Development of Biodegradable Films from Green Macroalgae and Yam Starch for Shrimp Packaging
Yam, shelf-life, biomass, green macroalga, Ulva sp., biodegradable films, mechanical properties, barrier properties
Macroalgae are organisms found in both marine and freshwater environments. They have a high cellulose content and bioactive compounds that exhibit various biological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. The biomass of these algae can be used for the biosynthesis of cellulose derivatives. Yam, on the other hand, has been extensively studied in Food Engineering, especially in film production, due to its 30% amylose content, which shows great potential for forming a more cohesive polymeric matrix under environmental conditions. Based on this, it was proposed to combine these two components to study the production of biodegradable films. These films will be formulated by incorporating a cellulose solution extracted from the macroalga Ulva lactuca into a yam starch polymeric matrix, plasticized with glycerol. The macroalgae will be collected from a shrimp farm at São Félix site, located in Tibau do Sul/RN, at the Primar Orgânica farm, and transported to the Food Engineering Laboratory of the Chemical Engineering Department (DEQ) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). In the laboratory, they will undergo processes of cleaning, drying, powdering, cellulose solution extraction, and film preparation. The films will be obtained via casting, with the base formulation containing 3% yam starch, 1.5% glycerol, and 94% water. From this base formulation, the control film (F1), the film with 15% cellulose solution (F2), and the film with 30% cellulose solution (F3) will be prepared. Characterization analyses of this solution, the prepared films, and shelf-life studies of shrimp stored in the biodegradable films will be conducted. To evaluate the efficiency of the films in extending the shelf-life of shrimp, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), trimethylamine (TMA), and microbiological analyses will be performed. It is expected that the obtained films will exhibit good mechanical properties, be effective in the heat-sealing process, and be suitable for shrimp packaging.