Preparation, Characterization, and Evaluation of Tetrabutylphosphonium Octanoate Reinforced Chitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Films as Biodegradable, Antibacterial, and Antioxidant Active Food Packaging Materials

ABSTRACT Bioplastics have become an alternative green source for implementing a circular economy as a result of the globally prevalent pollution caused by traditional petroleum‐based plastic packaging. Chitosan (CS) is a crucial biopolymer with potential applications in numerous fields due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the CS used to make food packaging films is not particularly flexible or durable. In order to overcome this problem, tetrabutylphosphonium octanoate (TBPOct) ionic liquid (IL) functionalized polymeric films using CS and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) have been synthesized. The effect of varying concentrations of IL (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%) and that of the biopolymer was thoroughly studied to optimize the biofilm composition with desired properties. The recently developed bioplastic films were evaluated by using multiple physical tests, including water solubility, film thickness, moisture content, and swelling properties, as well as spectroscopic methods like Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), opacity testing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).