Preparation and physicochemical characterization of starch/pectin and chitosan blend bioplastic films as future food packaging materials

• Published in: Journal of environmental chemical engineering 2024-02, Vol.12 (1), p.111825, Article 111825
• Main Authors: Arooj, Aqsa, Khan, Musammir, Munawar, Khurram Shahzad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodegradable; Bioplastics; Food packaging; Greener renewable; Starch/pectin
• ISSN: 2213-3437; 2213-3437
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2023.111825

Currently, petroleum-based plastics are widely used for food packaging applications, but their non-biodegradable nature has created serious environmental concerns. Here, we have used starch/pectin biopolymers as matrix and chitosan as co-biopolymer together with tartaric acid (TA)/citric acid (CA) as natural plasticizers to fabricate their bioplastic films by covalent ester/amide linkages between carboxyl and hydroxy/amine groups in the crosslinked network accompanied by intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. The FTIR analysis confirmed the successful formation of amide/ester linkages and non-covalent hydrogen bonding interactions, while the broad XRD bands indicated the amorphous characteristics of the obtained bioplastics. Their swelling ratio ranged between 510 to 620 ± 50% and the mass loss from 44 to 76 ± 5%, which was susceptible to acid-facilitated hydrolysis after 24 h incubation in water. The young modulus values ranged between 0.5 ± 0.1 to 7.5 ± 0.5 MPa, which was highest for starch/TA film (7.5 ± 0.5 MPa), attributed to comparatively lower plasticization effect of TA than CA. All the samples showed complete biodegradation (97 ± 2.5%), after 3 days dipping in soil and were ecofriendly by ecotoxicity assay. Therefore, these pure biobased films could be greener renewable materials for the future food packing industry. [Display omitted] •Starch/pectin and chitosan blend bioplastic films were fabricated.•Tartaric acid (TA) and citric acid (CA) was used as natural plasticizers.•FTIR analysis confirmed amide/ester linkages and XRD bands amorphous characteristics.•Bioplastics showed biodegradation, mechanical strength and non-phytotoxicity.•Bio-derived bioplastics could have food packing applications.