Flexible and biodegradable bioplstics based on starch and gelatin

Author(s)

Farayde Matta Fakhouri

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos
• Defense date: 2009-02-17

Examining board members

Fernanda Paula Collares Queiroz; Theo Guenter Kieckbusch; Leila Peres; Fabio Yamashita; Patricia Sayuri Tanada Palmu

• Advisor: Fernanda Paula Collares Queiroz; Lúcia Helena Innocentini Mei

Abstract

The goal of this research was to develop a flexible, biodegradable and edible film using natural polymers (starch and gelatin) from renewable sources through a process of thermoplastic extrusion followed by blowing. The first step of the research consisted on a physical and functional characterization of starch and gelatin based biofilms produced using the casting technique. The purpose was to select the solutions to be used on the production of these biofilms by extrusion and blowing. The filmogenic solutions of manioc starch (native and modified) and corn (native, waxy, waxy modified and lipofilic) were prepared at concentrations of 3 and 5%. The filmogenic solution of gelatin was prepared at a concentration of 10%. The gelatin and (manioc and corn) starch based biofilms were prepared at ratios of 4:1; 1:1 and 1:4. They were plasticized with sorbitol or glycerol at 5% for the the gelatin solutions and 10% for the starch solutions. All the biofilms obtained were visually transparent. The addition of gelatin resulted in an increase of the film thickness, an increase of the water vapour permeability (WVP), an increase of the tensile strength (TS) and a decrease in the opacity. Different fatty acids (palmitic, miristic, capric, caproic and caprilic) were added to the lipofilic starch and gelatin solution at concentrations of 5, 15, 25 and 50%. These additions resulted in an increase on opacity, thickness and elongation. However, there was a decrease on WVP and TS. The best solution of lipofilic starch, gelatin and plasticizer (glycerol, sorbitol and miristic acid) was used in the production of films by different techniques (pressed, pressed and blowed and extruded). Pressed biofilms showed lower values of strain at break and higher values of water solubility. The extruded films, obtained at the same concentrations of starch, gelatin and plasticizer were found to be semi-rigid, a characteristic not aligned with the objective of theresearch. Based on the results of this first assessment, the concentrations of the components were adjusted with the purpose of obtaining extruded films with the desired properties. The resulting biofilms were characterized for their physical, physico-chemical, morphology, mechanical, barrier and thermical properties. Biofilms in general were flexible, showed expansion during blowing and were visually homogeneous. However, biofilms prepared with sorbitol were cracking very easily after storage. The addition of gelatin resulted in a reduction of the WVP but did not have any influence on the water solubility nor on the opacity of the biofilms. The addition of lipids resulted in a reduction of the TS of the biofilms both in longitudinal and transversal directions. Biofilms with 10 and 20% of gelatin and no fatty acid added showed lower values of WVP and higher values of TS (AU)