Production of biocomposites from the reuse of coconut powder colonized by Shiitake mushroom

ABSTRACT The demand for biodegradable composite has grown worldwide in recent years, mainly in order to reduce environmental contamination by structural materials produced from the oil industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of isolates from the edible mushroom “Shiitake” (Lentinula edodes) in substrate coconut powder-based supplemented with wheat bran, as well as to analyze the influence of fungi growing period and drying time of the colonized substrate on the mechanical properties of the composite, in order to produce a biodegradable composite. The mycelial density is not influenced by the type of hyphae of L. edodes. Drying of the composite does not influence the residual odor, depending on the isolate. The compressive strength and foam type of the fungal composite may be influenced by the culture period and type of hyphae, depending on the fungal isolate. The composites colonized by the L. edodes isolates presented higher mechanical resistance at 30 days of complete colonization. The coconut powder supplemented with wheat bran colonized by isolated fungi LED 96/18 is an ecological alternative in the packaging production considering its mechanical properties.