Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40219300›Full record

ArticlePolymers2025

Impact of Steam-Exploded Feather Incorporation on the Biodegradation Performance of Renewable Biocomposites.

Julen Vadillo, Sarah Montes, Hans-Jürgen Grande, Eveline Beeckman, Steven Verstichel, Jonna Almqvist

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Polymers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Julen VadilloCIDETEC, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramón, 196, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-5455-4805
Sarah MontesCIDETEC, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramón, 196, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-5972-5135
Hans-Jürgen GrandeCIDETEC, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramón, 196, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.
Eveline BeeckmanNormec OWS, Pantserschipstraat 163, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Steven VerstichelNormec OWS, Pantserschipstraat 163, 9000 Gent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-4581-6084
Jonna AlmqvistDepartment of Biorefinery and Energy, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, S-892 50 Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.

Funding

European Union's Horizon 2020 101023306
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The increasing environmental concerns regarding plastic waste, especially in agriculture, have driven the search for sustainable alternatives. Agricultural plastics, such as mulching films and greenhouse covers, are heavily reliant on petrochemical-derived materials, which persist in the environment and contribute to long-term pollution. This study explores the use of biodegradable biocomposites made from steam explosion-treated chicken feathers and various polymer matrices to address these issues. Chicken feathers, a waste by-product of the poultry industry, present an excellent biodegradability as a result of the steam explosion treatment and contain nitrogen, potentially enhancing soil fertility. The biocomposites were characterized by thermal stability, mechanical properties, and biodegradability, and ecotoxicity assessments were carried out studying the incorporation of feathers into the soil. Results showed that the incorporation of treated chicken feathers increased the water absorption capacity of the composites, promoting faster disintegration and biodegradation. In particular, biocomposites made with polyhydroxyalkanoates and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) exhibited a significant increase in degradation rates, from 3-10% in the first month for pure matrices to 40-50% when reinforced with treated feathers. Meanwhile, those made from polylactic acid showed slower degradation. Furthermore, the addition of feathers positively influenced crop growth at low concentrations, acting as a slow-release fertilizer. However, high concentrations of feathers negatively affect plant growth due to excess nitrogen. These findings highlight the potential of poultry feathers as a valuable, sustainable filler for agricultural bioplastics, contributing to waste valorization and environmentally friendly farming practices.

Indexed as

agricultural bioplasticbiocompositesbiodegradable polymerschicken featherwaste management

Identifiers

PMID40219300
PMCPMC11991220

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.