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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article

Fabrication and characterization of bio-wax coated hydrophobic paper from Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms

Ananda Kumar A.M, Rakkimuthu R, Sathishkumar P, Sowmiya D and Aleena B. Eluvathingal

Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 140-146

doi: https://doi.org/10.55126/ijzab.2026.v11.i01.018

Received on: 12/10/2025

Revised on: 27/11/2025

Accepted on: 23/12/2025

Published on: 01/01/2026

  • Ananda Kumar A.M, Rakkimuthu R, Sathishkumar P, Sowmiya D and Aleena B. Eluvathingal( 2026).

    Fabrication and characterization of bio-wax coated hydrophobic paper from Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms

    . International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 1), 140-146.

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Abstract

The present study focused on producing eco-friendly hydrophobic paper using epicuticular biowax isolated from Eichhornia crassipes, an invasive aquatic plant. Wax extraction was carried out using organic solvents such as chloroform and petroleum ether, with chloroform yielding the highest amount (0.1305 g per 10 g of leaves). The extracted wax exhibited favorable physical properties including moderate viscosity, a melting point of 42°C, and a boiling point of 51°C. Chemical reactivity tests confirmed the wax’s solubility in acids and bases and its stability in organic solvents. Heat sensitivity studies showed no significant structural changes up to 120°C. Wax-coated papers demonstrated strong hydrophobic properties, with negligible weight change after water exposure. Coating efficiency was consistent across different paper types and GSM grades. Biodegradability tests indicated effective degradation, particularly in soil conditions. Overall, the E. crassipes-derived biowax proved to be a sustainable, biodegradable, and hydrophobic coating material. The findings suggest its potential application in developing eco-friendly paper-based alternatives to plastic packaging.

Keywords

Epicuticular wax, Eichhornia crassipes, Hydrophobicity, Thermal stability Biodegradability.

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    © The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.