Physical and chemical properties of biobased plastic resins containing chicken feather fibers

Abstract

This study was conducted to (a) characterize bio-plastic pellets containing feather fibers by low temperaturescanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM) and X-Ray diffraction analysis, (b) evaluate growth and flowering of Begonia boliviensis A. DC. 'Bonfire' when grown in a medium amended with pellets, and (c) analyze macro-and micro-elements in the medium and plant tissues of begonia. Based on physical and chemical analyses of six types of pellets mixed in the medium, pellets 32 (P 32), 37 (P 37), 40 (P 40), and P NaS (P NaS), P NaS containing sodium sulfite and > 30% glycerol were not suitable and not recommended for future evaluations. Pellets containing glycerol at 10% were not suitable for the use as an ingredient for commercial growing media and P 45 is considered suitable pellets to prepare pots.Additional key words: growth and flowering, low temperature-scanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM), poultry feather, soil and foliar analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis Hort. Environ. Biotechnol. 53(1):72-80. 2012.

The effect of biobased plastic resins containing chicken feather fibers on the growth and flowering of Begonia boliviensis

“…Begonia boliviensis 'Bonfire' (Gro-N-Sell Inc., Chalfont, PA, USA) stock plants were grown in as described (Roh et al, 2012). Rooted cuttings planted in 10 cm plastic pots were used in the following growth and flowering experiments.…”

“…Cuttings with two lateral shoots visible at the bottom of shoots were selected and rooted under a mist then transplanted individually on June 7, 2010 into pots mixed with six pellets: pellet 29 (P 29), P 32, P 37, P 40, P 45, or P NaS (Roh et al, 2012). Each medium contained 0, 3, 6, or 9 grams of pellets mixed in 95 grams of soilless medium as described (Roh et al, 2012) and was then placed in plastic pots.…”

“…Each medium contained 0, 3, 6, or 9 grams of pellets mixed in 95 grams of soilless medium as described (Roh et al, 2012) and was then placed in plastic pots. At planting, 0.8 grams of controlled release fertilizer (14N-6P-11.3K) was mixed with the medium.…”

“…Pellets containing glycerol at 10% were not suitable for use as an ingredient for commercial growing media. Based on this study, glycerol even at 10% is considered not suitable to use as an ingredient to process pellets and the use of P 45 is the best source of pellets (Roh et al, 2012). However, there is no report on how pellets may affect the chemical properties of the medium and plant growth and development.…”

Biodegradable Polymer Composites with Nitrogen- and Phosphorus-Containing Waste Materials as the Fillers/Biodegradowalne Kompozyty Polimerowe Wypełnione Odpadami Zawierającymi Azot I Fosfor

“…Organic waste materials can be used for the preparation of cheap, biodegradable films and granules, which decompose in the soil into useful nutrients. Roh et al reported on application plastic pellets containing feather fibers for the enhancement of growth and flowering of Begonia [18]. Starch, soy protein, polylactic acid, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are usually used as the binders in composites while vegetal wastes such as banana fiber, palm leaf, peanut husks, sago pith or agro-industrial waste such as lignocellulosic fibers, by-products, derived from sugar cane, apple and orange fruit juice extraction wastes are used as the fillers [19][20][21][22][23][24].…”