Developing Lignin/Pva- Tea Tree Oil Composites for Enhanced Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties

This study investigates lignin-based bio-composites incorporated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and varying concentrations of tea tree oil to assess their antibacterial and antifungal properties. Lignin, a complex aromatic polymer with an intricate three-dimensional network, is enriched with conjugated systems and oxygenated functional groups, including hydroxyl, methoxy, and carbonyl groups. The novel bio-composites exhibit significant antimicrobial activity, demonstrating potent antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as well as notable antifungal properties. Detailed characterization through FTIR and SEM provides critical insights into the structural and antimicrobial attributes of the composite films. The results indicate that PVA-lignin composite films enhanced with tea tree oil show superior resistance to microbial proliferation. This underscores the potential of these bio-composites in applications such as medical devices, packaging materials, and environmental protection, addressing the increasing demand for eco-friendly antimicrobial alternatives.