Zeitschrift für Erdöl- und Umweltbiotechnologie

Abstrakt

Polyvinyl Alcohol Impact on the Physio-Chemical, Morphological, Barrier, Mechanical and Biodegradable Properties of Water Chestnut Starch Biocomposite Film

Kishwar Zehra*, Anjum Nawab, Feroz Alam, Alina Hadi, Mohib Reza

A biodegradable film based on Water Chestnut Starch (WCS) with Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) at different proportions (100:0, 70:30 and 50:50 wt%) were prepared by casting technique. To study the impact of incorporation of PVA into the film matrix, physical, barrier and mechanical properties were examined. Scanning electron morphology was performed to explain the film morphology and structural properties. Results showed that PVA addition increased the swelling index and solubility but decreased the thickness. PVA enhances the Tensile Strength (TS) but found to be gradually decreased at high PVA concentration. Highest TS values were 31.33 MPa and 27.14 MPa for sorbitol and glycerol respectively at 30% PVA concentration. However, the elongation at break (%E) was minimum at lower concentration of PVA and then increased with PVA concentration. The Water Vapour Permeability (WVP) was decreased with higher PVA concentration from 2.585 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 1.714 × 10⁻¹⁰ gs⁻¹m⁻¹Pa⁻¹ and 1.476 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 1.232 × 10⁻¹⁰ gs⁻¹m⁻¹Pa⁻¹ for sorbitol and glycerol plasticized films respectively. Furthermore, the result showed that PVA incorporation delayed the film biodegradability, but their dissolution property allowed for food packaging with no ecological harmful effects.