(338am) Exploring Potential of Polysaccharide Polyelectrolyte Complexes: Film Formation via Synthesis and Characterization of Quaternized Cellulose and Carboxymethylcellulose

There is an urgent need to replace low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastics and prevent the increasing environmental damage they cause. Thereby it is crucial to look for the production of environmentally friendly and low-cost alternatives. To date, efforts have been made to develop biobased plastics, including polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and starch-based plastics. Although this is a big step forward, these innovations lack critical aspects of LDPE; factors like expensive production process, limited biodegradability, poor mechanical strength, and, in some cases, water solubility and oxygen permeability are among the issues that limit their potential to replace LPDE in food packaging.

In this study, we synthesized novel polysaccharide polyelectrolyte complexes (PPCs) using quaternized cellulose (QC) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). PPCs have been effective in other applications, including paper and paperboard coatings and wood and paper adhesion. QC and CMC are potential candidates for film production as they are readily available at industrial scales and can potentially provide higher mechanical strength compared to starch-based films.

The synthesized films were characterized using various techniques, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, water solubility, water and oil resistance, and contact angle measurements. Our results indicate that the PPC method successfully produced biodegradable films. In this talk, we will provide a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of the PPC method for producing biodegradable films. We believe this method could have important implications for the packaging industry, where the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics is becoming increasingly urgent. Our next steps include further optimization of the synthesis method and evaluating the films' performance under different conditions.