Production of nanocellulose from waste paper and sugarcane bagasse and its application as reinforcing agent in guar gum based food packaging films

Abstract

The widespread use of plastic packaging, especially single-use newlineplastics, has led to massive accumulation of non-biodegradable plastic waste, newlineposing ecological threats. These plastic packaging films are used in various newlineindustries including textile, pharma, shipping, and transportation. However, one newlineof the major industries responsible for majority of the plastic packaging usage is newlinethe food industry. While there are many areas where food packaging requires newlineplastic films to protect the food items, the usage of plastic films in short term newlinesingle use packaging like fast food condiment packaging creates grave newlineenvironmental concern owing to their convenience driven usage and quick newlinedisposal that makes up for 7-12% of global plastic waste, with only 35% being newlinerecycled. Rising on-the-go food popularity increases demand for such packaging, newlinepropagating plastic pollution. This necessitates alternative packaging materials newlinethat are effective and sustainable. Recent approaches have blended conventional newlinepolymers with biodegradables to reduce non-biodegradable content. However, newlinebiodegradable components degrade over time, leaving non-degradable newlinemicroplastics. Contemporary strategies have focused on bio-based polymers like newlinePoly lactic acid (PLA), Polu hydroxy alkanoates (PHA) and Poly hydroxy newlinebutyrate valerate (PHBV) adaptable to existing manufacturing. However, their newlinebiodegradability is constrained to specific environmental and composting newlineconditions. Sustainable solutions require packaging materials completely newlinebiodegradable under regular conditions. In that regard, natural biopolymers from newlineplants and oceans represent viable options. newlineGuar gum is an abundantly available biopolymer owing to newlinelarge-scale cultivation in India. It has shown packaging potential but poor film newlineproperties and high viscosity restricting film usage. To overcome these newlineproblems, chemical modifications such as ethylation, oxidation and newlinecrosslinking, and physical modifications such as milling and homogenization newlinehave been attempted.