Biodegradable and recyclable, new material emerges as a sustainable alternative with antibacterial action
Scientists from the CNPEM’s Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano), in partnership with Unicamp and UFABC, developed a biodegradable paper of plant origin that combines high resistance, a barrier against liquids, oxygen and antibacterial action. Innovation paves the way for replacing plastic in different sectors of the economy, with the potential to replace packaging, especially in the food and cosmetics industries.
The creation of the new technology was reported in the international journal Chemical Engineering Journal. The process consists of using electrostatic interaction between nanocellulose derived from sugarcane bagasse and natural latex from rubber trees to form a multi-layer coating. The result is a biodegradable, recyclable and fluoride-free material.
Tests showed that paper coated with five layers of nanocellulose and Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) reduced the passage of water vapor by 20 times, extending the shelf life of packaged products. It also reduced oxygen permeability by up to 4,000 times, preventing oxidation and loss of quality, and achieved a maximum level of resistance to oils and fats. Furthermore, it showed antibacterial action against E. coli, eliminating more than 99% of the bacteria cells after direct contact.
Another differential is that the new paper remains recyclable, meaning it can return to the production chain without compromising its properties. “Our goal was to create a viable alternative to reduce dependence on single-use plastics. The result is a functional, sustainable paper capable of meeting the conservation and safety demands of the packaging market”, says researcher Juliana Bernardes, from LNNano/CNPEM, the study’s author.
The work was funded by Fapesp and CNPq, and has already generated a patent application. See the article here: Electrostatic complexation of cationic nanocellulose and natural rubber latex for the development of multifunctional paper packaging – ScienceDirect
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) houses a cutting-edge, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment, with actions in different areas of the National Science, Technology and Innovation System. A Social Organization supervised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), CNPEM is driven by research
that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials and sustainability. Responsible for Sirius, the largest scientific equipment ever built in the country, CNPEM currently develops the Orion project, a laboratory complex for advanced research on pathogens. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructures open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects with the productive sector and training of researchers and students constitute the pillars of this unique center in the country, capable of acting as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. The CNPEM is responsible for the operation of the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), the Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), the Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano) and the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR), as well as for the Ilum School of Science, a bachelor’s degree course in Science and Technology, supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC). https://cnpem.br/
