This proposal sought to address both of these significant problems by investigating the development of biodegradable, environmentally-benign materials that possess inherent microbicidal properties for applications in the poultry industry and in associated rendering operations. To achieve this goal we set out to develop a series of strategically functionalized cellulose nano and/or microcrystals and to investigate their microbicidal properties against a panel of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria in culture-based experiments. These new materials would in theory leverage existing strategies to impart microbicidal properties to polymeric materials
Funding for this project was provided by a program funded by South Carolina Department of Agriculture ACRE Competitive Grant Program (7-2019-SCDA ACRE CGP-4 DCWhitehead, KJWhitehead, CDGarcia-Clemson)