Residual Starch Packaging Derived from Potato Washing Slurries to Preserve Fruits

Abstract

Non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastics are still widely used by the food industry for packaging applications and, due to that bio-based raw materials such as starch, have been attracting growing interest from the packaging industries as a biocompatible alternative material. During the industrial processing of potato, a large amount of residual starch is produced from the washing of the raw material. Starch-like biopolymers have been proposed for the formulation of biodegradable materials. The application of starch in the packaging production depends on chemical, physical and functional properties to form gels and films. The aim of this study was to develop packaging films made from potato processing residual starch combined with polar organic solvents (glycerol and acetic acid) that can be fully obtained from renewable sources. The characterization of the material obtained was performed evaluating the microbiological stability, mechanical properties, formed bonds and barrier characteristics and, in order to demonstrate the real application in fruits preservation the material was direct applied into papaya fruits (Carica papaya) by the immersion method. The present study exhibits the potential of starch residual from potato industrialization to manufacture packaging films. The films achieved the expected results for microbiological analysis, water vapor permeability and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. The qualitative analysis of the shelf stability test showed the potential of the films in fruit preservation envisioning the application in food industry for packaging.