Omani researchers are exploring how date-processing residues can become useful feedstocks for bio-based packaging materials and circular-economy development.
NIZWA, OMAN - A date seed may appear to have little value after the fruit has been consumed, but new research from the University of Nizwa shows that it contains a useful structural material that can be recovered and reused.
Rethinking a Familiar Waste Stream
Date cultivation is closely connected with Oman's agricultural identity and economy. Dates represent approximately 80% of national fruit production and around half of cultivated crops. Because seeds make up about 10-18% of the fruit's weight, consumption and processing generate a sizeable residue stream.
Rather than viewing this material only as waste, researchers from the Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center examined it as a source of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The research was led by Prof. Ahmed Al-Harrasi and Dr. Saurabh Bhatia, with Mr. Talha Shireen Khan contributing to the study as a student researcher.
Recovering Cellulose from Date Seeds
The team applied acid and alkaline treatments, bleaching, and ultrasonication to recover microcrystalline cellulose from date seeds. The recovered MCC was subsequently characterized and investigated for its potential use as a functional reinforcing material in biopolymer-based films.
Microcrystalline cellulose is of interest because it can serve as a reinforcing or functional component in polymer systems. Recovering MCC from an existing agricultural residue may help create additional value from locally generated biomass and support more resource-efficient use of agricultural residues.
Testing the Recovered Material in Films
To examine its potential for packaging-related applications, the researchers incorporated date-seed-derived MCC into biopolymer-based films and evaluated their mechanical properties, structure, thermal characteristics, surface wettability, and water-vapor transmission behavior. MCC incorporation substantially increased the water contact angle, indicating increased surface hydrophobicity.
Why More Filler Was Not Necessarily Better
The investigation also demonstrated that increasing the concentration of a natural filler does not necessarily improve overall film performance. Higher MCC concentrations increased film thickness and promoted aggregation within the polymer matrix.
Puncture resistance declined as the MCC concentration increased, while water-vapor transmission also increased. Tensile strength remained approximately 21-26 MPa, with no statistically significant differences among the formulations. Considering the overall balance of the evaluated properties, the film containing 0.2% MCC showed the most favorable performance among the tested formulations.
"Agricultural residues should not necessarily be viewed as materials with no further value. Date seeds contain useful structural components, including cellulose, that can be recovered and converted into functional materials. Our findings demonstrate that date-seed-derived microcrystalline cellulose can be incorporated into biopolymer films, while also showing how carefully the concentration needs to be optimized. The next step is to improve material performance and move toward more practical and scalable packaging systems."
- Prof. Ahmed Al-Harrasi and Dr. Saurabh Bhatia
A Step Toward a Circular Bioeconomy
The study demonstrates the potential to recover a useful cellulose-based material from date-seed residues and incorporate it into biopolymer films. The approach is relevant to circular-bioeconomy strategies in which agricultural residues are reconsidered as potential feedstocks for value-added materials.
Further research is required before such films can be considered for practical food-packaging applications. Priorities include improving MCC dispersion, enhancing moisture-barrier performance, evaluating food-contact safety and migration, conducting real-food storage and shelf-life studies, and assessing the scalability and economic feasibility of the extraction and film-production processes.
This study provides a practical example of how agricultural residues can be reconsidered as material resources. Date-seed-derived MCC shows promise as a functional component in biopolymer films, although further optimization and validation are required before practical application.
Publication Acknowledgement
This research was originally published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, published by Elsevier.
Original research article: Bhatia S, Khan TS, Al-Harrasi A. Date seeds-derived microcrystalline cellulose reinforced films for food packaging applications: Development and characterization. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2026;374:153107. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.153107. The authors gratefully acknowledge the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules and Elsevier for publishing the original research on which this research-news feature is based.
Article
Bhatia S, Khan TS, Al-Harrasi A. Date seeds-derived microcrystalline cellulose reinforced films for food packaging applications: Development and characterization.
Journal
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026;374:153107.
DOI
10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.153107
Published online
18 June 2026
Note: This guest research article was contributed by Dr. Saurabh Bhatia and published by Mr.Sandeep Goyal on their behalf.