Fabrication of Cellulose Nanofibers (<i>CNFs</i>)/carbon Dot (<i>HCDs</i>) Nanocomposite Films from Thatching Grass (<i>Hyparrhenia hirta</i>) Waste for Potential Application as Food Packaging Materials

The current reliance on non-biodegradable plastic packages poses environmental and health hazards from their indiscriminate disposal. This study attempts to fabricate environmentally friendly cellulose nanofibers ( CNFs ) and carbon dot ( HCDs ) nanocomposite film from thatching grass waste for potential use in the food packaging industry. CNFs were extracted from Hyparrhenia hirta grass through a series of chemical pretreatments and sulphuric acid hydrolysis, and the carbon dots were synthesized from the extracted nanofibers via solvothermal treatment. The properties of the CNFs and carbon dots were studied using standard scientific techniques, including Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy. The mechanical and water resistance properties of the CNFs/HCDs films were also determined. The results indicate that it is possible to fabricate a flexible and elastic CNFs/HCDs film suitable for packaging applications. The water contact angle measurement for the CNFs/HCDs films also revealed that the surface of the films was hydrophobic, making them suitable for packing dry foods and potentially electronics. Future studies will focus on optimizing the CNFs/HCDs ratio in the chitosan matrix, as the most promising ratio identified so far is 80:20 (film F2).