IIT-Hyderabad transforms sewage sludge, eggshell waste into eco-friendly packaging film
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Hyderabad: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H) have developed a biodegradable nanocomposite film using sewage sludge and waste chicken eggshells, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based packaging materials for non-food applications.
The study, published in ScienceDirect's Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, was led by Debraj Bhattacharyya of IIT-H's department of civil engineering in collaboration with chemistry researchers. "We wanted to explore how urban and food industry waste could be transformed into value-added products," Bhattacharyya said. "Our work shows that even sewage sludge and eggshells, usually considered waste, can become key components of sustainable materials.
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The team extracted extracellular polymeric substances from centrifuged sewage sludge collected at the institute's sewage treatment plant and combined them with chitosan derived from shrimp shells. Calcium oxide nanoparticles were prepared from eggshell waste collected at the campus mess, and using a simple solution-casting method, the researchers fabricated films with varying concentrations of the sludge-derived polymer.
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The optimum formulation, containing 10% of the polymer, recorded a 16.2% increase in tensile strength and a 186% greater elongation at break compared to pure chitosan films. Water barrier performance improved by 79.9%, while water absorption resistance rose by 71.6%. The films also demonstrated improved thermal stability, opacity and UV-blocking ability.
Since the raw materials originate from sludge and eggshells, the researchers noted that the films are not intended for food packaging due to sensitivities attached to their source.
"They are better suited for wrapping flowers, protecting non-edible commercial goods or coating UV-sensitive products," Bhattacharyya explained. When discarded, the films degrade in soil and release calcium oxide, which can serve as a micronutrient for soil organisms.
Microscopic and structural analysis confirmed the uniform incorporation of calcium oxide into the polymer matrix, ensuring strong bonding between the components of the film. The researchers believe the finding could help convert urban and food industry waste into sustainable, biodegradable materials that align with circular economy principles. However, they acknowledged the method needs improvement in terms of extraction efficiency, scalability and long-term stability before it can be adopted for large-scale use.
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