Synthesis and characterization of a hydrogel film based on chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose for food packaging applications

This study focuses on the synthesis of a novel hydrogel film composed of chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) crosslinked with citric acid (CA). The primary objective is to enhance the mechanical, thermal, and hydrophobic properties of CMC and CS by optimizing the crosslinking density thr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Saba Sabzevari, Hasan Farrokhzad, Ali Poorkhalil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266689392500324X
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849229235221168128
author Saba Sabzevari
Hasan Farrokhzad
Ali Poorkhalil
author_facet Saba Sabzevari
Hasan Farrokhzad
Ali Poorkhalil
author_sort Saba Sabzevari
collection DOAJ
description This study focuses on the synthesis of a novel hydrogel film composed of chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) crosslinked with citric acid (CA). The primary objective is to enhance the mechanical, thermal, and hydrophobic properties of CMC and CS by optimizing the crosslinking density through varying CA concentration. Glycerin was added as a plasticizer in selected formulations. Hydrogel films were synthesized using equal volumes of CS and CMC solutions with different amounts of CA (12, 18, and 24 wt.%) at 80°C. The films were characterized by water vapor permeability (WVP), contact angle, solubility, swelling behavior, mechanical properties, and thermal performance. The optimized formulation (18 wt.% CA) exhibited WVP of 7.68 × 10−9 g h−1 m−1 Pa−1 and a contact angle of 45.19 °, indicating improved moisture barrier and hydrophobicity. Tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break were 7.12 MPa, 0.22 MPa, and 35.95 %, respectively. Thermal analysis indicated an onset degradation temperature of 255°C and a maximum degradation temperature of 294.1°C. These findings suggest that CA-crosslinked CS-CMC hydrogel films possess a balanced combination of mechanical robustness, thermal stability, and moisture barrier performance, making them promising candidates for applications in food packaging, biomedical devices, and environmentally sustainable coatings.
format Article
id doaj-art-5ca0c27d44a74b19bf6461ab686f49ba
institution Kabale University
issn 2666-8939
language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
spelling doaj-art-5ca0c27d44a74b19bf6461ab686f49ba2025-08-22T04:58:31ZengElsevierCarbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications2666-89392025-09-011110098310.1016/j.carpta.2025.100983Synthesis and characterization of a hydrogel film based on chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose for food packaging applicationsSaba Sabzevari0Hasan Farrokhzad1Ali Poorkhalil2School of Chemical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), P.O. Box 16844‑13114 Tehran, IranSchool of Chemical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), P.O. Box 16844‑13114 Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author at: School of Chemical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Narmak, Tehran Zip Code: 16846-13114, Iran.School of Life Science Engineering, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, University of Tehran, PO Box 1439817435 Tehran, IranThis study focuses on the synthesis of a novel hydrogel film composed of chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) crosslinked with citric acid (CA). The primary objective is to enhance the mechanical, thermal, and hydrophobic properties of CMC and CS by optimizing the crosslinking density through varying CA concentration. Glycerin was added as a plasticizer in selected formulations. Hydrogel films were synthesized using equal volumes of CS and CMC solutions with different amounts of CA (12, 18, and 24 wt.%) at 80°C. The films were characterized by water vapor permeability (WVP), contact angle, solubility, swelling behavior, mechanical properties, and thermal performance. The optimized formulation (18 wt.% CA) exhibited WVP of 7.68 × 10−9 g h−1 m−1 Pa−1 and a contact angle of 45.19 °, indicating improved moisture barrier and hydrophobicity. Tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break were 7.12 MPa, 0.22 MPa, and 35.95 %, respectively. Thermal analysis indicated an onset degradation temperature of 255°C and a maximum degradation temperature of 294.1°C. These findings suggest that CA-crosslinked CS-CMC hydrogel films possess a balanced combination of mechanical robustness, thermal stability, and moisture barrier performance, making them promising candidates for applications in food packaging, biomedical devices, and environmentally sustainable coatings.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266689392500324XChitosan-carboxymethyl cellulose (CS-CMC) compositeHydrogel filmMechanical characterizationHydrophobicity,Biodegradable polymers
spellingShingle Saba Sabzevari
Hasan Farrokhzad
Ali Poorkhalil
Synthesis and characterization of a hydrogel film based on chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose for food packaging applications
Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
Chitosan-carboxymethyl cellulose (CS-CMC) composite
Hydrogel film
Mechanical characterization
Hydrophobicity,Biodegradable polymers
title Synthesis and characterization of a hydrogel film based on chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose for food packaging applications
title_full Synthesis and characterization of a hydrogel film based on chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose for food packaging applications
title_fullStr Synthesis and characterization of a hydrogel film based on chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose for food packaging applications
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis and characterization of a hydrogel film based on chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose for food packaging applications
title_short Synthesis and characterization of a hydrogel film based on chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose for food packaging applications
title_sort synthesis and characterization of a hydrogel film based on chitosan carboxymethyl cellulose for food packaging applications
topic Chitosan-carboxymethyl cellulose (CS-CMC) composite
Hydrogel film
Mechanical characterization
Hydrophobicity,Biodegradable polymers
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266689392500324X
work_keys_str_mv AT sabasabzevari synthesisandcharacterizationofahydrogelfilmbasedonchitosancarboxymethylcelluloseforfoodpackagingapplications
AT hasanfarrokhzad synthesisandcharacterizationofahydrogelfilmbasedonchitosancarboxymethylcelluloseforfoodpackagingapplications
AT alipoorkhalil synthesisandcharacterizationofahydrogelfilmbasedonchitosancarboxymethylcelluloseforfoodpackagingapplications