Revalorization of barley straw and husk as precursors for cellulose nanocrystals extraction and their effect on PVA_CH nanocomposites

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blended with natural chitosan (CH) was selected as matrix for the production, by solvent casting in water, of nanocomposite films containing cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) extracted from barley residues, that were introduced in PVA_CH systems as reinforcement phases. Cellulose nanocrystals were successfully extracted from both barley straw and husk by applying two different approaches, a chemical alkaline and an enzymatic...