Abstract:
One of the most important issues of the twenty-first century is the dangerous effects
that single-use, non-biodegradable plastics have on the environment. This study
developed a sustainable thin-film material for environmentally friendly food packaging
applications by combining cellulose and chitosan. High-purity cellulose was obtained
from corn husks (Zea mays) by a series of steps that included ethanol/nitric acid
delignification, H'Or,A{aOH bleaching. A four-stage purification process was used to
extract chitosan from Black Tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) shells, which are
deproteinization (4% NaOH), demineralizatron (4% HCI), decolorization
(KMnOo/oxalic acid), and deacetylation (65% NaOH). The 2:l and 10:1 cellulose to
chitosan ratio was used to create the composite films, which was then plasticized using
20% (wlw) glycerol and dissolved in acetic acid to guarantee uniform mixing.
The resultant corn husk cellulose-chitosan (CHC) film will be improve promising
qualities for food packaging, including biodegradation, significant antibacterial action,
and tensile strength compare with low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Energy-efficient
processing was made possible by the acetic acid solvent system with, boiling point:
lI7 .9"C and the addition of glycerol matched flexibility with modest water solubility.
By repurposing marine and agricultural waste, the CHC composite adheres to the ideals
of the circular economy, even though it absorbs a little more moisture than synthetic
films. This work addresses the functional needs for food preseruation as well as
environmental concerns by offering a scalable, green chemical method for
biodegradable packaging. Future studies, should be examine food application features
including FTIR, TGA, and SEM, as well as optimize cross-linking to improve moisture
resistance while preserving biodegradability qualities of food packaging film
