Development of Carboxymethyl Cellulose/Starch Film Composites Using Cellulose from Sugarcane Bagasse and Titanium Dioxide for Active Food Packaging Applications

The development of an active food packaging film from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), starch, glycerol, and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to enhance mechanical strength and moisture resistance, which was synthesized from sugarcane bagasse (SCB), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) was investigated. The MCC was chemically extracted from SCB via alkaline treatment, hydrogen peroxide oxidation, and acid hydrolysis, resulting in 92% cellulose purity, as confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The biofilms were prepared using the solution casting method with 3 conditions: CMC/starch, CMC/starch/MCC, and CMC/starch/MCC/TiO2. Incorporating MCC and TiO2 significantly improved tensile strength (21.57 MPa to 42.79 MPa) and Young’s modulus (1258 MPa to 1568 MPa). These additions decreased water solubility from 22.1% to 0.7%. FT-IR analysis of the films showed enhanced CH bonding of CMC in high content without any reaction. Biodegradability tests showed complete degradation within 7 days. Shelf-life extension tests demonstrated that bananas wrapped with CMC/starch/MCC/TiO2 film lasted up to 12 days, compared to 5-6 days for unwrapped samples, with the addition of TiO2 effectively scavenging ethylene without compromising film integrity. These results demonstrate the feasibility of SCB-derived MCC for sustainable, high-performance food packaging.