Synthesis of cellulose xanthate from banana pseudocores

Cellulose, a widely available and biodegradable biopolymer, is a promising alternative to petroleum-derived plastics due to its sustainability and versatility. This study explores the extraction of cellulose from banana pseudocores and its transformation into cellulose xanthate, which was then combined with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to develop a novel biopolymer with enhanced mechanical properties. The synthesis process involved acid and alkaline hydrolysis, bleaching, and chemical modification with carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide, followed by controlled acid hydrolysis. The resulting biopolymer was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Shore hardness, and tensile strength tests. Results demonstrated an average hardness of 70.33 Shore, a tensile strain of 1.701 N/mm², and an average tensile strength of 21.60 N, confirming its mechanical viability. These findings highlight the potential of cellulose-derived biopolymers as eco-friendly materials for sustainable packaging and biodegradable applications, contributing to the reduction of plastic pollution.