Poly-eugenol grafting from cellulose surface for robust antioxidation

This work not only eliminates the limitations and preserves the inherent advantages of eugenol but also imparts controllable hydrophobic and antioxidative properties to cellulose-based packaging. Eugenol, a prototypical natural phenolic compound, was immobilized by chemical linkage onto cellulose. A quantitative analysis based on Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) suggests a poly-eugenol structure on cellulose surface. Increasing the specific surface of cellulose by freeze-drying increased the reaction efficiency. The resulting material shows a robust antioxidant activity and tunable hydrophobility, making it a promising candidate for diverse applications.