Abstract
BackgroundCassava starch, the economically important agricultural commodity in Thailand, can readily be cast into films. However, the cassava starch film is brittle and weak, leading to inadequate mechanical properties. The properties of starch film can be improved by adding plasticizers and blending with the other biopolymers.ResultsCassava starch (5%w/v) based films plasticized with glycerol (30 g/100 g starch) were characterized with respect to the effect of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%w/w total solid) and relative humidity (34 and 54%RH) on the mechanical properties of the films. Additionally, intermolecular interactions were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), melting temperature by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water solubility of the films was also determined. Increasing concentration of CMC increased tensile strength, reduced elongation at break, and decreased water solubility of the blended films. FT-IR spectra indicated intermolecular interactions between cassava starch and CMC in blended films by shifting of carboxyl (C = O) and OH groups. DSC thermograms and SEM micrographs confirmed homogeneity of cassava starch-CMC films.ConclusionThe addition of CMC to the cassava starch films increased tensile strength and reduced elongation at break of the blended films. This was ascribed to the good interaction between cassava starch and CMC. Cassava starch-CMC composite films have the potential to replace conventional packaging, and the films developed in this work are suggested to be suitable for low moisture food and pharmaceutical products.
Highlights
Cassava starch, the economically important agricultural commodity in Thailand, can readily be cast into films
The influence of Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) concentrations on properties of cassava starch based films was analyzed in terms of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra, mechanical properties of the films, water solubility, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms, and film morphology as reported below
The addition of CMC to the cassava starch films increased tensile strength and reduced elongation at break of the blended films. This was ascribed to the good interaction between cassava starch and CMC
Summary
The economically important agricultural commodity in Thailand, can readily be cast into films. The addition of plasticizers makes the brittle films more flexible, and less strong [5] and results in higher moisture permeability [7]. This problem must be addressed to improve the functional properties of cassava starch films. Blending [8] or laminating [9] with other polysaccharide materials could improve cassava starch film mechanical functionality. CMC is an anionic linear polysaccharide derived from cellulose It is an important industrial polymer with a wide range of applications in flocculation, drug reduction, detergents, textiles, papers, foods, and drugs [11]. CMC is able to improve the mechanical and barrier properties of pea starch-based films [14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
