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@article{193912,
        author = {M.S.Shilpa and Jyothi Chaitanya Pagadala and V.Rohini},
        title = {Development of Sugarcane Bagasse-Based Biodegradable Sanitary Pads for Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene Management},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {10},
        pages = {1196-1204},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=193912},
        abstract = {Menstruation is a natural physiological process that begins at puberty and requires access to safe and hygienic menstrual products. However, most commercial sanitary pads contain large amounts of non-biodegradable plastics and synthetic polymers, creating substantial environmental challenges. Green biotechnology offers promising solutions through the development of sustainable, bio-based alternatives derived from renewable resources. In this study we represents a biotechnological approach to producing biodegradable sanitary pads using sugarcane bagasse waste an abundant lignocellulosic by-product of the sugar industry. We report a simple approach for developing biodegradable menstrual hygiene pads, which converting agricultural waste into a functional absorbent biomaterial through eco-friendly processing. In this study we standardized a simple protocol for biopads using Bagasse fibers were extracted, purified, and mechanically refined to enhance porosity and fluid retention. In addition natural bio-derived materials including cotton, gelatin, muslin cloth and biodegradable bioplastics were incorporated to improve absorption efficiency, antimicrobial potential, comfort, and structural integrity. Further the prototype pads were evaluated for absorbency, retention capacity, pH neutrality, comfort, thickness, and biodegradability. The preliminary results demonstrate that sugarcane bagasse-based pads achieve competitive absorbency while decomposing significantly faster than commercial pads. The findings of our study emphasize that lignocellulosic biomass can be effectively transformed into value-added bioproducts through simple, scalable processing techniques. Therefore our work underscores the potential of biotechnology in waste valorization, offering an environmentally responsible, low cost alternative to synthetic menstrual products. The study supports the feasibility of large-scale production of biodegradable sanitary pads, contributing to sustainable menstrual health management, reduced plastic pollution, and enhanced circular bio economy practices.},
        keywords = {Bio-based materials, Biodegradable sanitary pads, Menstrual hygiene Sugarcane bagasse, Sustainable biotechnology, Waste valorization.},
        month = {March},
        }