Abstract
The production of biodegradable plastic materials using natural resources is very important due to environmental concerns. The purpose of this research was to develop and characterize a film based on native potato starch employing glycerol as a plasticizer without additives, for use as an edible coating in food preservation. An experimental method was applied with three treatments (concentrations of 2, 3 and 4 % of native starch), glycerol (2 %) and three repetitions. The results showed that the biofilms had good mechanical properties, and the higher of starch concentration the better was the structural cohesion of the films and better tensile strength. It is concluded that using pigmented native potato starch at 4 %, glycerol at 2 %, without additives, a good quality of the film was obtained with rapid degradation, resistant, economical, and non-toxic, suitable for the use of food coatings. The degradation time was at 14 d with constant degradation, and 100 % degradation was attained after 19 d. The effectiveness of described method in obtaining the films showed good results for food coatings.
