Properties of paper incorporated with nanocellulose extracted using microbial hydrolysis assisted shear process

Abstract

In the past two decades, nocellulose is widely as a renewable source for various industrial applications. Nanocellulose in the form of nanocrystalline (NCC) or nanofibrillated (NFC) has many applications, mainly in enhancing the mechanical strength of composite materials, or as precursors for supercapacitors, aerogel, hydrogel and membrane fabrication processes. In this study, microbial hydrolysis combined with shear mechanical treatment was used as an alternative method to produce nanocellulose. Commercial cellulase enzyme from Trichoderma reesei(ATCC 26921) was used to hydrolyse bleached soda cellulose from Macaranga, a tropical pioneer forest species. The enzymatic hydrolysis was followed by enzyme deactivation, purification, homogenization and sonication. Resulting nanocellose was added at 1%, 2.5%, 5% and 10% loading into 60±3 gsm laboratory handsheets prepared according to TAPPI T205 method. The handsheets were tested for physical, mechanical and optical properties based on TAPPI T220 method. Results, among others, showed that the addition of nanocellulose up to 10% can reduce the air permeability of paper by 50%. This indicates the potential applications in food and pharmaceutical packaging in which degradation due to bacterial activities can be reduced and product shelf life can be prolonged.