Preparation of transparent and antimicrobial cellulose film from ginger nanofiber

Project Title

Preparation of transparent and antimicrobial cellulose film from ginger nanofiber

Project Area of Specialization Biomedical EngineeringProject Summary

Food preservation has been a major anxiety of men over the centuries. Contamination with microorganisms and pests cause considerable losses of food during storage, transportation and marketing. The world health organization stated the infectious and parasitic diseases represented the most frequent cause of death worldwide. Numerous processing techniques have been developed to control food spoilage and raise safety.

Nanocellulose based transparent paper with resistance against microbial activity carries great importance in the safety and quality of the packaged food products. Plant-based cellulose nanofiber from renewable sources is being developed characterized by increasingly high specific strength and modulus, large specific surface area, high aspect ratio, environmental benefits and low cost [1]. Nanofibers extracted from plants have been used to produce optically transparent films [2].

One promising type of low-cost eco-friendly fiber that could be used for transparent cellulose films can be obtained from ginger tubers.Therefore, the aim of this project is to produce an optically transparent film with good antimicrobial properties from ginger cellulose nanofiber using chemicals and ultrasonication method.

References

[1] Ng, H. M., Sin, L. T., Tee, T. T., Bee, S. T., Hui, D., Low, C. Y., "Extraction of cellulose nanocrystals from plant sources for application as reinforcing agent in polymers". Composites Part B: Engineering, vol. 75, (2015) p. 176–200

[2] Nogi, M., Iwamoto, S., Nakagaito, A. N., & Yano, H., "Optically transparent nanofiber paper. Advanced Materials", vol. 21(16), (2009) p.1595–1598

Project Objectives

• Preparation of transparent cellulose film from ginger nanofiber with good antimicrobial properties.
• Studying the fiber suspensions through morphology of the chemically treated film and sonicated film.
• Characterizing fiber suspensions using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal resistance, moisture absorption, size of ginger fiber, transparency.
• Evaluating the antimicrobial properties of ginger fibers.

Project Implementation Method

Project is divided into the following stages. 

Materials:

-Ginger tubers

Preparation of transparent film:

Method of fiber treatment consists of the following steps. 

• Alkalization: Raw ginger fiber to be soaked in mixture of toluene and ethanol in the ratio 2:1.
• Bleaching process: The dried ginger fibers to be soaked with a mixture of NaClO2 and CH3COOH in the ratio 4:1.
• Acid hydrolysis: The suspension is to be hydrolysed with 5 M HCl at 50 C for 12h then washed with distilled water until pH 7.
• Ultrasonication: The suspension to be poured into a Teflon plate for drying in oven at 50 C for 12h.

Characterization:

• FESEM observation

• Particle size analysis (PSA)
• Film Transparency
• FTIR

The project comprises the preparation of transparent antimicrobial cellulose film from ginger nanofiber. Ginger nanofibers have high cellulose content (88%) and antimicrobial activity against some microorganisms.

Benefits of the Project

• This project can promote transparent nanocellulose film with good antimicrobial properties from abundant and available ginger fibers.
• It could have practical applications in the food packaging industry where transparency and antimicrobial properties are important.
• This cellulose antimicrobial film would have the crystallinity index of 48%, and lower moisture resistance than film from chemically treated cellulose fiber and can promote transparent nanocellulose film with good antimicrobial properties from abundant and available ginger

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Following characterization techniques are used to identify its mechanical and chemical properties:

• FESEM observation
• Field emission scanning electron microscopy
• FTIR spectroscopy
• X-ray diffraction
• Thermal analysis
• Moisture absorption measurements
• Antimicrobial activity

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry HealthOther Industries Education , Agriculture , Food , Manufacturing Core Technology OthersOther Technologies Clean TechSustainable Development Goals No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being for People, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Partnerships to achieve the GoalRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	80000
Vacuum suction filtration device	Equipment	1	16000	16000
Small electrical blender	Equipment	1	16000	16000
FESEM Testing	Equipment	2	3500	7000
X-ray diffraction Testing	Equipment	2	3500	7000
Thermal analysis Testing	Equipment	2	3500	7000
FTIR spectrosco9py testing	Equipment	2	3500	7000
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)	Equipment	2	1000	2000
Sodium Chlorite ( NaClO2 )	Equipment	2	1000	2000
Acetic acid glacial (CH?COOH)	Equipment	2	1000	2000
Toluene (C7H8)	Equipment	2	1000	2000
Ethanol (C2H5OH)	Equipment	2	1000	2000
Mesh Chinese cloth 74 nm	Miscellaneous	1	1000	1000
Ginger Tuber	Miscellaneous	1	200	200
Stationary	Miscellaneous	2	400	800
Print	Miscellaneous	2	1000	2000
Transport	Miscellaneous	30	200	6000