Regenerated cellulose films with controllable microporous structure for enhanced seed germination

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Conventional agricultural films pose environmental challenges due to slow degradation.
• There is a need for sustainable and biodegradable alternatives in agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare high-performance, porous regenerated cellulose films (RCNH) for seed germination.
• To investigate the influence of coagulation bath parameters on film properties.
• To evaluate the potential of these films as biodegradable agricultural mulches.

Main Methods:

• Bamboo-based cellulose carbamate-NaOH/ZnO/urea was used for film preparation.
• Coagulation was performed using environmentally friendly aqueous solutions of ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4).
• Pore size was controlled by adjusting the concentration and temperature of the coagulation bath.

Main Results:

• Optimal film properties were achieved using 5 wt% (NH4)2SO4 at 10 °C, yielding a tensile strength of 108 MPa and 35% elongation at break.
• The RCNH films exhibited higher oxygen permeability and moisture retention than plastic wrap.
• The films demonstrated rapid biodegradability, losing 90.75% mass in 63 days.

Conclusions:

• Regenerated cellulose films can be controllably prepared with tunable pore sizes and excellent mechanical properties.
• These biodegradable cellulose films show significant promise as eco-friendly agricultural mulches, enhancing seed germination and growth.
• The developed method offers a sustainable route to robust, permeable, and biodegradable cellulose-based materials.