Effects of Banana Skin Powder on Properties of Jackfruit Seed Starch/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) PVA Film

Abstract

Biodegradable jackfruit seed starch (JFSS)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films reinforced with different amount of banana fruit skin powder (BSP) were produced via solution casting method. This study aims to investigate the effect of BSP on the properties of JFSS/PVA films. The blend ratio between JFSS and PVA was fixed at 4:3 wt.% while the composition of BSP was varied from 1 to 2.5 wt.%. The mechanical and physical properties of the composite films were investigated. From the analysis, the optimum blend ratio of JFSS/PVA is achieved at maximum tensile strength 10.90 MPa with 1 wt.% BSP. The results of mechanical properties were supported by scanning electron microscope (SEM) in which the banana skin powder is properly wetted by the JFSS/PVA blend, thus indicates the good interaction within the blend. The reinforcement of BSP into JFSS/PVA blend films has also resulted in the existence of hydrogen bonding interaction evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and increase the percent weight loss of the film over time through soil burial test, hence, proved its biodegradability.