Investigations into the Development of a Mycelium Biocomposite to Substitute Polystyrene in Packaging Applications

摘要

Expanded polystyrene is a versatile synthetic polymer that has a remarkable presence in packaging applications. It is alsonon-biodegradable in nature which makes them one of the worst solid pollutants that affect the environment. This paperfocuses on the possibility of developing an eco-friendly packaging material with mycelium as a binder in a sawdust matrix,and to study the extent up to which these composites are reliable in substituting polystyrene for sustainable packagingapplications. The combustion test using a respirable dust sampler has revealed the number of toxic combustion productsliberated while burning expanded polystyrene samples. Mycelium fibres were grown from oyster mushrooms, and the analysisof scanning electron microscope images has ensured the growth of mycelium without contamination. Characterizationof the newly developed mycelium composite material was done using various techniques, and the results were comparedagainst those of polystyrene. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to determine the composition andmorphology, whereas the thermal behaviour was analysed through tests such as thermogravimetric analysis and differentialscanning calorimetry. An X-ray diffraction test was also conducted to identify the compounds present in the samples. Theinvestigation shed light upon the possibility of using the newly developed mycelium bio-composite material to substitutepolystyrene as a packaging material.