The groundnut is regarded as the third most important oilseed crop worldwide. Groundnut is a popular oilseed crop that can be grown, especially in tropical areas. The groundnut (Arachis hypogeae) is a member of the Leguminoseae family and is also known as earthnuts, pygmy nuts, and pig nuts, peanuts and monkey nuts are frequently consumed by locals. India is the fourth largest producer of oilseeds in the world, next to the United States, China, and Brazil. It produces approximately 32.10 metric tons of oilseeds annually, or 2.7% of the world's oilseed production. The crops are grown on an area of nearly 26 million ha, or 19% of the world's oil seeds area, and their annual average yield is 1224 kg/ha (Anon 2017). A variety of oilseeds, including groundnut, rapeseed, and mustard, soybean, sesame, sunflower linseed, Niger seed, castor, and two perennial oilseeds (coconut and palm oil), can thrive in India's diverse agro-ecological environments. Groundnut production worldwide hit a record high of approximately 46.01 MT (Anon 2020). In terms of groundnut production, India, China, the United States, West Africa, Sudan, and Nigeria are the most significant nations. According to Anon 2020, India has the most land area in the world—8.5 million hectares, or 14% of the world's production. Protein is abundant in groundnuts. It has between 47% and 49% oil and 20% protein. The fiber contains 18.7% hemicellulose, 35.7% cellulose, 30.2% lignin, and 5.9% ash .
There are numerous varieties of Indian groundnuts available; Red Natal, Java, Spanish Bold, or Runner. It is available throughout the year and is mostly grown in a rain-fed environment in India. The states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu contribute the most to groundnut cultivation. In Punjab all out region under groundnut crop is 1000 hectare each year and all out creation of groundnut is 3000 metric tons (Kaur P 2019).
After removing the groundnut seed from its pod, the product that remains is known as groundnut shells. Under natural conditions, this is the prevalent agro-industrial waste product with a very slow rate of degradation. Groundnut shells contain cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin miniature fibrils, which are assembled into full scale fibrils. According to Zheng et al (2013), peanut shell fiber contains cellulose (35.5%), hemicelluloses (18.7%), lignin (30.2%), and ash (5.9%). It is utilized as a feedstock, food, filler in fertilizer, and even as a carrier for biofilters in the commercial sector. However, the majority of abandoned groundnut shells are either burned or buried, which pollutes the environment. Therefore, new technologies must be developed to achieve zero waste production and put this otherwise useless product to use in the food, feed, paper, and bioenergy industries (Sheelendra and Shilpa, 2014; Bishnu et al (2018) Groundnut shells can be utilized in bio-ethanol creation, hydrogen creation and utilized as a structure material and furthermore in color corruption (Tooth et al 2014)
Because rotten waste biomass emits methane, leachate, and other harmful compounds, the sudden increase in both quantity and type of agricultural waste is making its management and utilization a difficult challenge. Due to the greenhouse effect, farmers burning crop residues in open fields release a significant amount of carbon dioxide gas and other pollutants. The utilization of plastic and its related applications is non biodegradable, and furthermore goes through non sustainable oil based commodities. Most biodegradable polymers are made from waste from the processing industry, marine food, and agricultural feedstock. Currently, research is gradually being directed toward the creation of a biodegradable food packaging system to lessen environmental impact. Because of their low cost, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and ready availability, naturally occurring biodegradable materials have gained a lot of popularity in recent years for the production of biopolymers. As a source of raw materials, agricultural feed stock and byproducts have emerged as a viable alternative to conventional woody materials that is renewable and long-lasting. According to Andjelkovic et al (2005), this had also contributed to halting the rising demand for woody materials..
Different kinds of petroleum-based packaging materials are used for food packaging, which pollutes the environment. Therefore, biodegradable and polymer-based films need to be developed in order to reduce the drawbacks of synthetic petroleum-based packaging systems and ensure that packed materials remain stable for a predetermined amount of time. Biopolymers are mostly needed in the food packaging industry to slow the rate and spread of environmental problems. Biopolymers are materials derived from plants, animal products, and microbial products. The most widely available polymer with strength and stiffness is cellulose. Hemicelluloses, waxed resins, lignin, and other substances include cellulose. Cellulose is made from plant materials like wood, cotton, sisal, coconut fiber, and microscopic organisms like tunicates and others, as well as materials that don't come from plants. Its structure resembles a lignin network of fibrils. In light of its biodegradability, bioavailability and thermo-dependability, it very well may be utilized as an option in contrast to oil and manufactured based items. The cellulose-based food packaging film would be transparent, strong, flexible, and clear. Due to its hydrophilic and excellent mechanical properties, this cellulose's use in food product packaging has increased.
Plastic is the most common packaging material. it being non degradable material, is creating environmental hazards. It has been rightly banned by the government. A world wide search is on for developing suitable biodegradable alternatives for packaging fruits, vrgetables, flowers, milk, meat, frozen foods, ready-t-eat foods, etc. therefore the study is very relevant to the present day.
Groundnut shells are the most common conventional materials that are being tested as a replacement for plastic filler in all kinds of plastic products and packaging. Because of these properties, groundnut shells are used as the material for packaging.
Groundnut shell powder, which is made from agricultural waste and is biodegradable, can be used to make bio-nanocomposite film, which could be used by high-end businesses.