Durian skin biocomposite for take-out containers and 3D printing

• Main Author: Anuar, Hazleen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Asia Research News 2020
• Subjects: TP368 Food processing and manufacture; TS Manufactures; TS195 Packaging
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/85297/1/85297_Durian%20skin%20biocomposite.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/85297/; https://www.asiaresearchnews.com/content/durian-skin-biocomposite-take-out-containers-and-3d-printing
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

The new development is in line with the “New Plastics Economy” where this alternative sustainable material supports the circular economy, eliminates waste, maximises value and uses plastic efficiently. Durian is a fruit commonly found throughout Southeast Asia with very thick and pulpy exterior. IIUM researcher Hazleen Anuar and her colleagues mixed durian skin fibres with epoxidized palm oil transforming it into biodegradable polymer which can be moulded into common food packaging containers. After three months buried in soil, about 83% of the packaging had degraded, offering a significant improvement over other plastics that take hundreds of years to break down in landfills. There is dual application for this plastic, one for food packaging and the other is for 3D printing filament. 3D printing uses material layer-by-layer to build objects. Currently, a wide range of materials are used in 3D printing, and the biomass is suitable for making various products.