There is a necessity for bioplastics as an alternative to the plastics currently being used. This is particularly important with respect for food-safe packaging use. Hemp is a good source of cellulose and is suitable for a bioplastic due to that fact that it is a reproducible crop. Both the hurd and the bast fiber of the hemp were examined for their cellulose content because of the different physicochemical properties between the fibers. The cellulose extraction from both the hurd and bast fiber consisted of de-waxing, bleaching, and lignin and hemicellulose removal. The hemp bast was found to have a higher cellulose content compared with the hurd, therefore it was chosen to be used to prepare the cellulose nanocrystals. The cellulose nanocrystals where then synthesized and characterized, where hydrolysis times were compared at both 30 minutes and 60 minutes to see which was more suitable to prepare them. It was found that at 30 and 60 minutes there was not a significant difference in the diameter and the length of the nanocrystals, but at 60 minutes there were more surface charges which lead to a degradation in increased sulfate half-ester groups. As a result of this, the preparation time for the cellulose nanocrystals was determined to be 30 minutes using the hemp bast.

Development of hemp nanocellulose-based bioplastics and their application for food packaging

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.