Noverra Mardhatillah Nizardo, Henry Latief Himawan, Arlina Prima Putri, Aniek Sri Handayani, Basuki Wirjosentono, Muhamad Hasan, Yenny Meliana, Ishak Ahmad, Mochamad Chalid
Growing awareness of the environmental consequences of single-use plastic has accelerated the search for biodegradable alternatives in food packaging. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), obtained from plant biomass, are attractive candidates due to their renewable nature and strong film-forming properties. However, their hydrophilic surface limits resistance to water and vapor. This study investigates the surface modification of CNF using lactic acid (LA) through a grafting approach to improve hydrophobicity and barrier properties. The CNF, extracted from oil palm empty fruit bunches, was modified with lactic acid through grafting under mild thermal conditions with SnCl2 as a catalyst. Reaction time and CNF-to-lactic acid ratio were systematically varied to identify optimal conditions for grafting efficiency. The best-performing sample (24 h, CNF:LA 0.25:1) achieved a degree of grafting of 0.84 and was applied as a coating on paper. The treated paper exhibited higher water and oil contact angles, reduced water uptake, and lower vapor transmission, through a trade-off in tear strength was observed. These results demonstrate a scalable approach for producing sustainable coatings with enhanced barrier properties. © American Coatings Association 2026.
Departement of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus UI Depok, Depok, 16424, Indonesia; Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Islam Bandung, Ranggagading 8, Bandung, 40116, Indonesia; Departement of Chemicals Engineering, Institut Teknologi Indonesia, Tangerang, Selatan, 15314, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, 20155, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry Education, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Kopelma Darussalam, Banda Aceh, 23111, Indonesia; Research Center for Chemistry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Building 452 KST BJ Habibie, Banten, Serpong, Tangerang, Selatan, Indonesia; Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Malaysia; Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus UI Depok, Depok, 16424, Indonesia
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