Production of Cellulose Nanofibers From Pineapple Peel (Ananas comosus) and Application in Biodegradable Films

Abstract The waste of pineapple ( Ananas comosus ) juice accounts for 35% of the fruit's weight, and this organic material is rich in fibers and cellulose, making it a promising source for producing new ingredients for biodegradable packaging. This study objected to cellulose‐produced nanofibers from pineapple peel by chemical and enzymatic treatment combined with mechanical treatment and subsequently evaluated the application of these nanofibers as a reinforcing agent in biodegradable films. The cellulose nanofibers produced through enzymatic treatment with a sonicator presented the best results and were applied in biodegradable films at concentrations of 3% and 6%. The addition of 6% of cellulose nanofibers increased the tension (26.01 ± 0.78). It reduced the elongation percentage (3.27 ± 0.38) of films in addition to expanding the biodegradability, with up to 96% degradation observed after just 1 day. The use of nanofibers obtained from pineapple peel is a promising ingredient for the development of biodegradable packaging.