Use of cellulose microfibers from olive pomace to reinforce green composites for sustainable packaging applications

To valorize abundant, unexploited, and low-cost agro-industrial by-products, olive pomace is proposed as a sustainable renewable raw material for cellulose microfibers (CMFs) production. In this study, CMFs were extracted from using alkaline bleaching treatments characterized in terms of morphological, structural, thermal properties. Afterward, the reinforcing capability was examined carboxymethyl (CMC) polymer matrix by solvent casting process. The effects CMF loading (1%, 3%, 5%, 10%) on composites' mechanical, physical, properties assessed. incorporation led to decrease moisture content (MC), water solubility (WS), vapor permeability (WVP) an increase tensile strength (TS), stiffness transparency values, stability CMC films. Increasing increased TS elasticity modulus 54% 79%, respectively, reduced WVP light transmissivity at 280 nm, 22% 47%, respectively. highest water, moisture, barrier, mechanical composites reached 5% CMFs.