Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 28 No 3 (2024): 543 - 554

UNVEILING THE IMPACT OF BACTERIAL CELLULOSE DERIVED FROM NATA DE COCO AND SORBITOL ON BIOCOMPOSITE FILM PROPERTIES FOR POTENTIAL FOOD PACKAGING

(Menyingkap Kesan Selulosa Bakteria Diperoleh daripada Nata De Coco dan Sorbitol Terhadap Sifat-Sifat Filem Biokomposit Sebagai Bahan Pembungkus Makanan Alternatif)

Sharifah Fathiyah Sy Mohamad^*, Nur Fikriyah Yaacob, and Intan Anak Ekong

Faculty of Chemical and Proces Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah

Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil, Yaakob, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

^*Corresponding author: fathiyah@umpsa.edu.my

Received: 10 October 2023; Accepted: 31 March 2024; Published: 29 June 2024

Abstract

The surge in plastic production in recent years has demonstrated the urgent need for eco-friendly alternatives. Bacterial cellulose (BC) has emerged as a promising candidate for replacing petroleum-based materials. However, the inherent rigidity, fragility, and brittleness of BC have posed formidable challenges, particularly in food packaging. This study investigates the impact of combining BC (1.0g, 2.5g, 5.0g, 7.5g, 10.0g) derived from nata de coco and sorbitol (0.5g, 1.0g, 1.5g, 2.0g, 2.5g) on the physical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties, as well as the surface morphology of the biocomposite films. Films were produced by varying BC and sorbitol quantities via the solvent casting method. Evaluations encompassed film thickness, moisture content, water solubility, mechanical characteristics, FTIR, TGA, and FE-SEM. Tensile strength increased with BC content but decreased with added sorbitol. FTIR confirmed the consistency of functional groups in the BC/Chitosan/Sorbitol biocomposite film with those in BC. TGA indicated improved thermal stability with increased BC and decreased sorbitol content. FE-SEM images revealed a smoother biocomposite film surface with sorbitol. The optimal composition was determined to be 10.0BC and 0.5S due to its low moisture content, low water solubility, high tensile strength, and minimal TGA weight loss. Overall, this study highlights the potential of BC/Chitosan/Sorbitol films as environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives to traditional synthetic food packaging materials.

Keywords: bacterial cellulose, nata de coco, chitosan, sorbitol, biocomposite film

Abstrak

Peningkatan pengeluaran plastik dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini telah menghasilkan keperluan mendesak untuk pembangunan pengganti plastik yang mesra alam. Dalam konteks ini, selulosa bakteria (SB) mempunyai potensi yang memberangsangkan sebagai pengganti bahan berasaskan petroleum. Walau bagaimanapun, ketegaran dan kerapuhan SB telah menimbulkan pelbagai cabaran, terutamanya dalam konteks kegunaannya sebagai pembungkus makanan. Dalam kajian ini, kami mengkaji kesan gabungan BC dan sorbitol terhadap sifat fizikal, mekanikal, kimia, termal, dan morfologi permukaan filem biokomposit berdasarkan BC. Filem-filem ini dihasilkan dengan mengubah kuantiti BC (1.0g, 2.5g, 5.0g, 7.5g, 10.0g) dan sorbitol (0.5g, 1.0g, 1.5g, 2.0g, 2.5g) menggunakan kaedah pelarut. Sampel filem yang terhasil dinilai berdasarkan ketebalan filem, kandungan lembapan, kelarutan dalam air, sifat-sifat mekanik, FTIR, TGA, dan FE-SEM. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa nilai kekuatan regangan meningkat seiring dengan peningkatan BC, tetapi berkurangan apabila kepekatan sorbitol bertambah. FTIR menunjukkan bahawa kumpulan berfungsi yang wujud dalam filem biokomposit BC/Chitosan/Sorbitol sepadan dengan kumpulan berfungsi BC. TGA pula mendedahkan bahawa kestabilan termal filem komposit meningkat dengan peningkatan BC dan penurunan sorbitol. Peningkatan kuantiti BC menyebabkan filem mengalami kehilangan berat yang minimum, tetapi apabila tahap sorbitol meningkat, filem mengalami kehilangan berat yang lebih besar FE-SEM menggambarkan bahawa permukaan filem komposit menjadi lebih licin dengan penambahan sorbitol. Komposisi optimum ditentukan sebagai 10.0BC dan 0.5S, disebabkan oleh kandungan lembapan yang rendah, kelarutan dalam air yang rendah, kekuatan regangan yang tinggi, dan kehilangan berat yang minima dalam TGA. Keseluruhannya, kajian ini membuktikan bahawa filem komposit berdasarkan BC mempunyai potensi untuk digunakan sebagai alternatif yang boleh dikompos secara biodegradasi dan mampan kepada bahan pembungkusan makanan sintetik tradisional.

Kata kunci: selulosa bakteria, nata de coco, kitosan, sorbitol, filem biokomposit

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