Saini Rahul, Kaur Guneet, Brar Satinder Kaur
Department of Civil Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Mycology. 2023 Nov 15;15(4):683-689. doi: 10.1080/21501203.2023.2278308. eCollection 2024.
The research on mycelium-based biocomposites is increasing exponentially, due to their ability to be produced from renewable and sustainable substrates. In this sense, the present investigation explores the ability of to grow on textile residues and form mycelium-based biocomposites. The mycelium was able to grow on four types of textile residues including white and coloured cotton and polyester mixtures and acted as a binder between the textile fibres. The growth of fungal mycelium was assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to detect the presence of amides and polysaccharides arising from fungal mycelium and scanning electron microscopy, dry weight and water activity. The compressive strength of textile residue-based biocomposite was also measured and it was found to be between 100 and 270 kPa. Overall, a lightweight biocomposite was obtained which could be a potential alternative for polystyrene-based products. These findings show the ability of the fungus to thrive on polyester plastic in textiles and provide an alternative for converting this plastic material into bio-based materials. Additionally, by varying the mycelium growth, the plasticiser and stiffness properties of the resultant biocomposite can be changed. This research paves the way for the efficient conversion of textile waste into biocomposites as alternatives for plastic packaging products.
基于菌丝体的生物复合材料的研究正在呈指数级增长，这是因为它们能够由可再生和可持续的底物生产出来。从这个意义上讲，本研究探索了在纺织废料上生长并形成基于菌丝体的生物复合材料的能力。菌丝体能够在包括白色和彩色棉与聚酯混合物在内的四种纺织废料上生长，并充当纺织纤维之间的粘合剂。使用傅里叶变换红外光谱法检测真菌菌丝体产生的酰胺和多糖的存在，以及扫描电子显微镜、干重和水分活度来评估真菌菌丝体的生长。还测量了基于纺织废料的生物复合材料的抗压强度，发现其在100至270 kPa之间。总体而言，获得了一种轻质生物复合材料，它可能是聚苯乙烯基产品的潜在替代品。这些发现表明真菌在纺织品中的聚酯塑料上茁壮成长的能力，并为将这种塑料材料转化为生物基材料提供了一种替代方案。此外，通过改变菌丝体的生长，可以改变所得生物复合材料的增塑剂和硬度特性。这项研究为将纺织废料高效转化为生物复合材料以替代塑料包装产品铺平了道路。
