Recently, researchers from Institute of Bast Fiber Crops of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hunan Agricultural University, and Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials of National Research Council (Italy) have revealed the preservation mechanisms of jute fibers derived cellulose nanofibril (CNF) composite films for banana storage in terms of both chemical composition and particle size.This study pioneers the preparation of sustainable active packaging materials directly from natural biomass, boosting related applications in food and farming systems.

Nanocellulose is emerging as a biodegradable alternative to synthetic plastics in food packaging, but the preservation mechanisms of nanocellulose composite films have not yet been understood enough clearly. In this study, the preservation mechanism of jute fibers derived CNF coatings for banana storage was explored in terms of both chemical composition and particle size. In terms of chemical composition, the CNF coating prepared from raw jute fibers was most suited for use in banana storage, mainly due to its higher antioxidant and UV protection properties. In terms of particle size, the CNF coating homogenized for 5 passes achieved the best performance in preserving the freshness of bananas, mainly owing to its better oxygen barrier properties. The possible preservation mechanism of jute fibers derived CNF composite films for banana storage is related to the formation of a highly dense structure attributed to the strong hydrogen bonding between cellulose molecules and the plugging effect of noncellulosic components, offering excellent antioxidant, UV resistance, and oxygen barrier properties. This paper provides scientific guidance for the design of nanocellulose composite films for food packaging.

The research was supported by the Youth Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Science and Technology Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and so on.

The study entitled “Preservation mechanisms of jute fibers derived cellulose nanofibril composite films for banana storage: effects of chemical composition and particle size” has been published online in Cellulose .

Link to publication:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-025-06481-3. 

Fig. Possible preservation mechanisms of jute fibers derived cellulose nanofibril composite films for banana storage