Fabrication and Characterization of PVA/Pectin Composite Films Strengthened with Ananas comosus Leaves-Derived...

The depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution caused by the accumulation of plastic packaging have led to a booming rise in the demand for eco-friendly packaging materials as alternatives. In this study, nanocellulose (NC) extracted from pineapple leaves using acid pretreatment and alkali treatment was incorporated into poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and pectin blends to enhance their functional properties. The extracted NC was characterized using different analytical techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphological, thermal, barrier, optical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of the NC-incorporated films were evaluated. NC incorporation significantly enhanced the films, resulting in improvements in thermal stability, mechanical strength, UV shielding, and hydrophobicity of films. The tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EAB) of the films increased to 9.03 ± 0.88 and 515.33 ± 6.43 MPa at 0.3 and 0.4 wt % addition of NC, respectively, while the maximum thermal stability was observed at 0.3 wt % NC incorporation. The films also exhibited excellent UV shielding property in both UVA (70.03%) and UVB (88.59%) regions and enhanced hydrophobicity, with a 42.7% increase in water contact angle (WCA), a 15.6% reduction in water solubility (WS), and a 75.7% decrease in water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), indicating improved moisture barrier performance. The findings demonstrate the reinforcing effect of the pineapple leaf-derived nanocellulose in PVA/pectin films with the potential for application in fresh produce packaging.