Thivya Selvam

The development of sustainable solid polymer electrolytes from agricultural waste offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional synthetic polymers for energy storage applications. In this study, cellulose and nanocellulose were extracted from coconut shell powder and chemically modified into carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and carboxymethyl nanocellulose (CMNC), followed by complexation with NH ₄ NO ₃ through the solvent-casting method. Successful carboxymethylation was confirmed by ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR, where three carboxyl carbon signals at 177.43, 179.61, and 180.96 ppm verified the incorporation of carboxymethyl groups without polymer degradation. ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed the removal of lignin and hemicellulose and the formation of carboxylate groups. FESEM analysis revealed the morphology of coconut shell powder and cellulose. TEM analysis confirmed the nanoscale morphology of nanocellulose, with 54.05% of the particles exhibiting a size distribution within the range of 0–100 nm. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that CMNC exhibited lower thermal stability and degraded at 190°C due to the formation of sulfated amorphous regions during acid hydrolysis. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that carboxymethylation reduced the crystallinity index from 46.40% to 64.27% for cellulose and nanocellulose to 3.54% and 20.45% for CMC and CMNC, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that the CMC electrolyte achieved the highest ionic conductivity of 2.87 × 10 ^-1 S cm ^-1 at 30 wt% NH ₄ NO ₃ , whereas CMNC (2.07 × 10 ^-3 S cm ^-1 ) highlighted its potential as a sustainable proton-conducting electrolyte for proton battery applications.

In this study, we introduce a straightforward and effective strategy for synthesizing furfural directly from d -xylose and l -arabinose by employing hydrated iron( iii ) sulfate [Fe ₂ (SO ₄ ) ₃ · x H ₂ O], under distillation at atmospheric pressure.

The widespread use of conventional plastic in food packaging has raised serious environmental issues due to its persistence and poor biodegradability. With growing concerns over plastic pollution and its long-term ecological impact, researchers are increasingly turning to natural, renewable sources for sustainable alternatives. Agricultural waste, often discarded in large quantities, offers a valuable resource for producing biodegradable polymers. This review discusses the environmental burden caused by traditional plastics and explores how agricultural residues such as rice husks, corn cobs, and fruit peels can be converted into eco-friendly packaging materials. Various types of biopolymers sourced from agricultural waste, including cellulose, starch, plant and animal-based proteins, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and polylactic acid (PLA), are examined for their properties, benefits, and limitations in food packaging applications. Each material presents unique characteristics in terms of biodegradability, mechanical strength, and barrier performance. While significant progress has been made, several challenges remain, including cost-effective production, material performance, and compliance with food safety regulations. Looking ahead, innovations in material processing, waste management integration, and biopolymer formulation could pave the way for widespread adoption. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current developments and future directions in the use of agricultural waste for sustainable packaging solutions, comparing their biodegradability and performance to conventional plastics.