78353DOI: 10.3390/polym17070910Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105002556965OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ri-78353DiVA, id: diva2:1999842
Note

 This project has received funding from the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101023306. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the Bio-based Industries Consortium

Available from: 2025-09-22 Created: 2025-09-22 Last updated: 2026-01-22Bibliographically approved

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Almqvist, Jonna

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