Comprehensive characterization of bioplasticizer from the Murraya koenigii leaves: From biomass to biomaterial for polymer composite applications

The world is moving toward sustainable products in almost all fields. As non-renewable resources are used and getting exhausted, the search for renewable, greener, and sustainable alternatives has become the most preferred option currently. Overall, polymer-based materials are used almost in all products for both in industrial and domestic purposes. One of the main additives used during the processing of any polymeric materials is plasticizers (PSs). Most of the PSs are toxic, which is not welcoming one in current situation. Bioplasticizers (BPs) have become a recent research study option focus to overcome this drawback. In this investigation, Murraya koenigii (MK), a native tree, was chosen for the extraction of BPs (MKBP) from its leaves (MKTL) and subjected to various analyses including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The presence of FTIR peaks showed the possibility of PS similarities with peaks at 1396 cm(-1) and 1214 cm(-1). XRD confirmed the crystallinity of the MKBP with a crystallinity index (CYI) of 92.4 % and the crystallite size of 0.033 mu m. UV analysis resulted in a maximum peak at 358.41 nm. TGA reported the maximum degradation temperature of 377.3 C-degrees. DSC analysis showed a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 68.89 C-degrees. SEM analysis confirmed a high probability of blending with the extracted MKBP as the extract possessed a rough surface. AFM revealed the surface roughness that matched the SEM results.