Sustainable Bioplastic Using Lignin Extracted from Neolamarckia cadamba Bark by Deep Eutectic Solvent

Lignin, a highly complex and abundant biopolymer, forms an integral part of plant cell walls and represents a promising resource for sustainable industrial applications. Lignin has recently gained attention due to its potential use in biofuels, bioplastics, adhesives, and antioxidant formulations. This paper focuses on lignin extraction from Neolamarckia cadamba bark by deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of thymol and menthol. Extracted lignin and starch (extracted from Colocasia esculenta roots) were used for the synthesis of bioplastic. The extracted lignin was characterized through multiple analytical techniques, including UV-V is spectroscopy, FTIR, and visual staining with safranin. Bioplastic was characterized for thermal resistance, absorbance, and solubility. The moisture content was obtained as 29.59%, water solubility as 72.61% with almost completely (98%) biodegradable. The work contributes to valorising environmental biomass and enhancing the industrial relevance of lignin. Furthermore, it aligns with the sustainable development goals by transforming bio-waste into valuable bioproducts, such as bioplastics, biochemicals, bioadsorbents, etc. The outcomes of this research may serve as a foundation for future studies in lignin-based material innovation and biorefinery integration.