Open Access

REVIEW

Arrowroot Based Nanocomposite Films: Properties, Applications, and Sustainability Prospects: A Review

Rasdianah Dahali¹, Edi Syams Zainudin^1,2,*, Mohammed Abdillah Ahmad Farid¹, Tarique Jamal³, Mohd Sapuan Salit^1,2, Muhammad Firdaus Abdul Halim²

1 Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
2 Advanced Engineering Materials and Composites Research Center (AEMC), Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
3 Interdisciplinary Research Center for Advanced Materials, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

* Corresponding Author: Edi Syams Zainudin. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Biomass-based Thermoset and Thermoplastic Polymers for Biomass-based Composites)

Journal of Renewable Materials 2026, 14(2), 1 https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0139

Received 07 July 2025; Accepted 11 November 2025; Issue published 25 February 2026

Abstract

This review draws attention to the innovative use of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) fiber as a unique and underutilized biomass source for nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC)-based nanocomposites, presenting a noteworthy alternative to extensively researched materials like wood pulp, bacterial cellulose, and chemically modified NCCs. In contrast to traditional sources, arrowroot possesses a naturally elevated cellulose and diminished lignin content, facilitating more effective NCC extraction requiring reduced chemical input and enabling environmentally friendly processing techniques. The review evaluates the performance of arrowroot-derived nanocomposites against systems documented in the literature, including NCC-based shape memory composites and nanoparticle-reinforced films, demonstrating enhanced tensile strength, improved moisture barrier properties, and thermal stability, as well as potential piezoelectric response. This study recognizes arrowroot as a viable option in the biomass-based nanocellulose sector, providing ecological and functional benefits while tackling significant issues such as process scalability and feedstock variability, thereby offering important insights for the advancement of sustainable materials.

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