Development of an eco-friendly biodegradable plastic from jack fruit peel cellulose with different plasticizers and Boswellia serrata as filler

Pure nanocellulose was extracted from agricultural waste material namely jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) peel through acid hydrolysis. The extraction method utilizes soapnut solution as an eco-friendly bleaching agent in order to avoid environment polluting chlorinated chemicals. Various thin films were prepared by solvent casting nanocellulose and different plasticizers namely glycerol, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, triethyl citrate along with novel filler, Eloswellia serrata commonly known as frankincense. Thin films were characterized by FT-IR, XRD and the surface modifications were investigated using FESEM. The physical, mechanical, thermal properties and biodegradability of the film were also reported. The surface morphology was improved by different plasticizers and a self-assembly was obtained due to more stable hydrogen bonding between the nanocellulose, plasticizers and tiller during the film formation. Thermal investigations of plasticizers/Boswellia serrata incorporated thin films revealed an increase in glass transition temperature of nanocellulose. Results indicate that these films are biodegradable and compostable in nature and could be used as substitute for petroleum derived plastics. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Nanocellulose extracted from jackfruit peel was used to prepare thin films with various plasticizers and a novel filler. The addition of plasticizers and filler improved the surface morphology and thermal properties of the films, demonstrating their biodegradability and compostability.