Effect of plasticizer type and concentration on physical properties of biodegradable films based on sugar palm (arenga pinnata) starch for food packaging

Sanyang ML 1 , Sapuan SM 2 , Jawaid M 3 , Ishak MR 4 , Sahari J 5

Affiliations 

  • 1 Green Engineering, Institute of Advanced Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Serdang, Selangor Malaysia
  • 2 Green Engineering, Institute of Advanced Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Serdang, Selangor Malaysia ; Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Serdang, Selangor Malaysia ; Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Serdang, Selangor Malaysia
  • 3 Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Serdang, Selangor Malaysia
  • 4 Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Serdang, Selangor Malaysia ; Department of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Serdang, Selangor Malaysia
  • 5 Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia
J Food Sci Technol, 2016 Jan;53(1):326-36.
PMID: 26787952 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-015-2009-7

Abstract

In this study, sugar palm starch (SPS) films were developed using glycerol (G), sorbitol (S) or their combination (GS) as plasticizers at the ratio of 15, 30 and 45 (wt)% using casting technique. The addition of plasticizers to SPS film-forming solutions helped to overcome the brittle and fragile nature of unplasticized SPS films. Increased plasticizer concentration resulted to an increase in film thickness, moisture content and solubility. On the contrary, density and water absorption of plasticized films decreased with increasing plasticizer concentration. Raising the plasticizer content from 15 to 45 % showed less effect on the moisture content and water absorption of S-plasticized films. Films containing glycerol and glycerol-sorbitol plasticizer (G, and GS) demonstrated higher moisture content, solubility and water absorption capacity compared to S-plasticized films. The results obtained in this study showed that plasticizer type and concentration significantly improves film properties and enhances their suitability for food packaging applications.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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