Strong, Biodegradable Lignocellulosic Films as Potential Bioplastics

Zhang, Zhenzhen; Duan, Ziyu; Wang, Juan; Jiang, Jungang; Wei, Zhishun; Wu, Silong; Albina, Jan-Michael

doi:10.3390/polym18111359

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Strong, Biodegradable Lignocellulosic Films as Potential Bioplastics

by

Zhenzhen Zhang

¹,

Ziyu Duan

²,

Juan Wang

^1,*

,

Jungang Jiang

¹

,

Zhishun Wei

¹

,

Silong Wu

¹ and

Jan-Michael Albina

^1,*

¹

Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry and New Materials and Green Manufacturing Talent Introduction and Innovation Demonstration Base, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China

²

Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Electronic Materials, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Polymers 2026, 18(11), 1359; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18111359

Submission received: 20 April 2026 / Revised: 15 May 2026 / Accepted: 21 May 2026 / Published: 29 May 2026

(This article belongs to the Topic Advanced Composites Manufacturing and Plastics Processing, 2nd Volume)

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Abstract

Lignocellulosic films (LCFs) derived from biomass have attracted increasing attention owing to their abundant availability, recyclability, and biodegradability, making them promising candidates for replacing non-biodegradable plastics. Notably, the mechanical properties and wet stability of these materials play a crucial role in their practical applications. In this paper, we employ an eco-friendly and straightforward approach to synthesizing high-strength LCF by mixing nanocellulose with lignin. The incorporation of lignin enhances the mechanical strength for LCF, achieving a yield strength of 157.12 MPa at a lignin content of 15 wt% while simultaneously imparting excellent water absorption properties. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and contact angle measurements confirmed the structural integrity and hydrophilicity of the composite films. Excessive lignin content led to reduced mechanical performance, emphasizing the importance of optimizing the lignin-to-cellulose ratio. Therefore, this paper demonstrates the significant potential of LCF in developing environmentally friendly materials for applications in water treatment, packaging, flexible electronics, energy storage, and agriculture.

Keywords: lignocellulosic films; nanocellulose; mechanical properties; biodegradable; sustainability

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, Z.; Duan, Z.; Wang, J.; Jiang, J.; Wei, Z.; Wu, S.; Albina, J.-M. Strong, Biodegradable Lignocellulosic Films as Potential Bioplastics. Polymers 2026, 18, 1359. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18111359

AMA Style

Zhang Z, Duan Z, Wang J, Jiang J, Wei Z, Wu S, Albina J-M. Strong, Biodegradable Lignocellulosic Films as Potential Bioplastics. Polymers. 2026; 18(11):1359. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18111359

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Zhenzhen, Ziyu Duan, Juan Wang, Jungang Jiang, Zhishun Wei, Silong Wu, and Jan-Michael Albina. 2026. "Strong, Biodegradable Lignocellulosic Films as Potential Bioplastics" Polymers 18, no. 11: 1359. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18111359

APA Style

Zhang, Z., Duan, Z., Wang, J., Jiang, J., Wei, Z., Wu, S., & Albina, J.-M. (2026). Strong, Biodegradable Lignocellulosic Films as Potential Bioplastics. Polymers, 18(11), 1359. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18111359

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Strong, Biodegradable Lignocellulosic Films as Potential Bioplastics

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