Biodegradable Film from Maize, Rice and Potato Starch for Food Packaging: Development and Characterization

In this study, the PLA (v) and PLA+maize, PLA+rice, PLA+potato starch based biodegradable films along with reagents BPO (benzyl peroxide) and GMA (Glycidylmethacrylate) were developed using commercial extrusion blown molding method. The haze %, tensile strength, OTR, WVTR parameters of the developed films varied from 16.38–87.75%, 56.49–29.25 MPa, 318.25–176.85 cc/m²/day and 175–111.14 gm/m²/day respectively. The addition of rice, maize, potato starch decreased Tg from 65.26 to 60.46, 59.71 and 60.93 ºC; T_m from 46.81 to 143.01–150.16, 143.25–150.56 and 144.37–150.56 ºC with a slight increase in T_c from 106.45 to 107.23, 107.70 and 110.14 ºC respectively. The suitability of capsicum in modified atmospheric packaging was studied using the developed biodegradable films. Capsicum was stored under modified atmosphere packaging in the developed films namely, virgin PLA, PLA-rice (10%), PLA-potato (10%), PLA-maize(20%) of size 28×16 cm² having packaging area for the transmission of gas of 0.0896 m² with a fill weight of 0.35 kg. Polymeric film made up of LDPEof 60 μm was used for comparison. The MA packages maintained ≤7% PLW and higher firmness of samples as compared to the unpackaged capsicum. MA packages preserved the quality of capsicum up to 12 and 24 days at 25 ºC and 8 ºC, respectively as compared to unpackaged capsicum having shelf life of 4 and 9 days at 25 ºC and 8 ºC, respectively.