Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of biodegradable material. In particular, the present disclosure provides a biodegradable product. The present disclosure also provides a method of preparation of a biodegradable product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Plastic products, such as plates, offer convenience, but they come with significant disadvantages, especially regarding environmental and health impacts. Most plastic products are non-biodegradable and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, contributing to long-term pollution. Plastic waste, including disposable plates, often ends up in oceans and landfills, harming wildlife and ecosystems. Marine animals can ingest plastic, leading to injury or death. As plastic plates break down, they release microplastics into the environment, which contaminate soil and water and enter the food chain, posing risks to humans and animals. The production of plastic plates requires fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
[0004] Plastic products, especially when exposed to heat (e.g., from hot food or microwaving), can release harmful chemicals like BPA (Bisphenol A) and phthalates, which have been linked to hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues, and certain cancers. Many plastic plates contain additives such as dyes, plasticizers, and stabilizers, which may leach into food, especially acidic or hot foods, potentially causing health problems over time.
[0005] Many disposable plastic products are made from types of plastic that are difficult or economically unfeasible to recycle, contributing to waste accumulation in landfills. Plastic plates often become contaminated with food waste, making them less suitable for recycling.
[0006] Maheswari et al. [J Mater Cycles Waste Manag., 2021, 23, 2255-2265] discloses fabricating biodegradable plate (BD plate) composed of rice husk ash, bagasse and corn starch which is harmless to the environment. Mechanical properties such as compressive strength, moisture absorption, solubility and infiltration time were examined in fabricated BD plate. Box–Behnken Design (BBD) and ANOVA analysis are employed to optimize the operating parameters includes raw material mix ratio, temperature on the die, pressure during the mixing process and time. Input factors such as temperature varies (80–100 ºC), pressure (1–3 bar), time (4–6 min) and Mix ratio (M1, M2 and M3) are coded into the BBD design.
[0007] Thus, there is need to develop an alternative of plastic product to overcome the long-term environmental, health, and economic disadvantages.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the method of the present disclosure is to provide a biodegradable product.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of preparation of a biodegradable product.
[00010] Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an environmentally friendly biodegradable plate.
[00011] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of preparation of biodegradable plate having high tensile strength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[00012] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in Detailed Description section. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[00013] Accordingly, in a general aspect, the present disclosure relates to the field of biodegradable material. In particular, the present disclosure provides a biodegradable product. The present disclosure also provides a method of preparation of a biodegradable product.
[00014] An aspect of the present disclosure provides a biodegradable product comprising: a moringa fiber waste material; and a binding agent.
[00015] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of preparation of a biodegradable product comprising: a) collecting a moringa fiber waste material; b) drying the moringa fiber waste material to obtain a dried moringa fiber waste material; c) grinding the dried moringa fiber waste material to obtain a finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder; d) mixing the finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder and the binding agent with water to obtain a mixture; and e) shaping the mixture by moulding it under condition to obtain a biodegradable product.
[00016] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[00017] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
[00018] FIG. 1 illustrates flow chart of the process.
[00019] FIG. 2 illustrates process flow of the product a) collection of drumstick waste, b) drying of moringa fibers, c) powdered fibers with binding agent, d) high pressure molding of the fibers.
[00020] FIG. 3 illustrates a) samples used for the water absorption test, b) immersion of samples in water.
[00021] FIG. 4 illustrates insights of the developed product.
[00022] FIG. 5 illustrates a) test results of run 1, b) test results of run 8.
[00023] FIG. 6 illustrates (a, b and c) 3D response plot for tensile strength.
[00024] FIG. 7 illustrates (a, b, and c) 3D response plot for water absorption.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00025] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more comprehensively with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of the ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[00026] Unless otherwise specified, all terms used in disclosing the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this invention belongs. By means of further guidance, term definitions may be included to better appreciate the teaching of the present invention.
[00027] As used in the description herein, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[00028] As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “include”, “includes”, and “including” are meant to be non-limiting, i.e., other steps and other ingredients which do not affect the end of result can be added. The above terms encompass the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.
[00029] As used herein, the terms “blend”, and “mixture” are all intended to be used interchangeably.
[00030] The terms “weight percent”, “vol-%”, “percent by weight”, “% by weight”, and variations thereof, as used herein, refer to the concentration of a substance as the weight of that substance divided by the total weight of the composition and multiplied by 100. It is understood that, as used here, “percent”, “%”, and the like are intended to be synonymous with “weight percent”, “vol-%”, etc.
[00031] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable.
[00032] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.
[00033] The headings and abstract of the invention provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the embodiments.
[00034] The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus, if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
[00035] The present disclosure relates to the field of biodegradable material. In particular, the present disclosure provides a biodegradable product. The present disclosure also provides a method of preparation of a biodegradable product.
[00036] The difference of the present disclosure from the prior art is that a mild acid treatment was applied to reduce stickiness in the reported prior arts. However, in the present invention, no such treatment is used; instead, the stickiness is preserved, as it enhances the product's structural integrity. Additionally, the previous invention involved bleaching to achieve a specific color, while the present invention retains the natural color. Moreover, unlike the prior method, which did not use pressure for shaping, the present invention employs a high-pressure mold to achieve the desired shape. However, the present invention did not use any synthetic chemicals to alter the nature of the raw material (moringa fibers). In the prior arts, moringa fiber was not the primary component. In contrast, the present invention uses moringa fiber as the major component, with a binding agent as the only other ingredient. The molding techniques of present invention is also differ.
[00037] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a biodegradable product comprising: a moringa fiber waste material; and a binding agent.
[00038] In an embodiment, the moringa fiber waste material is collected from farmers, moringa oil producers, households and caterers. In accordance with the present disclosure, the raw ingredients (drumsticks) were collected from moringa trees in and around Ettimadai village, Coimbatore. As a part of sustainable waste management. The drumstick utilised for this invention is the waste fibers obtained from the moringa trees, which are usually discarded as a landfill.
[00039] In an embodiment, the binding agent is selected from a group consisting of cellulose, cellulose acetate, chitin, glycerin, lignin, starch and combination thereof. Preferably, the binding agent is cellulose.
[00040] In an embodiment, the moringa fiber waste material and the binding agent are present in a ratio in the range of 4.5-5.5 : 1.5-2.5. Preferably, the moringa fiber waste material and the binding agent are present in a ratio of 5:2.
[00041] In an embodiment, the biodegradable product has tensile strength in the range of 0.25 to 0.30 MPa and water absorbance in the range of 150 to 160 %. Preferably, the tensile strength is 0.25 to 0.29 MPa or 0.25 to 0.28 MPa or 0.25 to 0.27 MPa or 0.25 to 0.26 MPa. Preferably, the water absorbance is 151 to 159 % or 152 to 158 % or 153 to 157 % or 154 to 156 % or 155 %.
[00042] Another embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a method of preparation of a biodegradable product comprising: a) collecting a moringa fiber waste material; b) drying the moringa fiber waste material to obtain a dried moringa fiber waste material; c) grinding the dried moringa fiber waste material to obtain a finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder; d) mixing the finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder and the binding agent with water to obtain a mixture; and e) shaping the mixture by moulding it under condition to obtain a biodegradable product. A flow chart of the method and step process are given in Figures 1 and 2.
[00043] In an embodiment, the moringa fiber waste material is dried in step b) at a temperature in the range of 50 to 80°C for a time period in the range of 10 to 15 days. Preferably, the temperature is in the range of 55 to 75 °C or 60 to 70 °C. More preferably the temperature is 65 °C. Preferably, the time period is 11 to 14 days, 12 to 13 days. More preferably, the time period is 12.5 days.
[00044] In an embodiment, the finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder of step c) has a particle size in the range of 1 to 10 mm. Preferably, the particle size is in the range of 1 to 5 mm. More preferably, the particle size is 2 mm.
[00045] In an embodiment, the finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder and the binding agent in a ratio in the range of 4.5-5.5:1.5-2.5 are mixed with 30 to 50 % w/v of water to obtain a mixture. Preferably, the finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder and the binding agent in a ratio of 5:2 are mixed with 40 % w/v of water to obtain a mixture.
[00046] In an embodiment, the moulding step e) is carried out at a high pressure in the range of 400 to 440 psi at a temperature in the range of 60 to 70 ºC. Preferably, the pressure is 420 psi, and the temperature is 65 ºC.
[00047] Sample used for the water absorption test are shown in Figure 3 (a) and immersion of samples in water are shown in Figure 3 (b). Insights of the developed product are shown in Figure 4.
[00048] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
EXAMPLES
[00049] The present invention is further explained in the form of the following examples. However, it is to be understood that the following examples are merely illustrative and are not to be taken as limitations upon the scope of the invention.
Example 1: Preparation of biodegradable plate
(A) Procurement of raw materials
[00050] Waste moringa fibers were sourced from diverse outlets, including farmers, moringa oil producers, households, and caterers, each contributing moringa parts with distinct characteristics. The farmers and households provided immature drumsticks along with dried drumsticks and pulp. Contrarily, the moringa oil producers supplied fiber devoid of pulp or seeds due to prior oil extraction, focusing solely on fiber availability.
(B) Processing of raw material
[00051] The subsequent phase was the processing of the product, which encompasses drying the harvested moringa and then grinding the dried moringa into a fine powder. The harvested moringa was dried using solar dryers, where it was cut into smaller pieces and evenly spread within the dryer to expedite the drying process. This drying method is essential for achieving a finely ground moringa powder.
(C) Manufacturing of moringa fiber plates
[00052] A 25 g of finely ground moringa was combined with 10 g of binding agent (cellulose) and 15 ml of water to make it slightly wet. This mixture is then shaped and given structural integrity by moulding it under high pressure of 420 psi at 65 ºC temperature, resulting in the formation of the plate. This trail was made as a preliminary step to develop the bio-degradable plate. Moreover, in pursuit of enhancing the quality of the developed plate, optimization was conducted concerning its physical parameters.
[00053] A trial was done without binding agent and it was noted that no structure was developed, rather the mixture remained in its powdered form and it was not possible to mold without the binding agent.
(D) Response Surface Methodology (RSM) Optimization
[00054] Box-Behnken Design (BBD), was utilized for the optimization process, for which Design Expert, Stat-Ease 360 Software version 2023 was used. The product was formulated by considering three parameters namely, drying duration of the drumstick, temperature of moulding, and weight of cellulose mixed with ground moringa fibers against physical parameters like tensile strength and wettability test as shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Different parameters for the preparation of biodegradable product.
Weight of dried Moring fiber (grams) Drying duration (days) Temperature (Celsius) Weight of cellulose (grams)
25 10 65 10
12.5
15
12.5 50 10
65
80
12.5 65 5
10
15

[00055] The parameters were selected from the minimum to the maximum point by application of central points. The drying duration varies from a range of 10 days to 15 days, the temperature of molding varies from 50 °C to 80 °C and the weight of cellulose added to 25g of moringa ranges from 5 g to 15 g as shown in Table 2. The center points per block was set as 5 (fixed) which provided 17 trials.
Table 2: Minimum and maximum parameters for the preparation of biodegradable product.
Name Units Low value (-1) High value (+1)
Drying duration Days 10 15
Temperature Celsius 50 80
Weight of cellulose Grams 5 15

(E) Physical Analysis
[00056] Three different tests were done to understand the durability and potential of the product as a plate. These tests include the testing of tensile strength, penetration to water absorption.
(1) Tensile test
[00057] To determine the tensile strength, the plates were cut in a dumbbell shape with rounded edges and standard dimension with an overall length of 90mm, grip length of 25mm, gauge length of 30mm, a fillet radius of 25mm, gauge width of 25mm and grip width of 40mm.
[00058] The sample was then allowed to be mounted in the tensile tester known as a pull tester or Universal Testing Machine (UTM). The machine applies force on the sample by pulling it apart. The force at which the sample breaks was noted. The tests were triplicated to determine the mean value.

Where s is the tensile strength, P is the maximum force applied and a is the cross-sectional area of the sample.
Table 3: Results of 17 examples.
Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Response 1 Response 2
Run A:
Drying duration B:
Temperature C:
Ratio Tensile Strength Water absorbance
Days Celsius Grams MPa Percentage
1 12.5 65 10 0.264 155
2 15 65 5 0 83
3 12.5 80 15 0 106
4 12.5 65 10 0.264 155
5 15 65 15 0 102
6 10 65 15 0 92
7 15 50 10 0 94
8 10 80 10 0.287 80
9 12.5 65 10 0.264 155
10 10 65 5 0 70
11 10 50 10 0 175
12 12.5 65 10 0.264 155
13 12.5 80 5 0 147
14 12.5 65 10 0.264 155
15 12.5 50 5 0 173
16 15 80 10 0 166
17 12.5 50 15 0 132

[00059] The number of trials were based on the point design, the values were provided by the software used for the analysis. Run 1-17 represents the number of trials and few will be repeating based on the points plotted by the BBD design and the software used is Statease.
Table 4: Ultimate force, total elongation and ultimate stress of the 17 examples.
Run Ultimate force (N) Total Elongation (%) Ultimate stress (MPa)
1 15.8 7.84 0.264
2 0 0 0
3 0 0 0
4 15.8 7.84 0.264
5 0 0 0
6 0 0 0
7 0 0 0
8 16.7 7.60 0.287
9 15.8 7.84 0.264
10 0 0 0
11 0 0 0
12 15.8 7.84 0.264
13 0 0 0
14 15.8 7.84 0.264
15 0 0 0
16 0 0 0
17 0 0 0

[00060] The tensile test was conducted on six trials, as the other samples were too brittle and broke during mounting. The best-performing sample withstood a stress of 0.287 MPa and exhibited an elongation of 7.6% (Figure 5), demonstrating the product's ability to withstand the weight of food. However, as the thickness of the plate decreases, it becomes too brittle, causing it to break under minimal pressure. This indicates a need for further optimization of the plate's thickness to ensure its structural integrity and functionality.
[00061] The 3D response plots of the developed product are as shown in Figure 6. In Figure 6 (a), the X1 axis represents drying duration, the X2 axis represents temperature, and the Y axis represents the tensile strength. In the graph, it is observed that there is parabolic interaction, due to the repetition of values at various parameters. This shows that this analysis is significant as a quadratic model. Similarly, Figures 6 (b) and (c) show a parabolic interaction, inferring that this could be a quadratic model.
(2) Water absorption
[00062] The sample was placed in the oven dryer for 1 hour at 120°C to completely remove the moisture content and then placed in the desiccator to get it cooled down. Once the product was cooled the weight of the product measured. The sample was then soaked in water for 1 hour at room temperature (about 20 to 30 °C). After the immersion period the sample was taken out and the surface was wiped to remove the excess water. The weight of the sample was then noted. The water absorption is then calculated using the formula.
Water absorption = (Soaked weight - Dry weight)/ Dry weight*100
[00063] While processing the biodegradable plates made from Moringa fiber waste, several challenges were encountered. One significant issue was the difficulty in grinding Moringa due to its strong fibrous nature. To resolve this, the Moringa was solar-dried for up to 15 days, which made it easier to grind into a fine powder.
[00064] Another problem during the moulding process was the mixture became sticky and caused the product to adhere to the mould. Also, the mould's high-pressure build-up led to the product shattering upon release. These issues were mitigated by adjusting the water content in the mixture. Excessive water content made the mixture too sticky and caused pressure build-up during moulding. The optimal water requirement varied based on the binding agent added to the ground fiber.
[00065] Seventeen experimental runs were conducted to investigate the effects of drying duration, moulding temperature, and the amount of binding agent on the dependent variables of tensile strength and water absorption. These trials involved varying combinations of the specified parameters. Each trial was tested for tensile strength and water absorption capacity to determine the optimal conditions for producing the best product. The results of this test are given in the Table 3.
[00066] The ideal drying duration was found to be approximately 15 days. A longer drying period results in a smoother texture for the product. Regarding temperature, the optimal drying temperature was identified as 65°C. A higher temperature can cause a burning smell, while a lower temperature does not adequately support the product's structure.
[00067] Additionally, the quantity of the binding agent plays a crucial role. Adding 10 grams of binding agent to 25 grams of ground Moringa fiber is considered ideal. Using only 5 grams is insufficient, and increasing the amount beyond 10 grams does not significantly improve the product. These findings and the use of one factor analysis, cook’s distance and 3d response plots the optimal parameters were identified.
Table 5: Water absorption of 17 examples.
Run Dry weight (g) Soaked weight (g) Water absorption (%)
1 1.61 4.12 155
2 1.62 2.97 83
3 2.06 4.25 106
4 1.61 4.12 155
5 2.04 4.16 102
6 1.23 2.37 92
7 1.48 2.67 94
8 1.37 3.78 80
9 1.61 4.12 155
10 1.50 2.55 70
11 1.66 3.23 175
12 1.61 4.12 155
13 2.01 4.98 147
14 1.61 4.12 155
15 1.30 3.56 173
16 1.11 2.96 166
17 1.31 3.05 132

[00068] The product exhibits a high-water absorption rate, with a minimum absorption of 70% as shown in Table 5. This significant water uptake compromises the structural integrity of the plate, rendering it unsuitable for serving food with high moisture content. The product's high water absorption capacity is also affected by humidity, impacting its usability in varying climatic conditions. During the warm summer season, the product remains hard; however, increased humidity during the rainy season causes the product to absorb moisture, leading to a change in texture. This highlights the need for improvements to enhance the product's moisture resistance and overall stability.
[00069] In Figure (a), the X1 axis represents drying duration, the X2 axis represents temperature, and the Y axis represents the water absorbance. In the graph, it is observed that there is parabolic interaction, due to the repetition of values at various parameters. This shows that this analysis is significant as a quadratic model. Similarly, Figures (b) and (c) show a parabolic interaction, inferring that this could be a quadratic model.
[00070] The foregoing examples are merely illustrative and are not to be taken as limitations upon the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[00071] The biodegradable plate of the present disclosure is environment friendly. The biodegradable plate has high tensile strength and high-water absorption rate.
, Claims:1. A biodegradable product comprising:
a moringa fiber waste material; and
a binding agent.
2. The biodegradable product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moringa fiber waste material is collected from farmers, moringa oil producers, households and caterers.
3. The biodegradable product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the binding agent is selected from a group consisting of cellulose, cellulose acetate, chitin, glycerin, lignin, starch and combination thereof.
4. The biodegradable product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moringa fiber waste material and the binding agent are present in a ratio in the range of 4.5-5.5 : 1.5-2.5.
5. The biodegradable product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biodegradable product has tensile strength in the range of 0.25 to 0.30 MPa and water absorbance in the range of 150 to 160 %.
6. A method of preparation of a biodegradable product comprising:
a) collecting a moringa fiber waste material;
b) drying the moringa fiber waste material to obtain a dried moringa fiber waste material;
c) grinding the dried moringa fiber waste material to obtain a finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder;
d) mixing the finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder and the binding agent with water to obtain a mixture; and
e) shaping the mixture by moulding it under condition to obtain a biodegradable product.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the moringa fiber waste material is dried in step b) at a temperature in the range of 50 to 80°C for a time period in the range of 10 to 15 days.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder of step c) has a particle size in the range of 1 to 10 mm.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the finely ground moringa fiber waste material powder and the binding agent in a ratio in the range of 4.5-5.5:1.5-2.5 are mixed with 30 to 50 % w/v of water to obtain a mixture.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the moulding step e) is carried out at a high pressure in the range of 400 to 440 psi at a temperature in the range of 60 to 70 ºC.