Biodegradable Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVOH)-Based Films with Anthocyanin-Rich Extracts of Corozo (Bactris guineensis H.E. Moore) for Intelligent Packaging Design

Abstract

Corozo (Bactris guineensis H.E. Moore) is a fruit from the Colombian Caribbean region valued for its thermostable anthocyanins, which are responsible for its characteristic reddish colour. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical, structural, and functional properties for an intelligent and biodegradable film design based on a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) matrix incorporating a Corozo extract rich in anthocyanins, with potential applications in food packaging. Anthocyanins were extracted from Corozo fruit and evaluated throughout a central composite design (CCD) for the effects of three variables—extraction time (t), temperature (T), and solvent concentration (CS). A quadratic model (R2 = 0.9586) demonstrated that the exocarp (peel) was the most effective source of anthocyanins. The best conditions were a 1:16.66 solid-to-solvent ratio at 50 °C for 75 min, yielding 38.65 mg EC3G/L. PVOH films were formulated using Corozo anthocyanin extract (CAE), which was characterised for the total anthocyanin content. Characterisation of the films revealed that the incorporation of Corozo-derived phenolic compounds did not cause significant (p < 0.05) changes in structural or water interaction properties compared to those of the control sample.