incorporation of chitosan-cellulose-chlorella vulgaris microalgae blending Nur Nadiah Che Aziz creator author. text my 2026 2026 monographic eng xxiv, 221 pages : illustration ; 30 cm.+ 1 CD-ROM The food packaging industry is a major contributor to plastic waste, with the disposal of fossil fuel-derived plastics resulting in microplastic pollution and increased greenhouse gas emissions, causing severe environmental harm. Biodegradable alternatives, such as chitosanbased films, offer promising solutions for sustainable food packaging, though issues with water resistance and tensile strength limit their commercial potential. This study explores the development of novel bioplastic films by combining chitosan (CS), cellulose nanofibril (CNF), and Chlorella vulgaris biomass (CVB). The objectives include formulating and characterizing CS-based films using a solution casting method with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a plasticizer that incorporated to improve film flexibility and processability, reinforcing CS films with CNF to enhance mechanical and barrier properties, evaluating the bioactive properties of CVB and its impact on the films, and elucidating the physicochemical and molecular interactions of the resulting CS-based films. The results demonstrate a progressive improvement in film properties with each component addition. PEG plasticization at the best concentration (1.5% v/v) enhanced tensile strength by approximately 12% over the unplasticized control and increased elongation at break by more than twofold, collectively indicating improved film ductility and flexibility. The subsequent incorporation of CNF at 20% v/v via mechanical-assisted ultrasonication markedly improved tensile strength and elongation at break relative to the control, while water vapor permeability was reduced by approximately 36%, attributed to better CNF dispersion and strengthened intermolecular hydrogen bonding within the CS matrix. The addition of CVB at 30% v/v into the CS matrix further increased tensile strength to its highest level among the individual component series, while also reducing swelling behavior and water vapor permeability, with ToF-SIMS and zeta potential analyses confirming strong electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions among all components. The ternary CS/CNF/CVB films at the best concentration of 20% CVB demonstrated the most notable combination of properties by achieving a tensile strength improvement of 22% over the CS/CNF baseline, a water vapor permeability reduction of 26%, and sustained antioxidant activity above 79% across all formulations, alongside complete biodegradability in soil within 30 days significantly faster than the CS/CNF control. The practical relevance of this formulation was validated through a food packaging trial, in which CS/CNF/CVB films reduced lemongrass weight loss by 36% compared to the CS/CNF over 30 days under ambient conditions, demonstrating the film’s potential to reduce postharvest losses and alternative plastic packaging for fresh produce. Structural confirmation via TGA, FTIR, and 1H NMR analyses highlighted the functional groups and molecular interactions responsible for film stability and functionality. Molecular docking analyses further confirmed stable hydrogen bonding across all component complexes, reinforcing the suitability of CS/CNF/CVB as a promising candidate for suitable for food packaging applications. specialized Nur Nadiah Che Aziz Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al Sultan Abdullah - 2026 Include bibliographical reference Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology Dissertations Universities and colleges Dissertations Theses Dissertations THE0010834(Local) UMPSA 261008 20261008112636.0 eng