| Abstract Scope |
Cellulose is usually derived from wood sources and isolated to achieve cellulose nanoparticles through acid hydrolysis. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is produced by bacteria proliferation using nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen sources and a has similar chemical structure to plant derived cellulose. Compared to commercially available cellulose, BC has higher purity, increased moldability and water holding capacity. Current research and development initiatives are focus on the reduction of manufacturing cost of cellulose using agricultural waste as an alternative precursor material. Banana peels are agricultural waste that can be used for cellulose growth as a carbon source for bacteria. The more ripened the peels, the higher the sugar and carbon content in the peels. The resulting BC doesn’t require any bleaching or chemical post-processing. In this research and development project, BC derived from banana peels will be formulated, characterize, and analyzed for physical, mechanical properties, and thermomechanical properties compared to commercial nanocellulose. |