Development and Characterization of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Bacterial Cellulose Composite for Environmentally Friendly Film

This research aimed to develop and characterize polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/bacterial cellulose (BC) composite for environmentally friendly films. BC was produced from a high-performance strain of Komagataeibacter intermedius BE073 isolated from a bio-extract sample. The film was prepared by varying the ratio between PVA and BC content, and treatments consisted of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40. The characterization of PVA/BC film in terms of mechanical properties, film structure, water and oxygen resistances, thermal stability, and biodegradation were investigated. Results revealed that PVA/BC film had properties superior to that of pure PVA film, and it has a high biodegradation rate. The mechanical properties changed little with the addition of BC, but the tensile strength and Young’s modulus increased with the addition of BC. Water absorption and moisture content were also reduced. However, adding BC improved oxygen transmission rates and thermal stability properties. Most importantly, the addition of BC helped the film to degrade. The higher the amount added, the higher the natural decomposition rate.