Sains Malaysiana 54(3)(2025): 899-911

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5403-21

 

Cellulose Nanocrystals and Zinc Oxide in Pineapple Starch Films for Enhanced Banana Shelf-Life

(Nanokristal Selulosa dan Zink Oksida dalam Filem Kanji Nanas untuk Jangka Hayat Pisang yang Dipertingkatkan)

 

LANHAO LI¹, SIEW XIAN CHIN^2,3, PORNCHAI RACHTANAPUN⁴, TAWEECHAI AMORNSAKCHAI⁵, POI SIM KHIEW⁶, SHAHARIAR CHOWDHURY⁷, SARANI ZAKARIA¹ & CHIN HUA CHIA^1,3,*

 

¹Materials Science Program, Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

²ASASIpintar Program, Pusat GENIUS@Pintar Negara, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

³Quantum Materials and Technology Research Group, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

⁴Faculty of Agro-Industry, Chiang Mai University, 50100 Chiang Mai, Thailand

⁵Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Payathai, 10400 Bangkok, Thailand

⁶Center of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia

⁷Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, 90110 Hatyai Songkhla, Thailand

 

Diserahkan: 14 Oktober 2024/Diterima: 21 November 2024

 

Abstract

This study investigates the development of biodegradable films from pineapple stem starch enhanced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles for improved food preservation. The film-forming behavior of pineapple stem starch was examined with varying concentrations of glycerol (0-30%), CNC (0-1.5%), and ZnO (0-20%). Rheological measurements showed that glycerol concentrations significantly influenced the viscoelastic properties of the starch solutions, with a notable peak in viscosity observed at 20% glycerol. The addition of CNC increased the storage modulus (G') and viscosity of the starch solutions, indicating enhanced structural integrity. ZnO nanoparticles imparted effective UV-blocking capabilities to the films, with optimal performance observed at 10% concentration. Water vapor permeability (WVP) of the films slightly increased with ZnO content, ranging from 0.0127 to 0.0157 g·m⁻¹·h⁻¹·Pa⁻¹. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed uniform dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles within the starch matrix. The ZnO-enhanced starch coatings effectively extended the shelf life of bananas by delaying the ripening process. This study demonstrates the potential of pineapple stem starch-based films enhanced with CNC and ZnO as a sustainable and effective solution for food packaging, contributing to reduced food waste and environmental impact.

Keywords: Biodegradable films; cellulose nanocrystals; food preservation; starch

 

Abstrak

Penyelidikan ini mengkaji pembangunan filem terbiodegradasi daripada kanji batang nanas yang dipertingkatkan dengan nanokristal selulosa (CNC) dan nanozarah zink oksida (ZnO) untuk pengawetan makanan yang lebih baik. Tingkah laku pembentukan filem kanji batang nanas dikaji dengan pelbagai kepekatan gliserol (0-30%), CNC (0-1.5%) dan ZnO (0-20%). Pengukuran reologi menunjukkan bahawa kepekatan gliserol mempengaruhi sifat viskoelastik larutan kanji secara signifikan dengan peningkatan ketara dalam kelikatan diperhatikan pada 20% gliserol. Penambahan CNC meningkatkan modulus penyimpanan (G') dan kelikatan larutan kanji, menunjukkan peningkatan integriti struktur. Nanozarah ZnO memberikan keupayaan menghalang UV yang berkesan kepada filem, dengan prestasi optimum diperhatikan pada kepekatan 10%. Kebolehtelapan wap air (WVP) filem sedikit meningkat dengan kandungan ZnO, berkisar antara 0.0127 hingga 0.0157 g·m⁻¹·j⁻¹·Pa⁻¹. Analisis mikroskopi elektron imbasan (SEM) menunjukkan penyebaran seragam nanozarah ZnO dalam matriks kanji. Salutan kanji yang dipertingkatkan dengan ZnO berkesan memanjangkan jangka hayat pisang dengan melambatkan proses peranuman. Kajian ini menunjukkan potensi filem berasaskan kanji batang nanas yang dipertingkatkan dengan CNC dan ZnO sebagai penyelesaian yang lestari dan berkesan untuk pembungkusan makanan, menyumbang kepada pengurangan sisa makanan dan kesan alam sekitar.

Kata kunci: Filem terbiodegradasi; kanji; nanohablur selulosa; pengawetan makanan

 

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*Corresponding author; email: chia@ukm.edu.my