All-Rye-Based Transparent Composites for Bio-Based Food Packaging: Valorization of Rye Bran Cellulose Nanocrystals as Reinforcing Agents in Commercial Rye Arabinoxylan Films
2025 (English)In: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, E-ISSN 2168-0485, Vol. 13, no 35, p. 14446-14458Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
This study presents, for the first time, the development of all-rye-based nanocomposite films for biobased food packaging by incorporating cellulose nanocrystals isolated from rye bran (RB-CNC) into a rye arabinoxylan (R-AX) matrix. The isolated RB-CNC exhibited high purity (>90% cellulose) and surface charge (-35.8 mV), together with an exceptional aspect ratio (similar to 61) and thermal stability (230 degrees C). Nanocomposite films were developed by incorporating RB-CNC at different loadings (5, 10, and 20 wt %) into commercial R-AX matrix. The resulting composites demonstrated significantly enhanced thermomechanical performance, competitive water vapor permeability, and excellent optical transparency, which are key properties required for packaging applications. Specifically, films with 10 wt % RB-CNC showed an 81% increase in Young's modulus, a 49% enhancement in elongation at break, and a 98% rise in tensile strength compared to neat R-AX films. Optical transparency improved with RB-CNC content, with films achieving 95% transmittance and only 10% haze. All nanocomposites exhibited a thermal stability improvement exceeding 10 degrees C while retaining R-AX's intrinsic water vapor barrier properties. These findings highlight the potential of RB-CNC as a high-performance, biobased reinforcement for hemicellulose-based biopolymers, paving the way for fully biobased, circular food packaging solutions.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Chemical Society (ACS) , 2025. Vol. 13, no 35, p. 14446-14458
Keywords [en]
cereal bran, biomass valorization, nanocelluloses, hemicellulose-based nanocomposites, thermomechanicalproperties, gas barrier properties, optical properties, sustainable food packaging
National Category
Polymer Technologies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-373796DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c04448ISI: 001560578600001PubMedID: 40937473OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-373796DiVA, id: diva2:2020040
Note
QC 20251209
2025-12-092025-12-092025-12-09Bibliographically approved