Fabrication of biopolymeric sheets using cellulose extracted from water hyacinth and its application studies for...

Driven by the imperative need for sustainable and biodegradable materials, this study focuses on two pivotal aspects: cellulose extraction and dye removal. The alarming repercussions of non-biodegradable food packaging materials on health and the environment necessitate the exploration of viable alternatives. Herein, we embark on creating easily degradable biopolymer substitutes, achieved through innovative crafting of a biodegradable cellulose sheet sourced from extracted cellulose. Concurrently, the significant environmental and health hazards posed by textile industry discharge of wastewater laden with persistent dyes demand innovative treatment strategies. This study extensively investigated four distinct methods of cellulose extraction from water hyacinth, a complex aquatic weed. The functional groups, crystallinity index, thermal stability, thermal effects, and morphology of the extracted cellulose were characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC, and SEM. This exploration yielded a notable outcome, as the most promising yield (39.4 ± 0.02% w/w) emerged using 2% sodium chlorite and 2% glacial acetic acid as bleaching agents, surpassing other methods. Building on this foundational cellulose extraction process, the extracted fibers were transformed into highly biodegradable cellulose sheets, outlining conventional packaging materials. Moreover, these cellulose sheets exhibit exceptional efficacy in adsorbing reactive red dye, with the adsorption capacity of 71.43 mg/g by following pseudo-second kinetics. This study establishes an economically viable avenue for repurposing challenging aquatic weeds into commercially valuable biopolymers. The potential of these sheets for dye removal, coupled with their innate biodegradability, opens auspicious avenues for broader applications encompassing commercial wastewater treatment procedures.