PVA-enhanced sustainable synthesis of dual cross-linked ethanol lignin/carboxymethylcellulose-based water-soluble films

Abstract

The enduring non-biodegradability of conventional pesticide packaging films, coupled with the potential health risks posed by pesticide residues adhering to their surfaces, has ignited substantial interest in the advancement of biodegradable and water-soluble carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-based films. This study presents a green, environmentally sustainable approach using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to enhance the synthesis of ethanol lignin/CMC-based double-crosslinked water-soluble composite membranes (LCCPx), which, when dissolved in water upon application, automatically release pesticides, thereby eliminating the need for manual intervention to open the packaging. The results demonstrated that the PVA content significantly affected both the mechanical and gas barrier properties of the composite films. Compared to LCCP0, LCCP20 demonstrated enhanced mechanical properties, including a tensile strength of 41.9 MPa, elongation of 17 %, and a toughness of 573.99 kJ/m³. Furthermore, LCCP20 presents itself as an exceptionally promising candidate for the continued advancement of water-soluble multifunctional membrane technologies, attributable to its outstanding UV resistance stability, excellent water solubility, and biodegradability. This film not only demonstrates substantial potential as an environmentally sustainable and biodegradable water-soluble packaging material but also establishes a promising research avenue for replacing conventional plastic films in pesticide inner packaging.