Biobased material based on agro-industrial by-products from Argentina and Pleurotus Ostreatus fungus mycelium. Applications in packaging and insulating panels

Abstract

The massive generation of plastic waste has become a major environmental problem. This is why alternatives are being sought that are more environmentally friendly and biodegradable. The production of biomaterials from fungi is a booming branch of research. According to several investigations, the mycelium, the vegetative apparatus of fungi, is a perfect substitute for plastic, and a construction and insulation material to use in the future. It is produced from agro-industrial waste, so we are seeking to develop the biomaterials with agro-industrial waste from the Argentine coast (peanut shells and hemp fiber) with good properties for the construction industry and natural cosmetic packaging.
The processing industries of raw materials of agricultural origin constitute the predominant economic activities of the Litoral region, made up of the provinces of Córdoba, Santa Fe and Entre Ríos. In it, the industrialization of peanuts, rice and wheat generate large volumes of production and consequently high volumes of waste, which implies a high availability of residual biomass. The objective of our work is to value through their use as main substrates for the biofabrication of materials.