Cellulose acetate/nano-zinc oxide bio-composites: the functional and anti-bacterial characteristics

In this research article, the investigations of how nano-zinc oxide (N-ZnO) could be changed the functional
and antimicrobial features of cellulose acetate (CA) films were established. As a result, three
forms of CA films comprising 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% N-ZnO have been assembled. Following that,
the physicochemical and barrier properties were assessed. Further, the anti-bacterial activities of prepared
nanocomposite films towards Escherichia coli have been investigated using Fourier-transform
infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The obtained results demonstrated that 2.0% N-ZnO had the greatest
impact on physicochemical and barrier properties. The FTIR spectra revealed that all N-ZnO concentration
interactions were physical, with no chemical reactions between the nanoparticles and
CA framework. The incorporation of N-ZnO improved the humidity level, water absorption, and
uptake capability of CA films, which are essential factors in packaging manufacturing. The anti-bacterial
effect of 2.0% N-ZnO formulation exhibited a stronger anti-bacterial impact compared to the
remaining formulations. Subsequently, N-ZnO improved the overall properties of CA films and the
most satisfactory concentration for utilizing N-ZnO in CA-based nanocomposite films was 2% N-ZnO.