EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIAGTION ON DEVELOPMENT OF BIODEGRADABLE EDIBLE FILM FROM RED SEAWEED Kappaphycus alvarezii

Synthetic films are predominantly used in packaging industry because they are flexible, durable and easily synthesizable. Major threat to the environment is conventionally using films are not biodegradable. But the films are produced from natural resources that are biodegrable and eco-friendly to the environment. Seaweed extract carragenan is used a natural resource for producing biopolymer because it is quite cheap, abundant, biodegradable and edible. Hence, biodegrable film was developed using the red seaweed (kappaphycus alvarezii), which is collected from the coastal area of Mandapam, Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu serves as the raw material for synthesis of bio film. The carrageenan was extracted by means of alcohol precipitation method.

The present study was aimed to investigate the optimum composition of carragenan extract and additional plasticizer that gives the mechanical property.

The bio films were made by phase inversion method with four carrageenan concentration of 1%, 1.25%, 1.5% and 1.75% (w/v) respectively. Glycerol and palm oil used as plasticizer with two concentrations of 1% and 10% (v/v).

Printing is done by pouring the film forming solution in Petri dishes. The main problem arises during the peeling section as because of the peeling is done manually (human error). Hence until getting success in all the 8 samples, the process is repeatedly done. The first trial gives 62.5% success (5 out of 8), the second trial gives 66.6% success (2 out of 3) and third trial gives 100% success (1 out of 1).

The films obtained were all transparent and optical clear to the naked eyes. The films were very sensible to water, being easily dissolved in distilled water.

Most importantly, the produced biofilm is edible and fully compostable. The developed biofilm paves the way for fishing community as economically sustainable.