Physical properties of unripe plaintain (Musa paradisiaca, sp) peel film

Abstract

A lot of solid wastes produced from the disposable packaging materials which are not degradable that leads to environmental pollution. Development of biodegradable packaging material is necessary to partially or totally replace synthetic polymers. Starch can be used to develop biodegradable films. Biodegradable films were successfully prepared from unripe plaintain (Musa paradisiaca cv. "Nangka" (AAB)) peel flour at 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%, 12% and 14% w/w of its starch concentration incorporated with 50 w/w of glycerol and 1 % w/w of pectin with casting method. The films produced were characterized their physical properties in terms of thickness, colour, transparency, water vapour permeability, mechanical properties and biodegradability. Increased in starch concentration resulted in increased of thickness, yellowness, water vapour permeability (WVP) and tensile strength (TS) of the films. In contrast, elongation at break (EAB) and transparency of the films were decreased with increased of the starch concentration. Therefore, a good unripe plaintain peel film was produced at lower starch concentration because its WVP was lowest and highest in EAB.