Enhancing Hydrophobic Properties of Bioplastic Films Using Tannins from Fruit Processing By-products

• Grant number: 23/15971-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: June 03, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Technology
• Principal Investigator: Henriette Monteiro Cordeiro de Azeredo
• Grantee: Rodrigo Duarte Silva
• Supervisor: Thomas Rosenau
• Host Institution: Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Austria
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/11104-5 - Whole utilization of fruits processing waste for the production of biopolymer films with UV-blocking properties for biodegradable packaging, BP.PD

Abstract

Bioplastic films derived from fruit-processing by-products present a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. However, these materials often exhibit poor water interaction properties, limiting their efficacy in applications such as food packaging. To address this challenge, this research project aims to utilize tannins extracted from fruit-processing by-products to improve the water interaction properties of bioplastic films. The objectives include tannin extraction, chemical modification, application to bioplastic films, and evaluation of water interaction properties. Tannins extracted from grape pomace will be chemically modified through esterification approaches, followed by comprehensive characterization. Then, they will be incorporated into the bioplastic films during their formulation or as a second layer. The resulting tannin-containing bioplastic films will be characterized for water contact angle, water vapor permeability, dynamic gravimetric vapor sorption, and tension properties. Through this approach, we expect to achieve a notable improvement in the water interaction properties of biodegradable films while maintaining their mechanical performance, contributing significantly to the advancement of sustainable and high-performance biopolymer materials. (AU)