Improved performance of less purified cellulosic films obtained from agar waste biomass.

The residues generated after the extraction of agar from Gelidium sesquipedale by means of a hot-water treatment, with (NaOH+HW residue) and without (HW residue) an alkali pre-treatment have been valorized to produce high performance cellulosic films. Both residues were mainly composed of structural carbohydrates (in particular, agar), ashes and lipids. The residual agar could only be completely removed by applying a two-step process based on bleaching and alkaline treatments.