Journal of Agricultural Engineering
Open Access
  • Year: 2015
  • Volume: 52
  • Issue: 3

Evaluation of Biodegradable Films from Tapioca Starch

  • Author:
  • K. Sarmah1, P. Das2,, D. Das Borah3, T.C. Sarmah4
  • Total Page Count: 7
  • Page Number: 51 to 57

1Research scholar, Department of Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry, AAU, Jorhat, Assam

2Senior Scientist, Department of Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry, AAU, Jorhat, Assam

3Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry, AAU, Jorhat, Assam

4H.O.D, Department of Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry, AAU, Jorhat, Assam

*Corresponding author e-mail: priyanka.aau@gmail.com

Online published on 21 December, 2015.

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the physico-chemical properties of tapioca starch films. Biodegradable films were prepared with starch concentration ranging between 1.5%-3.0%, and glycerol concentration between 20%-30% of total starch. Chitosan, a known anti-microbial polysaccharide, was added to increase the mechanical strength of one of the films. Film having 3% starch and 20 % glycerol of total starch with a casting depth of 5 mm was found to be the best with tensile strength of 9.23 MPa, solubility of 17.22%, WVTR of 306.58 gm.cm-2.day-1 and thickness of 1.5mm. Chitosan addition at the rate of 1% was not effective in improving the films tensile strength.

Keywords

Physico-chemical properties, starch films, chitosan, tensile strength, WVTR