EXPLORING PEDALIUM MUREX AS A SOURCE FOR SUSTAINABLE BIOPLASTICS IN FOOD PACKAGING

Synthetic polymers predominantly constitute packaging materials; however, they significantly contribute to environmental degradation. Although plasticizers serve to enhance the properties of polymers, traditional petroleum-based variants exacerbate ecological detriment. This investigation fabricated biofilms utilizing poly L-lactic acid (PLA) in conjunction with a bio plasticizer derived from Pedalium murex. The plant extract underwent transesterification to yield glycerol (employed as a plasticizer) and biodiesel (extracted as a byproduct). Chemical and mechanical extraction methodologies were optimized to enhance the recovery of the plasticizer. The attributes of the films were characterized through tensile strength evaluations, solubility assessments, water absorption analyses, and soil burial degradation experiments. The resultant biofilm exhibited a tensile strength of 1.754 N/cm² alongside an elongation percentage of 33.34%. Furthermore, it demonstrated 25% solubility and 11% water absorption capacity. Soil burial experimentation confirmed complete microbial degradation within a span of 14 days. The bio plasticizer derived from Pedalium murex combined with PLA produces a sustainable packaging material that possesses competitive mechanical properties and rapid biodegradability, thereby presenting an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.