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Nano‐fillers Embedded Green Polyvinyl Alcohol/Starch Mixed Matrix Polymeric Thin Film to Enhance the Freshness of Vegetables
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Researchers developed biodegradable food packaging films made from polyvinyl alcohol and starch — reinforced with titanium dioxide and graphitic carbon nitride nanoparticles — as a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastic packaging. The resulting films showed improved water vapor barrier properties and were designed to slow food spoilage, with the explicit motivation of reducing the microplastic pollution caused by single-use synthetic plastics. While primarily a materials science study, it is relevant to microplastics as part of the effort to replace plastic packaging with safer alternatives.
Abstract This work presents the synthesis of a biodegradable nano‐bio‐composite thin film using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and starch (ST) for food packaging. Traditional synthetic polymers create microplastics that are harmful to the environment. In contrast, biodegradable films provide a safer alternative. Using a solution casting method, we blended PVA and ST with glycerol (GL) to enhance flexibility, while incorporating titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) and graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ) as nano‐fillers. Characterization techniques employed included FTIR, SEM, TGA, UV–vis, and degradation tests. The films containing nanomaterials showed a significant reduction in water vapor transmission rates, measuring 80.03 g/m 2 ·h for TiO 2 and 78.65 g/m 2 ·h for g‐C 3 N 4 , compared to 86.07 g/m 2 ·h for the PVA/ST/GL blend. This indicates improved food preservation capabilities. Furthermore, films with g‐C 3 N 4 exhibited enhanced degradation rates of 85.20% in microbial environments and 26.06% in soil, compared to those without nanomaterials. This approach not only addresses the issue of microplastic pollution but also supports biodiversity while extending the shelf life of vegetables by 10 – 12 days.
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