Synthesis of Rice Straw Cellulose Ester for Use as Biodegradable Plastic Film

Abstract

In this research, the feasibility to obtain cellulose film from rice straw was investigated. After delignification and bleaching of rice straw, the rice straw pulp was treated by acid hydrolysis in order to obtain rice straw cellulose powder. After that, the esterification of rice straw cellulose was carried out by using lauroyl chloride as an esterifying agent, toluene and pyridine as a solvent and a catalyst, respectively. The optimum condition for esterification was examined in terms of temperature and reaction time. Chemical structure and properties of modified cellulose such as morphology, thermal stability, and solubility were investigated. The rice straw cellulose ester film was prepared by casting method and the films obtained were tested for their tensile properties.