Antioxidant packaging development and optimization using agroindustrial wastes

The increasing use of non-biodegradable materials and the difficulty in recycling most of the available packaging have been pushing the development of biodegradable packaging. In this study, the potential uses of agroindustrial wastes to produce biodegradable films with antioxidant capacity were investigated. Starch films were produced by casting method using bran from jaboticaba peel, mango peel, and broccoli stalk. The influence of the concentration or type of bran in the properties of the films was evaluated through a central composite design. The results were analyzed by response surface and desirability function. Except for elongation and water solubility, the fitted equations were predictive in all studied properties. The films prepared from a higher concentration of mango peel exhibited better antioxidant capacity, while the broccoli stalk had no significant effect on antioxidant properties. The optimal formulation of the film (2.8% of jaboticaba peel and 20.0% of mango peel) and their predicted response variables (0.8 MPa for tensile strength, 40.0 MPa for Young's modulus, 4.5 mg/ml for IC50, and 41.6% for inhibition percentage) were defined according to the results. The optimization was satisfactory and the film presented high antioxidant capacity and moderate mechanical properties, proving to be an alternative to replace plastic packaging.

Automated summary

The study investigated the potential use of agroindustrial wastes to produce biodegradable films with antioxidant capacity, with films made from higher concentration of mango peel showing better antioxidant properties. The optimal formulation of the film and their predicted response variables were defined according to the results, proving to be a suitable alternative to replace plastic packaging.