Preparation and characterization of biocomposite film derived from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) of jackfruit rind waste

Abstract

Biocomposite cornstarch films with various microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from jack fruit rind (JR) had prepared via the solution casting method. This study aimed to investigate the effects of jackfruit rind microcrystalline cellulose (JR-MCC) composition on the properties of cornstarch biocomposite films. The FTIR analysis demonstrated that the addition of JR-MCC did not significantly change the chemical structure of the obtained composites. The mechanical test revealed that the tensile strength and Young’s Modulus decreased with increasing JR-MCC content while the value of elongation at break increased. As JR-MCC content increased from 2.5% to 15%, the water solubility decreased significantly from 21.80% to 12.73%. This phenomenon happened because JR-MCC reduced the water solubility of cornstarch-based films. JR-MCC was firm to dissolve in water and needed a longer time to dissolve. The moisture uptake and biodegradability of the films reinforced with JR-MCC also increased due to the sensitivity towards moisture.