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@article{190544,
        author = {Jeba Mettilda J and Priya R Iyer},
        title = {DEGRADABLE CUTLERY USING RENEWABLE RESOURCES: AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE FOR PLASTIC},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {3263-3273},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=190544},
        abstract = {Plastic waste from single-use cutlery is a major environmental concern due to its persistence and ecological hazards. This study reports the development of biodegradable cutlery from agricultural waste groundnut shell, corn husk, watermelon rind, orange peel, lemon peel, and flaxseed using natural binders. Raw materials were dried, powdered, and subjected to aqueous and ethanolic extraction for phytochemical analysis, confirming the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and glycosides. Cutlery was molded, baked, and characterized through FTIR, SEM, tensile, hardness, moisture, and water absorption tests. FTIR confirmed lignocellulosic and bioactive functional groups, while SEM showed uniform fiber distribution. Biodegradability was evaluated through soil burial, followed by microbial isolation and identification of degrading species.
Functional analysis revealed antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, strong antioxidant capacity, and anti-inflammatory effects. The developed cutlery exhibited good mechanical strength, effective biodegradation, and functional bioactivity, highlighting its potential as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic utensils and promoting agricultural waste valorization.},
        keywords = {},
        month = {January},
        }