Utilization of Mango Seed Starch in the Manufacture of Polyester-Based Bioplastics

Agro-industrial wastes from the processing of mango juice and its by-products represent 40% of the total weight of the fruit and are mainly composed of seeds. Mango seeds can be divided into the integument (the wall of the seed) and kernel (the inner part of the seed). Both parts contain starch and cellulose but with different contents: the integument is the cellulose-rich fraction, while starch is the main component of the kernel. One potential use of these residues is as fillers for biodegradable polymeric matrices, alone or combined with other materials, such as clays and functional particles. This approach offers the advantage of producing biodegradable plastics (or bioplastics) from renewable raw materials, aiming to reduce the environmental impact caused by conventional plastics and microplastic generation. This chapter presents the characterization of mango seed fractions and discusses the effect of the addition of these residues as fillers on the thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties of poly (lactic acid) – PLA and polyhydroxyalkanoates – PHA matrices. These biocomposites will be investigated as an alternative feedstock for the manufacturing of disposable items, such as rigid nonfood packaging, as a substitute for petroleum-derived plastics.