3D structural analysis of the biodegradability of banana pseudostem nanocellulose bioplastics

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 23210 - 12
• Main Authors: Faradilla, RH Fitri, Arns, Ji-Youn, Stenzel, Martina H., Arcot, Jayashree, Arns, Christoph H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 05.10.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301/54; 639/766/930; 704/172; Banana pseudostem; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biomass; Bioplastics; Cellulose; Cellulose - chemistry; Cellulose - metabolism; Composting; Computed tomography; Cyclic N-Oxides; Humanities and Social Sciences; Microbial activity; Microflora; Microorganisms; Molecular weight; Morphology; multidisciplinary; Musa - metabolism; Nanocellulose; Nanostructures - chemistry; Oxidation; Polyethylene glycol; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Scanning electron microscopy; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Structural analysis; TEMPO; Tomography; Tunnels; X-Ray computed tomography; X-Ray Microtomography; Banana pseudostem; X-Ray computed tomography; Nanocellulose; TEMPO; Biodegradability
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-74226-6

X-Ray micro-computed tomography (XCT) is used to reveal the micro-structural changes of banana pseudostem nanocellulose bioplastic due to a biodegradation process initiated in a formulated composting media that allowed the growth of aerobic microflora. The bioplastic itself was made of nanocellulose, which was isolated from banana pseudostem using the 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) mediated oxidation method, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as plasticiser. XCT provided insights into the 3D structural change of the bioplastic identifying the degradation process at two scales. The results showed that the local thickness and roughness of the bioplastic increased after degradation, while the density of the material decreased. Enlarged voids and tunnels were observed in the material after degradation. The formation of these tunnels is attributed to the popping of internal PEG-containing voids because of the generation of gases, which after forming may further accelerate biodegradation by microbial activity.