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<p>The development of biodegradable, eco-compatible food packaging films is necessary for mitigating the environmental and health concerns posed by petroleum-based plastics. In this context, the present research work explores the fabrication of biodegradable and antibacterial food packaging films utilizing carrot, radish and pea peels as the primary raw material, with corn starch serving as a filler and glycerol as plasticizer. The films were crosslinked using acetic acid as well as natural agent lemon extract. The bioplastic films may possibly be formed on account of polymerization among the inherent biopolymers such as starch, cellulose, proteins, pectin etc. present in the peels. These macromolecular components mainly undergo hydrogen bonding to form an interconnected polymer network. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed effective crosslinking and molecular interactions among the constituents, a dense microstructure with high surface roughness, significant thermal stability and amorphous nature of developed bioplastic films. The synthesized bioplastic films containing lemon extract exhibit lower moisture content, water solubility and swelling index compared to films containing acetic acid. Among all synthesized films, radish peel based films having lemon extract demonstrate least moisture content (8.19 ± 0.85%), swelling index (59.50 ± 1.30%) and water solubility (42.49 ± 1.46%) while pea peels derived films containing acetic acid are found to have highest moisture content (17.61 ± 1.55%), water absorption (115.57 ± 3.26%) and water solubility (60.65 ± 2.23%). Results revealed that the developed bioplastic films possessed improved water resistance and significant antibacterial activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i>. At higher concentration of samples (200* µg/mL), films developed with lemon extract are found to be more potent against <i>Escherichia coli.</i> All the synthesized films show biodegradability under natural soil conditions, underscoring their environmental compatibility with maximum biodegradability (85.42 ± 2.74%) shown by carrot peel-based films having lemon extract. Additionally, lemon extract-containing films show more biodegradation compared to acetic acid-containing films. A novel aspect of this study is utilization of agro waste with antibacterial properties and biodegradability, thereby&#xa0;providing a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for the film development process. This work exemplifies a circular economy approach and opens new avenues for converting waste vegetable peels, into biodegradable films with environmentally friendly and antibacterial properties, highlighting their potential in sustainable food packaging.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Eco-compatible, Biodegradable and Antibacterial Bioplastic Films from Vegetable Peels: Innovative and Sustainable Packaging Materials

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月7日

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  • Jyoteshna Kharb,
  • Ritu Saharan

摘要

The development of biodegradable, eco-compatible food packaging films is necessary for mitigating the environmental and health concerns posed by petroleum-based plastics. In this context, the present research work explores the fabrication of biodegradable and antibacterial food packaging films utilizing carrot, radish and pea peels as the primary raw material, with corn starch serving as a filler and glycerol as plasticizer. The films were crosslinked using acetic acid as well as natural agent lemon extract. The bioplastic films may possibly be formed on account of polymerization among the inherent biopolymers such as starch, cellulose, proteins, pectin etc. present in the peels. These macromolecular components mainly undergo hydrogen bonding to form an interconnected polymer network. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed effective crosslinking and molecular interactions among the constituents, a dense microstructure with high surface roughness, significant thermal stability and amorphous nature of developed bioplastic films. The synthesized bioplastic films containing lemon extract exhibit lower moisture content, water solubility and swelling index compared to films containing acetic acid. Among all synthesized films, radish peel based films having lemon extract demonstrate least moisture content (8.19 ± 0.85%), swelling index (59.50 ± 1.30%) and water solubility (42.49 ± 1.46%) while pea peels derived films containing acetic acid are found to have highest moisture content (17.61 ± 1.55%), water absorption (115.57 ± 3.26%) and water solubility (60.65 ± 2.23%). Results revealed that the developed bioplastic films possessed improved water resistance and significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. At higher concentration of samples (200* µg/mL), films developed with lemon extract are found to be more potent against Escherichia coli. All the synthesized films show biodegradability under natural soil conditions, underscoring their environmental compatibility with maximum biodegradability (85.42 ± 2.74%) shown by carrot peel-based films having lemon extract. Additionally, lemon extract-containing films show more biodegradation compared to acetic acid-containing films. A novel aspect of this study is utilization of agro waste with antibacterial properties and biodegradability, thereby providing a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for the film development process. This work exemplifies a circular economy approach and opens new avenues for converting waste vegetable peels, into biodegradable films with environmentally friendly and antibacterial properties, highlighting their potential in sustainable food packaging.

Graphical Abstract