Development and characterization of mango seed starch-based film incorporated with pomelo peel extract as an active food package

Abstract

The need for sustainable alternatives to food packaging is driven by the negative environmental impacts of traditional plastic packaging. This study aimed to develop and characterize a biodegradable film based on mango seed starch incorporated with pomelo peel extract as an active ingredient for food packaging. Mango seed starch- based films were formulated with different concentrations of pomelo peel extract (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%) and their mechanical, physicochemical, and biodegradable properties were analyzed. The solution casting technique was used to manufacture the films, employing glycerin and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as plasticizers. PVA acted as a cross-linking agent, to enhance film structure, and the citric acid in pomelo peel extract further reinforced cross-linking, increasing mechanical strength and stability. Results showed no statistically significant difference in film thickness between treatments, according to the results (p>0.05). However, as pomelo peel extract incorporation increased from 0% to 3%, density increased from 0.1153 g/cm³ to 0.1653 g/cm³, tensile strength increased from 5.36 to 9.07 MPa, water absorption significantly decreased from 882.2 ± 1.436 to 37.6 ± 1.63. Biodegradability studies showed some films completely disintegrated after eight weeks, leaving minimal residue. These results indicate that mango seed starch films incorporated with pomelo peel extract can serve as a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to plastic packaging.