Development of biodegradable cellulose nanofibrils reinforced pectin films by continuous casting

Abstract

Sustainability promotion and environmental protection in Brazil have intensified the urgency about the use of biodegradable plastics as disposable products. Pectin, a natural polymer derived from sugarcane and citrus processing at São Paulo state, has potential as a feedstock for biodegradable plastics development. However, applications of pectin are limited because its physical properties are generally inferior to those of the commercial plastics. This project aims to develop biodegradable films from pectin and cellulose nanofibrils. The main hypothesis enclosed in this proposal is that the inclusion of cellulosic nanostructures will expand the properties of pectin. Commercial cellulose nanofibrils will be characterized in terms of morphology and size, and further incorporated into pectin matrixes using continuous casting, an emerging polymer processing technique at pilot scale. Different concentrations of cellulose nanofibrils (1-5%), plasticizing, and process conditions will be evaluated. The pectin/cellulose nanofibrils nanocomposites will be studied by electron microscopy techniques, thermal, mechanical and optical analysis, among others. Correlations between dimensions and dispersion state of the nanofibrils and nanocomposite properties will be described. Properties of nanocomposites and commercial plastics will be compared through Ashby charts. (AU)