Contact
    Start Publications From bulk banana peels to active materials: slipping into ...
    ←  Publication Finder
    Attension

    From bulk banana peels to active materials: slipping into bioplastic films with high UV-blocking and antioxidant properties

    Year: 2023

    Authors: Duarte Silva, Rodrigo; Pacheco, Thályta Fraga; Dória de Santi, Amanda; Rampinelli Bozzo, Breno; Manarelli, Fabiana; Brienzo, Michel; Otoni, Caio G.; Azeredo, Henriette Monteiro Cordeiro d

    Keywords: antioxidant activity; banana peel; bioplastic film; hydrothermal pretreatment; UV-blocking

    Bananas are among the most produced fruits globally, and their industry generates substantial amounts of peels, which are currently underutilized. Therefore, a simple and fast process was proposed to convert whole banana peel powder (BPP) into bioplastic films using hydrothermal pretreatment (HTP) or dilute acid pretreatment (DAP). The influence of the following variables on film performance was investigated: using a 2^3 factorial design: type of BPP (unblanched versus blanched) (B), sulfuric acid concentration in pretreatment medium (0 or 25 mM, i.e. HTP versus DAP) (A), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) content (0 or 20 wt% based on the dry mass of BPP) (C). The tensile properties of the films were primarily affected by C, with CMC-containing films achieving tensile strength up to 16 MPa. The water vapor permeability was not influenced by any of the studied variables, while the water contact angle was primarily affected by A, with all films prepared with HTP displaying a hydrophobic surface. The UV-shielding properties of the films were mainly influenced by B, with all films blocking at least 98% of UV radiation. The antioxidant activity mainly influenced by B, as blanching banana peels helped preserve antioxidant activity. Even after the pretreatments, the films still retained no less than 50% of the antioxidant activity of the BPPs. Furthermore, the CMC-containing film, prepared with blanched BPP subjected to HTP, displayed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. Thus, these films are promising eco-friendly materials for active food packaging applications. The simplicity of the zero waste process makes it a potentially scalable and cost-effective one that could contribute to a transition towards a circular bioeconomy.
    View publication