Desenvolvimento de filmes biodegradáveis ativos à base de amido para acondicionamento de alimentos

Abstract

The continuous disposal of plastic packaging has become a worldwide environmental problem. Thus, to minimize this problem, food industries have sought to use biodegradable packaging, produced from biodegradable materials. The use of these packages is becoming increasingly sustainable and economical, because the components used for their manufacture are easily absorbed by the soil and there are low-cost alternatives. In this context, the objective of this work is to develop active biodegradable starch-based films for food packaging. For this, starch was initially extracted from different vegetable sources, and later, biodegradable films were developed using the casting technique, using cassava and yam starch as polymers, invert sugar and honey as plasticizers. The extraction of cassava and yam starch achieved good yields, which can be higher with the use of more suitable equipment for extraction. The films were characterized by determining water activity and thickness. The water activity values of the films varied according to the source of starch and formulation used to prepare them. However, all films developed with the two starches showed good elasticity, demonstrating potential for food packaging. The addition of propolis and oregano essential oil in films based on cassava starch and honey in films based on yam starch can contribute both to increasing the shelf life of food products and to preserving the films themselves.