Biocomposites of PLA and Mango Seed Waste: Potential Material for Food Packaging and a Technological Alternative to Reduce Environmental Impact.

Mango seeds from agro‐industry represents an environmental problem due to the amounts of by‐products produced. Conversely, poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a potential green alternative to conventional plastics. The goal of this study aimed to develop a biocomposite based on PLA and mango's by‐product for rigid packaging. Six biocomposites are obtained by extrusion/injection processing using formulations with PLA as a matrix and up to 20% by weight of mango seed's by‐products. The materials are characterized by chemical and physical analysis; scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X‐ray, X‐ray diffraction; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); thermal gravimetric analysis/differential thermogravimetry; differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical analysis. FTIR bands and DSC transitions related to starch are higher in the kernel, while more cellulose bands are found in the integument. Kernel presented thermal degradation in the biocomposites, the sample PLA+20 wt% kernel. For the other compositions, it is possible to observe that they could keep their morphology. Significant improvements in both mechanical and barrier properties are found in the formulation with 20 wt% integument (up to 38% in elastic modulus). Therefore, this study suggests that biocomposites developed from PLA / Integument / Kernel have potential as a new biomaterial for rigid food packaging systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]