en.Wedoany.com Reported - A research team led by Professor Andi Dirpan from Hasanuddin University in Indonesia has successfully developed a multi-layer polylactic acid (PLA)-based biodegradable film. Reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and incorporating the oxygen-scavenging compound butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), the film offers both oxygen-scavenging functionality and enhanced mechanical properties, providing a new technical solution for replacing traditional food packaging plastics.
Traditional food packaging plastics are sturdy, durable, and effective at blocking oxygen, but they can persist in the environment for decades after disposal. Plant-based biodegradable plastics, while promising alternatives, fall short in oxygen barrier and mechanical performance. Previous research has often introduced additives to improve either strength or oxygen-scavenging ability individually, but rarely tested both in combination.
In the multi-layer PLA film developed by Dirpan's team, the source of cellulose is a notable feature of the study. Instead of using wood or crop-derived cellulose, the researchers produced bacterial cellulose from fermented coconut water, mimicking the process of making "nata de coco." Bacterial cellulose has high purity and abundant fibers, which were purified and processed into MCC powder as an additive. The film consists of three thin layers, with the oxygen scavenger BHT placed only in the two inner layers facing the food.
The team tested films with varying MCC content and compared their coconut water-derived cellulose with a common commercial alternative, MCC Avicel PH 102. Increasing cellulose content resulted in higher mechanical strength and lower oxygen transmission, making the material denser and stiffer. At the microscopic level, the coconut water-derived cellulose produced a more uniform, defect-free structure than the commercial alternative. Oxygen permeability tests showed that the resulting film outperformed pure PLA. In terms of degradability, the film degraded rapidly and steadily when buried in soil, achieving a degradation rate of 28.86% within 25 days, comparable to biodegradable plastics made from similar polymers (which exceed 25% degradation over the same period).
The study highlights an important trade-off: while the reinforced film exhibits improved stiffness and oxygen-scavenging performance, it is more brittle and has poor ductility before fracture. Packaging materials must withstand manufacturing, transportation, and daily handling, so combining reinforcing agents with oxygen scavengers in multi-layer biodegradable systems is promising, but the balance between barrier properties and flexibility still needs improvement.
This research provides design criteria for creating truly eco-friendly food packaging plastics. The study was published online on May 5, 2026, and will appear in Volume 6 of the ASEAN Journal for Science and Engineering in Materials on March 1, 2027. In summary, Professor Andi Dirpan stated that this approach supports the development of sustainable food packaging and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to responsible production, climate action, and food preservation.
