Production of Chicken Feather Waste‐Based Bioplastic Incorporated With Encapsulated ZnO Nanoparticles

Conventional plastic is commonly used for packaging due to its characteristics, but it is difficult to degrade and can pollute the environment. Chicken feather keratin bioplastic incorporated with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐NP) encapsulation is designed as a solution to reduce waste and an alternative to conventional plastic in the food industry. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of ZnO‐NP and its encapsulation on the characteristics of keratin bioplastic and assess the potential of the design as food packaging. Evaluation methods included mechanical properties and functionality tests. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) proved the successful formation of bioplastic from the characteristic bands of keratin and ZnO‐NP. Scanning electron microscopy with magnification of 100 and 1500 times, showed a smoother surface structure on the incorporation of ZnO‐NP. Mechanical property tests showed significant superiority of keratin/ZnO‐NP bioplastic in tensile strength (6.60 ± 0.86 MPa), UV‐blockage (<0.1% transmittance), and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus . Meanwhile, keratin/beeswax ZnO‐NP bioplastic significantly excelled in water resistance (47.08% ± 11.76%) and UV‐blockage. Keratin, keratin/ZnO‐NP, and keratin/beeswax ZnO‐NP bioplastics had similar water vapor transmission rate and biodegradation characteristics. This design demonstrates potential as a solution to reduce plastic and chicken feather waste, potential applications in the food industry, and supports the growth of a circular economy through organic waste processing.