UV-Shielding biodegradable films based on carboxymethyl cellulose filled with henna extracts

Abstract

UV-shielding biodegradable films based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) have been prepared using henna extracts from henna powder as the UV blocker additive. The effect of henna extracts content from 0 to 10v% on the mechanical, thermal, and optical properties, moisture content, water vapor permeability and biodegradability of the prepared CMC films has been investigated. The results showed that the total phenolic compounds content of henna extracts was 0.1803 ± 0.0097 g/15 g dry weight of henna powder. The addition of henna extracts to CMC increased moisture content of the films but decreased the water vapor permeability in which lowest water vapor permeability was 2.08 × 10-5 ± 1.36 × 10-5 g.m/m2.day.mmHg. The henna extracts addition also reduced tensile strength of the films. From optical properties testing, it was found that color of the henna extracts filled CMC films tended to be darker; L* and %transmittance decreased with the increase of henna extracts content. Moreover, the addition of henna extracts significantly improved the UV shielding ability of the films. In particular, the CMC film with 10 %v henna extracts showed 100 % shielding ability against UVC (100–280 nm) and UVB (280–315 nm) and 99.90 % shielding ability against UVA (315–400 nm). CMC film filled with henna extracts as UV blocker additive has potential for use as UV-shielding biodegradable packaging material.