Edible Plastics/Films or Biopolymers from Food Materials

Edible plastics/films or biopolymers are biodegradable materials which are normally applied as food packaging. This type of packaging has been used for centuries to protect food products by avoiding food deterioration and extending its shelf life. Due to the increasing concerns about health and the environment, edible films are made from biomaterials to produce safe, edible, and environmentally friendly materials. In this study, the biopolymer’s compositions are combined from different types of hydrocolloids (polysaccharides base) with gel forming ability and additives for better structure. The film is formed by applying wet formation (solvent casting technique) and dried at 55°C to create thin films. The thickness, tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EBA), contact angle, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), water solubility and oil solubility were determined at different proportions of used hydrocolloids. The plasticizer glycerol was added at different concentrations (10, 20, 30% w/w) for further investigation of the film’s properties.