​Sansevieria zeylanica-Derived Nanocellulose as a Green Reinforcement for PVA Composite Films with Enhanced UV-Shielding and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Sansevieria zeylanica (Ceylon bowstring hemp) fibers were investigated as a sustainable source for nanocellulose synthesis. The fibers were subjected to sequential alkaline treatment and hydrogen peroxide bleaching, followed by sulfuric acid hydrolysis and neutralization. The resulting nanocellulose was incorporated into a glycerol-plasticized polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to fabricate composite films. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the successful isolation of nanocellulose through characteristic bands of cellulose, with only weak residual signals associated with lignin and hemicellulose. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements confirmed nanoscale hydrodynamic dimensions with moderate polydispersity, consistent with the fibrillar morphology and aggregation of nanocellulose through hydrophilic surface interactions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that oven drying promoted nanocellulose aggregation, forming microscale aggregates. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed carbon and oxygen as the dominant elements, while sulfur detected in elemental mapping indicated the presence of sulfate ester groups introduced during sulfuric acid hydrolysis. Nanocellulose incorporation enhanced light scattering and UV-shielding capacity, while tensile strength increased with nanocellulose loading and reached a maximum at 1500 μL. These findings demonstrate the potential of Sansevieria zeylanica-derived nanocellulose as a sustainable reinforcing material for PVA-based composite films.