Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Food Science and Agro-Processing, School of Engineering Science and Technology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3006 Morogoro, Tanzania
2 Department of Food Processing, Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA), P.O. Box 671 Morogoro, Tanzania
Abstract
This study evaluated pineapple peels as a source of cellulose and nanocellulose for bio-based packaging materials. Cellulose was extracted from pineapple peel powder through alkaline and bleaching treatments, then converted to nanocellulose by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The physicochemical, lignocellulosic, and structural properties were assessed for packaging applications. Progressive changes were observed during the conversion from pineapple peel powder (PPP) to cellulose (PPC) and nanocellulose (PPNC). Moisture content declined from 8.83 ± 0.48% in raw PPP to 3.75 ± 0.10% in PPNC (P < 0.001), while ash content decreased from 5.90 ± 0.30% to 2.64 ± 0.58% (P < 0.01), showing effective removal of inorganic residues. Bulk density increased from 0.28 ± 0.01 g/mL in PPP to 0.55 ± 0.03 g/mL in PPC, then dropped to 0.39 ± 0.03 g/mL in PPNC (F = 52.68, P 0.01). Water absorption capacity fell from 390 ± 1.41% to 171 ± 5.66% and slightly rose to 201 ± 8.49% (F = 797.94, P < 0.001), while water solubility index increased from 16.02 ± 0.76% to 90.75 ± 6.70% (F = 205.77, P < 0.001). Hemicellulose and lignin decreased, cellulose increased, and FTIR confirmed removal of non-cellulosic components. These results identify the peel of Smooth Cayenne pineapple grown in Tanzania as a viable, low-cost feedstock for nanocellulose production, and they quantify the filler properties that govern the formulation of bio-based packaging films.
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