A Green Biorefinery Platform for Cost-effective Nanocellulose Production: Investigation of Hydrodynamic Properties and Biodegradability of Thin Films

Abstract

Non-degradable plastics are a global crisis that has a detrimental effect on human life and all living systems. Normally, extraction of nanocellulose passes through several tedious processing including a number of steam explosions. This paper is demonstrating an easy method for the extraction of nanocellulose by using a cheaper, effective and modified acid hydrolysis route from sugarcane bagasse. The films were characterised using FT-IR, XRD, FESEM and DLS techniques. The effects of acid, alkali and salt on the thin films and the various hydro-dynamic and tensile properties were also analysed. The degradation of nanocellulose thin films in three types of soils having different moisture-holding capacities using soil burial method (ASTM D 2216) was studied. This study revealed that degradation has a direct correlation to water retention capacity of soils. Also, these thin films could be effectively degradable in soils, salt, acidic and alkaline environments. So, these fall under the category of bio-based, biodegradable and compostable bag class.