Assessing the role of biodegradable polymer composites in mitigating insect infestations of pearl millet: Focus on polylactic acid and polybutylene adipate terephthalate with phytochemicals

Patole Reshma, Prabhakar and Jeevan Prasad, Reddy and Keshava Murthy, P. S. and Vivek Babu, C. S. (2025) Assessing the role of biodegradable polymer composites in mitigating insect infestations of pearl millet: Focus on polylactic acid and polybutylene adipate terephthalate with phytochemicals. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 319. pp. 1-13.

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Abstract

Current study, highlights development of composite mixture of polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) incorporated with phytochemicals (thymol, α-pinene, eucalyptol, estragole) as insecticidal biopolymers. Further, these developed films were analysed with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) coupled with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and results showed the presence of thymol, α-pinene, eucalyptol, estragole in the composite films (PLA-PBAT-T 0.5 %, PLA-PBAT- A 4.5 %, PLA-PBAT-E 4.5 %). The synthesized films showed significant mortality (100 %) towards Sitophilus oryzae within 72 h whereas Oryzophilus surinamensis exhibited complete mortality within 48 h in presence of grain (pearl millet) conditions. Seed germination study showed seed viability (100 %) in the tested grains which was equivalent to fresh grains. Mechanical property (tensile strength) was reduced (lowest in PLA-PBAT-AT 5 % - 10.44 MPa), but the water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) was found to be significant in PLA-PBAT-T 0.5 % blend (13.63 g/m2.hr). The XRD analysis showed increase in the crystallinity index of PLA-PBAT-T 0.5 % (15.68 %), PLA-PBAT- AT 5 % (14.75 %) and PLA-PBAT- ET 5 % (13.77 %) films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis of the biopolymer films showed complete homogenization of the phytochemicals and weight loss (maximum 4.9 %). Overall, phytochemical amended biopolymer films displayed significant insecticidal activity in prevention of storage pests of pearl millet.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Polylactic acid, Polybutylene adipate terephthalate, Thymol, А-Pinene, Eucalyptol, Estragole, pearl millet
Subjects:	500 Natural Sciences and Mathematics > 04 Chemistry and Allied Sciences > 27 Polymer Chemistry 600 Technology > 03 Agriculture > 05 Insect/Pest Control 600 Technology > 08 Food technology > 21 Cereals > 05 Ragi (Finger Millet)
Divisions:	Food Packaging Technology Food Protectants and Infestation Control
Depositing User:	Somashekar K S
Date Deposited:	07 Oct 2025 06:52
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2025 06:52
URI:	http://ir.cftri.res.in/id/eprint/19904

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