Abstract
The primary objective of this study is to develop and characterize a novel active biodegradable nanocomposite film using sweet potato starch (SPS) for food packaging. Montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay at a constant weight of 3% and thyme essential oil (TEO) at three levels (2%, 4%, and 6% v/v) are incorporated into SPS film. The results show that incorporating MMT and TEO into SPS film greatly enhanced (P < 0.05) water resistance by 50%. MMT incorporation also hinders the degradation rate of the film. Furthermore, the combined effect of MMT and TEO (up to 4%) improve tensile strength, elongation, and tristimulus color values (P < 0.05). Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results confirm that the noted improvements are related to MMT exfoliation and good interaction between SPS and MMT in the presence of TEO. These results suggest that SPS may provide a viable solution to the waste disposal of plastic packaging materials used for food products.
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