Biodegradable starch films enhanced with orange peel and glutamic acid: mechanical and functional properties for sustainable packaging

• Grant number: 24/22599-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Giovana da Silva Padilha
• Grantee: Giovana da Silva Padilha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Limeira
• Associated researchers: Augusto Ducati Luchessi ; Erik Geraldini Poloni ; Maurício Ariel Rostagno

Abstract

To address the growing demand for environmentally responsible solutions, this project proposes the development of biodegradable polymeric films composed of starch, orange peel, and glutamic acid, aimed at applications in active food packaging. Orange peel, rich in phenolic compounds with well-known antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, will serve as a natural source of pectin and other bioactive constituents, offering a viable alternative to commercial pectin and contributing to the valorization of agro-industrial waste. Glutamic acid, in turn, will enhance the structural integrity of the films and broaden their functional properties by promoting interactions between the bioactive compounds within the polymeric matrix. The practical applicability of the films will be assessed using strawberries as a model system through direct coating, either with pre-formed biofilms or via immersion in a polymeric solution to form an in situ protective layer. The performance of the coatings will be monitored under ambient and refrigerated conditions, simulating real-world postharvest storage scenarios, with a focus on extending shelf life and preserving fruit quality. The integration of these components aims to develop functional packaging solutions that combine protection, preservation, and sustainability, while also fostering circular economy principles through the replacement of synthetic polymers and the utilization of industrial byproducts. This is, therefore, an innovative and forward-looking proposal, fully aligned with current sustainability goals and the pursuit of more conscious and efficient technologies. (AU)