Bioplastics for Food Packaging from PVA/Gellan Gum with guava leaf

Date:16 December 2023

Country: Egypt

Application

• Food Packaging: The bioplastics produced are biodegradable and safe for use in food packaging, offering an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic plastics.

Description

This project focuses on creating bioplastics for food packaging using a blend of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and gellan gum (GG), with the addition of guava leaf (GL) and chickpea (CP) extracts to enhance properties. The bioplastic films are produced using a solvent casting technique and characterized for mechanical, thermal, and biodegradability properties. The addition of plant extracts improves tensile strength and biodegradability, while making the material suitable for environmentally friendly food packaging. The life cycle assessment shows that these bioplastics are a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics.

Pathway Description:

In this project, bioplastic films were prepared by blending polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and gellan gum (GG) in three different compositions (50/50, 30/70, and 70/30). The blend was mixed with glycerol as a plasticizer and processed using a solvent casting technique. Plant extracts from guava leaves (GL) and chickpeas (CP) were incorporated into the most promising blend (30/70) to enhance the material's properties. The films were then dried, characterized, and tested for mechanical, thermal, and food packaging properties.