Biomass-based Bioplastic and Films: Preparation, Characterization and Application

This book provides a platform for researchers, engineers, and manufacturers to conceptualize green ideas for sustainably developing plastics and films from biomass and agricultural waste. The upscaling of sustainable bioplastic production is essential for the economic growth of industries and local communities as a means to tackle waste management issues. Therefore, this book acts as a guide to characterize various methodologies and applications for producing usable bioplastic products that will lift the burden imposed by excessive industrial waste pollution. This framework will not only contribute to support the health and management of local communities impacted by waste pollution, but will also support businesses economically through efficient and sustainable recycling practices. This work will inform readers in academia, business, and government sectors with the knowledge needed to control the waste generated from various sources and transfer them to valuable products.

Dr Oluwatoyin Joseph Gbadeyan

I am a scientific researcher with a career that spans more than a decade in material development, mechanical engineering, waste valorisation, tribology, circular economy, and additive manufacturing. I received academic training in Nigeria and South Africa (UKZN, CSIR, and DUT). My research primarily focuses on composite, biocomposite, nanocomposite, tribology, and valorising wastes, where various market-based products are produced from these feedstocks using robust and sustainable technologies. I have contributes to developing novel biorefinery-based technologies and synthetic black composite brake pads to revitalize South Africa's biomass and transportation industries. He also actively mentors postgraduate research students (BSc Hons, MSc & Ph.D.) recruited in these projects in collaboration with our South African universities.

I received several academic awards, the most notable being the Innovator of the Year 2022, a prize for producing a novel material for friction material (brake pad). I also contributed immensely to his field through peer-reviewed publications and mentorship of students. His research has been published in top-tier international journals (with 32 scientific articles and >20 articles as the first author and). I hold a Google Scholar H-index of 14 with > 370 Citations. In addition to these academic accolades, he has secured research grants from various funding sources/organizations, and these are collectively worth millions of Rands while at the DUT and CSIR.

Prof Nirmala Deenadayalu

Area of Expertise: Thermodynamics; Ionic Liquids, Biomass Processing Bio: I have 30 years academic experience as a Demonstrator, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate and Full Professor. The latter position I have held since Dec 2011. I have published 71 peer-reviewed journal articles. Together with my post graduate students the research group has presented 84 national and international conference poster or oral presentations. I have graduated 4 PhD and 18 Masters students and supervised 9 postdoctoral fellows. I’m currently supervising 4 PhD and 3 Masters students and a NRF C2 rated scientist. I have peer reviewed research papers for a number of international journals and examined a number of Masters and PhD thesis. I have visited the following international universities: Delhi University, India 2009; Warsaw University of Technology, Poland 2011; University of Campinas, Brazil 2012; Kurukshetra University, India 2014; Imperial College, UK 2016; Hamburg University of Technology, Germany 2016 and have numerous local and international collaborations. Most of the research funding (± R 6 million) that I have leveraged was from NRF and DUT. My research area is in thermodynamics, ionic liquids, biomass processing and biogas production. Currently biomass valorisation for sustainable development has attracted a number of postgraduate students.