DEVELOPMENT OF BIO-DEGRADABLE PACKAGING FILM OF NANOCELLULOSE REINFORCED PVA FOR FOOD PACAKGING APPLICATION USING AGRO WASTE SUGARCANE BAGASSE

Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse is the matter that remains after stalks of sugarcane are crushed to extract the juice. This is utilized as a reinforcing material in the matrix of Poly (vinyl alcohol),a synthetic polymer to develop a nanocomposite bio-degradable packaging film for few dairy products (milk, paneer and curd). The bagasse is acid hydrolyzed to obtain nano cellulose which is then used at different weight ratios to reinforce PVA films. Further turmeric is added to resist microbial attack onto the films and enhanced their durability. Moreover turmeric acts as natural pH indicator which helps to develop films as an intelligent and smart packaging material. Mechanical properties like tensile strength show increasing values with increasing weight ratios of nano cellulose without much affecting the elongation at break of films. Further swelling test, pH test, anti-microbial test, soil burial test, thermogravemetric analysis and optical test were carried out to characterize and analyze the films.