CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Varieties of renewable biopolymers such as polysaccharides were obtained from plant have been investigated for the development of edible/biodegradable nonpetrochemical-based packaging materials and edible coatings. Pulp (APG) and husk gums (AHG) from Alcayota (Curcubita ficifolia) is an interestingalternative to synthetic gas-barrier polymers in packaging applications. The films have low gas permeability under dry conditions due to their high contents ofhydrogen bonds. The films were prepared from water solution of hydrolyzed APG and AHG to 2% wt. and 5% glycerol, at 60ºC for 2 hours. The film propertiesare mainly due to the strong hydrophilicity. The films providing water vapor permeability (WVP) values in the range from 2.32 to 2.04 x 10-10 g m/m2 s Pa andmechanical properties expressed in Young Modulus (E) from 75 to 104MPa. The X-ray diffraction showed amorphous and shift to lower d-spacing, i.e. at lowerdistances between the polysaccharide chains, for example, d-spacing (APG)<d-spacing (AHG). These membranes exhibit excellent water permeation and wateradsorption properties, which make them very useful in selecting biodegradable films, which should be no-controlled water passage.