@Article{jrm.2026.02026-0036,
AUTHOR = {Supachai Pisuchpen, Tanyawan Suwandecha, Ponusa Jitphuthi, Somporn Nilmanee, Wirongrong Tongdeesoontorn, Thatsanee Luangharn},
TITLE = {Valorization of Agricultural Lignocellulosic Residues into Mycelium-Based Biofoams: Processing-Structure–Property Relationships and Cushioning Performance},
JOURNAL = {Journal of Renewable Materials},
VOLUME = {},
YEAR = {},
NUMBER = {},
PAGES = {{pages}},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/jrm/online/detail/28214},
ISSN = {2164-6341},
ABSTRACT = {The environmental burden of petroleum-based cushioning materials has driven the search for sustainable, bioderived alternatives. This study developed mycelium-based biofoams from locally available agro-industrial residues, rubberwood sawdust, and grass jelly pulp using <i>Pleurotus ostreatus</i>, <i>Lentinus squarrosulus</i>, and <i>Ganoderma lucidum</i>. The effects of nutritional supplementation, substrate morphology, and processing conditions on growth behavior and material performance were systematically investigated. Nutritional supplementation significantly enhanced fungal colonization, with bran increasing the growth rate of <i>L. squarrosulus</i> to 17.0 mm/day and promoting dense, interconnected hyphal networks. Substrate morphology governed the resulting foam structure and properties: surface wood sawdust (SW) produced compact biofoams with higher density (up to 0.31 g/cm<sup>3</sup>), low thickness swelling (~2%), and increased hydrophobicity (contact angle up to 104°), whereas grass jelly pulp generated lower-density materials (0.14–0.18 g/cm<sup>3</sup>) with greater shrinkage and moisture sensitivity. Processing conditions further influenced the performance. Hot pressing (150°C, 3–4 MPa) enhanced densification and increased compressive strength to 0.42 MPa, whereas cold-pressed biofoams derived from fine and coarse core wood sawdust (CWS and CWL) achieved a more balanced combination of structural uniformity, mechanical integrity, and cushioning efficiency, with cushion factor values of 4.3–5.0. These values fall within the functional range of conventional cushioning materials, indicating a comparable energy absorption capability. This study demonstrates that mycelium-based biofoams can be rationally engineered through the integrated control of biological (fungal species and nutrition), structural (substrate type), and processing parameters. These findings provide a scalable and sustainable strategy for developing biodegradable cushioning materials with tunable properties for packaging applications.},
DOI = {10.32604/jrm.2026.02026-0036}
}