Development and Characterization of Commercial Biodegradable Film from PLA and Corn Starch for Fresh Produce Packaging

In this study, the PLA (v) and PLA-Corn starch based biodegradable films (90:10, 80:20) along with reagents BPO (benzyl peroxide) and GMA (Glycidylmethacrylate) was developed using commercial extrusion blown molding method. The haze %, tensile strength, OTR, WVTR parameters of the developed films varied from 16.38–94.73%, 56.49–24.18 MPa, 318.25–171.01 cc/m2/day and 175–101.47 (gm/m2/day), respectively for the developed films. The addition of corn starch decreased Tg from 65.26 to 59.712 °C, Tm from 146.81–150.56oC with a slight increase in Tc from 106.45 to 107.7 °C. The suitability of capsicum in modified atmospheric packaging was studied using the developed biodegradable films. Capsicum was stored under MA in the developed films namely, virgin PLA, PLA-corn (10%), PLA-corn (20%) of size 28 cm × 16 cm having packaging area for the transmission of gas of 0.0896 m2 with a fill weight of 0.35 kg. Polymeric film made up of LDPE+LLDPE of 60 µm was used for comparison. The MA packages maintained ≤ 5% PLW and higher firmness of samples as compared to the unpackaged capsicum. MA packages maintained the quality of capsicum up to 12 and 24 days at 25 and 8 °C, respectively as compared to unpackaged capsicum having shelf life of 4 and 9 days at 25 and 8 °C, respectively.