Plant Waste as Green Reinforcement for Polymer Composites: A Case Study of Pteris Vittata Roots

Pteris vittata is a hyperaccumulator fern able to uptake arsenic by roots accumulating it in the fronds. Recent studies showed that can be used efficiently for arsenic-contaminated water treatment, paving way long-lasting decontamination strategies established on nature-based solutions. This raises issue of biomass disposal, which rather than being incinerated could represent valuable untapped source fibers sustainable and higher-value biocomposites. Here, waste were collected develop composites based high-density polyethylene. Composites with two amounts filler (10 wt.% 20 wt.%) added 5 maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene, manufactured tested terms mechanical thermal properties. Mechanical property analysis that, compared neat at content coupling agent displayed an increase around 54% tensile strength, 100% Young’s modulus, 46% flexural strength 45% modulus. These results demonstrate potential application composite materials production.