Abstract
As starch is an inexpensive, filmogenic, easily processable and a widely available material, it is a material that can be utilized in the creation of biodegradable films and containers, presenting as a viable alternative to polymers derived from petrol. Moreover, starch could also be used to create edible coatings for fresh foods in order to extend shelf life. As such, wheat starch films with two glycerol contents were formulated to mimic the effects of compounds currently used to coat fruit. Their structural and functional properties were characterized. This study found that the transfer properties of starch films containing 33% of plasticizer was less effective than film comprised of 50% glycerol. Water diffusivity, oxygen permeability, and water vapor permeability at two different humidity gradients, surface tension, works of surface adhesion and cohesion, and moisture sorption were tested. Glycerol content does not play a significant role on the color or mechanical properties. This work shows that glycerol can strongly affect the functional properties of starch-based coatings and films.
Highlights
One of the major drawbacks to the widespread use of packaging produced from petrol is its environmental impact
The moisture sorption characteristic of the films is important for predicting the stability of the films during storage, since the shelf life of the biodegradable packages in different storage conditions is dependent on their moisture uptake
The water sorption isotherms of films prepared with different plasticizer concentrations, i.e., 33% and 50% of glycerol, are shown in Figure 1, while the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB)
Summary
One of the major drawbacks to the widespread use of packaging produced from petrol is its environmental impact. Due to its accessibility and low production costs, films made almost entirely from starch are emerging as an excellent solution to the problem of contemporary society’s overreliance on plastic packaging, and can potentially be used for a variety of food-stuffs, including fresh fruit, in addition to cosmetic or pharmaceutical products. Such packaging materials can be manufactured for major investment [1,2], influencing a reduction in the amount of crude oil-based packaging produced and used. Food coated in a starch-based film would only require
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