Development of corn husk cellulose reinforced polyvinyl alcohol bio-composite films incorporated with Zinc Oxide nanoparticles

This study reports the fabrication of ZnO nanoparticles infused antimicrobial film based on PVA and corn husk cellulose via film casting method. To induce plasticizing effect between cellulose and PVA matrix, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) was used. The effect of cellulose, PEG, and ZnO-NP on the mechanical characteristics was evaluated. The result shows that the film containing 20 % cellulose exhibits improved tensile strength in comparison to neat PVA film as well as other combinations, which is ascribed to the strong hydrogen bonds developed between polyvinyl alcohol and cellulose. The study successfully extracted cellulose from corn husk via alkaline treatment and bleaching. The study also demonstrated that increasing ZnO nanoparticle concentration significantly enhances antimicrobial activity in CPZ films. This research showcases for the first time the mechanical and antibacterial capabilities of cellulose derived from corn husk, a sustainable agricultural waste product, when used to reinforce PVA films.