BIODEGRADABLE CORNSTARCH-BASED FILMS: PRODUCTION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURAL MULCHING

ANZORENA, HECTOR ALEJANDRO; GIAROLI, MARÍA CAROLINA ; LÓPEZ, OLIVIA V.; HOTZA, DACHAMIR; NINAGO, MARIO D.

Florianópolis

Congreso; I CONGRESSO BRASILEIRO DE BIOTECNOLOGIA INDUSTRIAL.; 2024

Associação Brasileira de Engenharia Química

The use of biodegradable films produced from biopolymers such as starch is being widely studied, taking advantage of their low cost and high availability. In the present work, films were obtained from 3% w/v cornstarch suspensions, which were gelatinized using a 1% w/v sodium hydroxide solution. Once gelatinized, 30% w/w glycerol (based on starch) was added, then poured onto 9 cm diameter Petri dishes and dried in an oven at 45°C until constant weight. Films were conditioned at 65 % relative humidity (RH) until their characterization. Simultaneously, spraying capacity of suspensions was tested by employing a manual pulverizing backpack with a plane nozzle. In order to evaluate their performance as soil protective coatings, UV and visible radiation barrier properties were determined spectrophotometry and mechanical properties by puncture tests was also evaluated. Films demonstrated a high barrier capacity, blocking up to 65 % of radiation in the entire UV and visible range. On the other hand, the maximum puncture force was similar to values reported in the literature for starch-based and commercial polyethylene films used as agricultural mulches. Finally, it was demonstrated that proposed formulations can be sprayed and applied in situ on land used for vegetable cultivation.