@conference{
author = "Ivanovska, Aleksandra and Stojanović, Dušica and Barać, Nemanja and Dimić-Mišić, Katarina and Kostić, Mirjana and Radojević, Vesna and Uskoković, Petar and Janaćković, Đorđe and Barcelo, Ernesto and Gane, Patrick",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Biodegradable mulch films from cellulose (CELL), cellulose/polycaprolactone (CELL/PCL),
cellulose/polycaprolactone/keratin (CELL/PCL/KER) and cellulose/polycaprolactone/keratin/ground calcium carbonate (CELL/PCL/KER/GCC) were prepared using Ionic liquid as a green
solvent. Pure cellulose biopolymer is characterised by better mechanical properties (tensile
strength - force per unit cross-sectional area at breakage - of 75.3 MPa and modulus of elasticity
of 944.4 MPa) than the other studied samples which is attributed to the formation of partially
miscible polymer blends. Among samples containing PCL, CELL/PCL/KER/GCC has the highest
tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. The addition of KER or KER/GCC to CELL/PCL films
resulted in an increment in melting temperature and an improvement of sample crystallinity. The
light transmittance of all films was >60 %. The incorporation of KER enhanced the
biodegradability of the biocomposites, while KER/GCC addition slightly inhibited degradation
due to an increased hydrophobicity and crystallisation growth of semi-crystalline biopolymers.
The reported method for mulch film preparation is green and recyclable, and, when including a
readily available source of KER, such as by extraction from waste chicken feathers, enables
conversion to organic biofertiliser. The findings of this study contributed to sustainable agriculture
by providing nutrients that enhance the growth speed of the plant, and hence food production, and
reduce environmental pressure. Inclusion of GCC additionally provides not only Ca2+ for plant
consumption but also soil pH control.",
publisher = "Belgrade : Materials Research Society of Serbia",
journal = "Programme and The Book of Abstracts / Twenty-fourth Annual Conference YUCOMAT 2023, Herceg Novi, Montenegro, September 4 - 8, 2023",
title = "Biodegradable mulch films obtained from unique combinations of cellulose, polycaprolactone, keratin and calcium carbonate",
pages = "135",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_technorep_6820"
}