Effectiveness of Jute Cellulose Nanocrystal Reinforcement into Biodegradable Packaging “Sonali Bags®”

In an age marked by environmental consciousness, ‘Sonali Bag’ has emerged as a promising substitute for single-use plastic bags, invented in Bangladesh. It is a jute cellulose-based, totally biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, and environment-friendly biopolymer. However, certain physical limitations have hindered its widespread consumer appeal. To address these challenges, this study pioneers the integration of jute cellulose nanocrystals (JCNCs) into Sonali Bag, with the objective of enhancing their physical properties. JCNC, obtained through a meticulous 64% concentrated sulfuric acid hydrolysis process, has been reinforced with Sonali Bag at varying loadings (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 wt.%). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed spherical cellulose nanocrystals with high crystallinity and distinctive tear-like features on the nanoparticle’s surface. Furthermore, the SEM micrographs depicted that JCNC loading up to 0.2% helped reduce the pore formation of biocomposite. Moreover, the thermal properties increased significantly, and tensile strength increased by approximately 37% MPa after reinforcing JCNC with Sonali Bag. The water-resistant capacity of 0.2% CNC-reinforced film was about 30% better than other compositions. The JCNC-reinforced composite materials were found to moderate the degradation rate, contributing to the prolonged sustainability of these biodegradable solutions.