Screening of Agricultural and Food Processing Waste Materials as New Sources for Biodegradable Food Packaging Application

Agar-based composite films were prepared with variety of food processing and agricultural processing waste materials in order to screen natural lingo-cellulosic resources for the value-added utilization of the under-utilized materials. The effect of these waste materials (10 wt% based on agar) on mechanical properties, moisture content (MC), water vapor permeability (WVP), water absorption behavior of biocomposite films were investigated. Biocomposite films prepared with various fibers resulted in significant increase or decrease in color and percent transmittance. The MC, WVP, and surface hydrophobicity of biocomposite films increased significantly by incorporation of fibers, while the water uptake ratio and solubility of the film decreased. SEM images of biocomposite film showed better adhesion between the fiber and agar polymer. Among the tested cellulosic waste materials, rice wine waste, onion and garlic fibers were promising for the value-added utilization as a reinforcing material for the preparation of biocomposite food packaging films.