Biodegradable materials based on starch and chitosan composition: operational properties

The use of polysaccharides to produce organic packaging opens up new opportunities for the effective use of food raw materials to solve environmental problems. Organic packaging is becoming more and more attractive to the population interested in creating environmentally friendly living conditions. The main determining factor ensuring the achievement of the result is the ability of ecomaterials and products made from them to undergo a degradation process in compost in a short time for safe substances such as biomass, water, carbon dioxide. All over the world, research teams are conducting research to obtain biodegradable materials that can fully replace plastic. The most promising raw materials for matrix formation in this series of studies are starches, chitosan. These components, having a different nature, having different properties, can form an interesting composition in the technological aspect. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal ratio of the main ingredients of potato starch and chitosan and to study the characteristics of the film material to identify the best parameters. To achieve this goal, 4 samples of biodegradable films were prepared within the framework of the study, which were evaluated according to a set of indicators, taking into account the assessment of the structural and mechanical characteristics of the material. It was found that all samples had elasticity, had homogeneous surfaces without defects. During the processing of experimental data, the samples had the best strength and water absorption indicators based on the following percentage of components: potato starch - 1.0 % and chitosan - 1.5 %. At the same time, according to the results of the assessment of the migration of simulators into food systems, samples of the composition were determined: potato starch 1.0 % and chitosan 0.5 %. It is proved that the developed biodegradable films can be used as packaging, products with short shelf life as an alternative to polymer films based on thermoplastics.