Preparation and characterization of biopolymeric films produced from fruit and vegetable waste

Over the past decades, significant efforts have been made to prepare biofilms. These efforts aim to achieve biopolymeric films from fruits and vegetables waste with soluble and biodegradable new films. In the current study, biopolymeric films were prepared by the starch extracted from banana peel and potato peel and the mechanical and physical properties of the prepared samples were studied. The mechanical property showed that tensile strength decreased by increasing the banana peel starch content whereas the percentage elongation at break was increased. The swelling studies revealed that the weight of the films increased when the film was soaked in distilled water. Biodegradation studies showed biopolymeric films with potato peel composition of was 60% (P60) and 100% (P100) were completely degraded in 16 days. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results indicated an increase in the degradation rate compared to the biofilms prepared using neat banana and potato peel starch. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images suggesting two-phase morphology which shows incompatibility of the blends prepared by potato and banana starch. The pure potato peel-based starch film showed good results compared to other compositions as well as neat banana peel starch based films. Based on the results obtained for 100% potato peel shows higher values compare to other compositions. The results suggested that the prepared biopolymeric films could be mainly used in wrapping applications and food packaging where load bearing properties is of least importance.