International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 13 Issue: 02 | Feb 2026
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
DEVELOPMENT OF BIODEGRADABLE COMPOSITE MATERIAL FROM RICE STUBBLE USING NATURAL BINDER Ishaan Kauhaad Learning Paths School ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract - Rice-stubble burning is a major environmental
naturally derived binders. The study focuses on enhancing fiber pretreatment, binder selection, and curing behavior to achieve acceptable mechanical integrity and reproducibility while maintaining sustainability.
concern contributing significantly to release of particulate matter in the air and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite policy interventions, waste management remains a challenge due to limited economically feasible alternatives. The study presents development of biodegradable composite material from rice stubble using low-cost easily available natural binders. Multiple ways and binder systems were experimentally evaluated including hot water treatment, acid and alkali pretreatments and various natural binders. Early formulations suffered from many problems such as brittleness, uneven drying and poor reproducibility. Through systematic improvements a composition comprising alkali-treated finely ground rice stubble combined with tamarind powder (imli powder) as a natural binder and chalk powder as a hardening agent was developed. The developed material demonstrated mutability in its uncured state, enabling fabrication into different shapes. Following curing the composite hardened into a rigid structure with improved surface finish and mechanical stability.
2. MATERIALS AND METHOD 2.1 Raw Material Preparation Rice stubble was collected from local agricultural sources. This stubble was manually cut into small segments to facilitate chemical treatment and grinding.
2.2 Preliminary Processing and Early Formulations Initial trials involved soaking in hot boiling water for at least 12 hours in order to soften the fibres, followed by mechanical grinding to form a fibrous paste. Wheat flour and cornstarch were added as binding agents and water was used to attain a semi-solid structure. The mixture was manually compressed using a mechanical compressor into a flat surface and sun-dried for approximately 24 hours.
Key Words: rice-stubble, agro-waste utilization, natural binders, biodegradable composite, sustainable material
2.3 Chemical Pretreatment Trials To enhance the softening of fibres, chemical pretreatment was also considered. Initially dilute hydrochloric acid was employed; however, reaction with starch binders(cornstarch) caused paste solubility and low compressibility. Later sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was employed because of its ability to decompose lignin and enhance fibre compatibility [4], [5]. The cut rice stubble was treated with NaOH solution for at least 12 hours and then washed with water to remove alkalinity.
1. INTRODUCTION Rice cultivation substantial quantities of post-harvest residue commonly known as rice stubble. In many regions particularly in northern India this residue is burned frequently to rapidly clear fields for subsequent cropping cycles. Crop residue burning releases large amounts of PM-2.5 and PM-10 particulate matter and greenhouse gases, resulting in severe seasonal air pollution and adverse health and environmental impacts [1].
2.4 Binder and Hardener Optimization
Transforming agricultural waste into value added materials represents a promising approach to mitigating residue burning while simultaneously supporting sustainable material development. Natural fibre-waste composites derived from agro-waste such as bagasse, bamboo and hemp have been extensively studied [8],[9]. However rice stubble remains unutilized due to its high silica content, lignin-rich structure and processing challenges [3].
To enhance sustainability and strength, food based binders (wheat flour) were replaced. Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) commonly known as chalk powder was added as a hardening agent and cornstarch was kept as a temporary binder. Although this formulation produced harder samples, surface cracking and inconsistent reproducibility was observed across batches.
This research aims to develop a low-cost, biodegradable composite material using rice stubble and
Cornstarch was replaced by tamarind (imli) powder because of its hygroscopic nature and controlled solubility
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2.5 Final Composite Formulation
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