Mechanical, Thermal and Biodegradation Properties of Maleic Anhydride-Coupled Nanocrystalline Cellulose/Zein Bioplastics Derived from Agricultural Biomass

Abstract

Nanocrystalline cellulose/zein (NCC/zein) bioplastic films coupled with maleic anhydride (MAH) were prepared from sugar-palm solid waste and corn waste to valorize agricultural biomass into biodegradable film materials. NCC was isolated from sugar-palm solid waste, whereas zein was extracted from corn waste with aqueous ethanol. Films containing 0-5 wt.% NCC were produced by melt intercalation using MAH and characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, XRD, tensile testing, TG/DTA, soil burial and SEM. FTIR bands at 3431.51, 2879.85, 1635.71 and 1074.40 cm–1 confirmed hydrogen-bonded OH/NH, C-H, carbonyl and C-O groups in the coupled matrix. After correction of stress units, the highest tensile strength and elongation at break were 3.535 MPa and 10.954% in NCC/zein 0%, while the highest apparent secant modulus at break was 60.02 MPa at 1 wt.% NCC. The maximum biodegradation occurred at 5 wt.% NCC with 2.7287% weight loss day–1. The results support further development of biomass-derived biodegradable films; however, the packaging suitability cannot be concluded without dedicated barrier, water-uptake and surface-wettability measurements.