Rice straw nanocrystalline cellulose as a high-value reinforcement for fungal biomass/starch biocomposites: Structural, thermal, and barrier property enhancement
This study investigates the potential of Agaricus bisporus hortensis fungal biomass as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. This biomass is a renewable, rapidly growing resource with promising applicability as a structural material and source of bioactive compounds, containing appr...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:digitalcsic_::dc65dc1071bb5f0064ccc0241225275d |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/430780 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Fungal biomass Agaricus bisporus Rice straw Starch Valorization Composite biomass rice straw starch |
| Sumario: | This study investigates the potential of Agaricus bisporus hortensis fungal biomass as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. This biomass is a renewable, rapidly growing resource with promising applicability as a structural material and source of bioactive compounds, containing approximately 50.23% of carbohydrates and 29.57% of protein. Although direct processing of fungal biomass can be challenging, its performance is substantially enhanced through formulation into composite materials with starch and nanocrystalline cellulose. Accordingly, novel composites were developed using A. bisporus biomass, starch, and rice-straw nanocrystalline cellulose (RSNC), establishing a valorization strategy for agricultural residues. RSNC incorporation significantly improved mechanical performance of the composites without inducing detectable changes in visual appearance or colorimetric properties. A strong stiffening effect was observed, with the Young's Modulus increasing from 139.45 MPa in the control to 1239.60 MPa at 10% RSNC, achieving values comparable to polypropylene. Furthermore, 5% RSNC reduced water vapor permeability by 47% and significantly increased the water contact angle, indicating improved hydrophobicity. The enhancements were attributed to strong physical interactions and hydrogen bonding between the RSNC and the biopolymeric matrix. X-ray diffraction revealed a significant crystalline index increase at 10% RSNC, associated with the formation of an interconnected nanocellulose network. Processing at 130 °C also imparted distinctive toasted, cocoa-like aromatic notes, attributed to pyrazines formation. The work introduces a previously unexplored approach by incorporating RSNC into fungal biomass-starch matrix. The solvent-free and industrially scalable processing method demonstrates compatibility with conventional thermoplastic equipment, advancing fungal-based composites toward practical applications in sustainable packaging. |
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