Effect of glycerol and sorbitol on cellulose-based biodegradable films

Plastics with strong mechanical and barrier properties make them a dominant packaging choice. Their lack of biodegradability, however, with a significant environmental threat, has driven the new generation of biodegradable, renewable, and non-toxic packaging materials. Among several available choices, cellulose is highly suitable due to its strong and stiff molecular structure, biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, and abundance. However, cellulose-based films possess little flexibility and elongation. This study aims to understand the effect of plasticizers glycerol and sorbitol on cellulose film properties. Cellulose (0.6–0.8 g) was solubilized in 68%ZnCl2 solution and crosslinked with Ca2+ ions (50–400 mM) and plasticizer (5–25% of cellulose) to prepare films and characterized for physical and mechanical properties and soil biodegradability. Results reveal increased tensile strength and elongation at break with the plasticizer amount. The outcome is deemed to provide novel biodegradable packaging films based on cellulose and contribute to reducing plastic pollution.