Carboxymethyl cellulose from Young Palmyra palm fruit husk: Synthesis, characterization, and film properties

Abstract

A young Palmyra palm fruit husk, an agricultural by-product after removing sweet jelly seed, was used as starting material for carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) synthesis. Significant increases for percent yield (101.35–125.72%), degree of substitution (DS: 0.19–0.58), and solubility (10.04–83.58%) were observed when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) level increased (30–60%, w/v) (P < 0.05). The crystallinity of the carboxymethyl cellulose synthesized from young Palmyra palm fruit husk (CMCy) was decreased as compared to cellulose. The CMCy films showed a significant difference in the film properties, compared to the commercial CMC (CMCc) film (P < 0.05). The synthesized CMCy films appeared light yellow with a rough surface, while the CMCc film had colorless and transparent. However, the synthesized CMCy films showed greater thickness than the CMCc film, but less tensile strength and water vapor permeability (P < 0.05). According to these findings, young Palmyra palm fruit husk had the potential to produce CMC and could be applied in food packaging.