A Sustainable Approach for the Development of Cellulose-Based Food Container from Coconut Coir

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Sustainable Materials

Background:

• Growing demand for sustainable resources drives research into cellulose-based materials.
• Coconut coir fiber presents an underutilized waste source for biopolymer synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a viable biopolymer for tableware from coconut coir cellulose.
• To enhance the properties of the biopolymer using starch, glycerin, and citric acid.
• To evaluate the environmental compatibility and mechanical performance of the developed tableware.

Main Methods:

• Biopolymer synthesis from coconut coir cellulose.
• Characterization using FT-IR, TGA, SEM, XRD, tensile strength, and contact angle measurements.
• Optimization of cellulose-to-binder ratios and incorporation of plasticizer and cross-linker.

Main Results:

• A cellulose-starch biopolymer with enhanced mechanical properties was synthesized.
• The addition of citric acid as a cross-linker significantly improved tensile strength (18.6 MPa) and elongation (3.5%).
• The cross-linked biopolymer demonstrated improved thermal stability and a network structure confirmed by various analytical techniques.

Conclusions:

• Sustainable and mechanically robust tableware can be produced from coconut coir cellulose.
• The developed biopolymer offers a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics like polystyrene.
• This research contributes to waste valorization and the reduction of synthetic polymer pollution.