Characterization of starch film incorporating Hom Nil rice extract for food packaging purposes.

Poor water resistance, mechanical properties and stability limit the food packaging applications of starch films. Since the properties of starch films are improved by incorporating phenolic compounds and anthocyanins from natural plant extracts, Hom Nil rice (HN) extract was incorporated into cassava starch solution to produce a starch-based packaging film. We evaluated the extraction condition to optimize the total phenolic and anthocyanin contents of the HN extract. The optimal ratio of ethanol solution:Hom Nil rice powder was 5:1 v/w% and the optimal extraction time was 60 min. The influence of HN extract on the viscosity of the film solution and the properties of the obtained films were investigated. The results showed that the HN extract increased the viscosity of the starch solution. A film containing 8 wt% of HN extract produced the highest water contact angle and tensile strength, and hindered the retrogradation process. Therefore, cassava starch film modified with the proposed HN extract has the potential to be used as a food packaging material.

Thermoplastic starch composite with oil palm mesocarp fiber waste and its application as biodegradable seeding pot.

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) composites with oil palm mesocarp fiber waste were prepared using compression molding. Oil palm mesocarp fiber (PC) was reduced to powder (MPC) by dry grinding in a planetary ball mill at various speeds and grinding times. It was found that fiber powder with the smallest particle size (33 µm) was obtained at a rotation speed of 200 rpm after milling for 90 min. A TPS composite with 50 wt% of MPC showed the highest tensile strength, thermal stability, and water resistance. A biodegradable seeding pot was produced from this TPS composite that was slowly degraded by microorganisms in the soil without releasing pollutants. The pot could support certain commercially and domestically grown plants for the duration of their growth period and showed potential as an innovative product that could replace existing non-biodegradable products.

Film coating based on native starch and cationic starch blend improved postharvest quality of mangoes.

This work focused on the preparation and characterization of films and coatings based on native cassava starch cationic cassava starch and a blend of the two. The films and coatings are intended for application as coating materials for mango fruits. Due to the good miscibility between native cassava starch and cationic cassava starch, the starch blend film was more hydrophobic than films produced from unblended native cassava starch and unblended cationic cassava starch. In addition, after storage for 10 days, the mangoes coated with the starch blend film had lost the least weight and exhibited only slight changes in physical appearance. Therefore, the coating of native and cationic cassava starch blend is a promising alternative coating that presents no hazard to consumer health or the environment.