Development and evaluation of potato waste based biodegradable for food packaging

Abstract

Plastics have become a necessary component of our contemporary lifestyle and are used widely in a variety of industries. Of them, the packaging industry is the one that uses plastics the most. However, the disposal of plastic and allied wastes poses a serious threat to the environment. Therefore, researches has been done to create biodegradable polymers from renewable and natural resources, such as starch, proteins derived from plants and animals, lipids and resins, to lower the risk to the environment and increase the degradability of plastic wastes. In the experiment, biodegradable packaging films were prepared from potato peel power (PPP). Moisture content and water activity of potato peel (PP) and colour characteristics, lipids, amylose and amylopectin content, starch, moisture content and water activity of the PPP were analyzed. The films for the test were prepared from 3, 4 and 5% PPP concentrations and different plasticizer combinations viz. gelatin-glycerol, chitosan-glycerol and gelatin-chitosan and were dried at atmospheric temperature for two days. Based on preliminary studies, nine treatments were selected and the quality parameters selected were colour, thickness, tensile strength, water absorption, solubility and swelling index, bursting strength, grammage and biodegradability. The samples have not shown much deviation in colour, thickness and grammage. Glycerol and chitosan combination at larger concentrations showed moderate water absorbance, low solubility and swelling index and high bursting strength, whereas, gelatin and chitosan combination showed high tensile strength. Based on previous results and sealability studies, the glycerol-chitosan combination was optimized and it was only selected for further studies. From biodegradability studies, it was understood that 30 days were taken for 90% degradation. Storage study of dehydrated black pepper under biodegradable packaging material was conducted for 45 days. Polypropylene pouch was selected as control sample. From the study, it was observed that the moisture content and water activity of dehydrated pepper packed under biodegradable and polypropylene pouches were increased from 5.4% to 8.8%, 5.4-6.1% and 0.6-0.83, 0.6 to 0.68, respectively. In conclusion, the biodegradability of potato peel starch film presents a promising solution to the pressing environmental challenges posed by conventional plastic packaging. Derived from an abundant agricultural byproduct, these films offer a sustainable alternative for waste reduction and thus, fostering a healthier planet.