Asian Journal of Research in Chemistry

Plastics are widely used in society due to low cost, light weight and excellent performance which varies from soft rubbers to fibers stronger and stiffer than steel. On the other hand their non-biodegradability creates serious environmental problems. The utilization of packaging films from bio-based compounds has received so much attention lately due to the fact that they are readily biodegradable. The two most abundant polymers on earth like cellulose and chitosan have attracted increasing attention as a source of renewable energy and functional materials. Rice straw fiber is subjected to different treatment along with chitosan to form composites. The film samples have been characterized by FTIR and SEM, thermal properties by TGA and DTA. Reinforcement of chitosan with prepared microcrystalline cellulose from rice straw enhances the moisture resistance and strength of chitosan film.