Synthesis of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose-based hydrogel from durian (Durio zibethinus) rind using aluminium sulphate as crosslinking agent

Abstract

Chemical cross-linked hydrogel possesses a more stable polymeric network, but nowadays, chemical crosslinking agents that are frequently used have been reported to have a toxic effect on humans. This present study was aimed at synthesizing a user-friendly hydrogel from a natural polymer, durian (Durio zibethinus) rind using aluminium sulphate as a crosslinking agent. Crude cellulose was isolated from durian rind and used to synthesize sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC), which was subjected to infrared spectrophotometric analysis. This product was used to produce hydrogel using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-CMC-glycerol with aluminium sulphate as a crosslinking agent. The NaCMC-based hydrogel films were characterized by determining the swelling ratio, gel fraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. The percentage yield of cellulose from durian rind was 20 %, while the synthesized NaCMC was 145 %. The synthesized hydrogel was thin transparent film and flexible. The characteristics of the swelling ratio, gel fraction, and FTIR indicated that a crosslink was formed. The lower the concentration of glycerol, the higher the swelling degree and gel fraction of hydrogel. The findings from this research demonstrated that hydrogel film could be synthesized from durian rind NaCMC using aluminium sulphate as a crosslinking agent.