title: Preparation of nanocellulose from micro-crystalline cellulose: The effect on the performance and properties of agar-based composite films.
abstract: A facile approach has been performed to prepare nanocellulose (NC) from micro-crystalline cellulose (MCC) and test their effect on the performance properties of agar-based composite films. The NC was characterized by STEM, XRD, FTIR, and TGA. The NC was well dispersed in distilled water after sonication and their size was in the range of 100-500nm. The XRD results revealed the crystallinity of NC. The crystallinity index of NC (0.71) was decreased compared to the MCC (0.81). The effect of NC or MCC content (1, 3, 5 and 10wt% based on agar) on the mechanical, water vapor permeability (WVP), and thermal properties of the composites were studied. The NC obtained from MCC can be used as a reinforcing agent for the preparation of biodegradable composites films for their potential use in the development of biodegradable food packaging materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering and Bionanocomposite Research Institute, Mokpo National University, 61 Dorimri, Chungkyemyon, Muangun, 534729 Jeonnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering and Bionanocomposite Research Institute, Mokpo National University, 61 Dorimri, Chungkyemyon, Muangun, 534729 Jeonnam, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jwrhim@mokpo.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jong-Whan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rhim
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D018857:Food Packaging; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010539:Permeability; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013010:Sonication; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013227:Steam; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D013227:Steam; D014867:Water; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D014508:Urea; D000362:Agar; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Agar; Cellulose; Composite films; Micro-crystalline; Nanocellulose