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Biodegradable pH sensor in packaging material using anthocyanin from banana bracts

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Abstract

Sustainability in packaging materials is important now with a world overwhelmed by plastic pollution. In this study, anthocyanins extracted from banana bracts were incorporated into a biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/starch matrix to prepare a colorimetric pH-responsive film for intelligent food packaging applications. Anthocyanins are a class of natural dyes that are used to detect pH changes due to the presence of phenolic or conjugated groups. PVA/starch films with varying concentrations of anthocyanin (1.5–3%) were made by the solution casting method. FTIR, TGA, SEM, WVTR, and moisture absorption were used to characterize the films. Anthocyanin extract added to the PVA/starch film boosted the percentage elongation at break but lowered the elastic modulus and tensile strength. pH sensing ability was established by the degrees of lightness (L), redness (+a) or greenness (−a), and yellowness (+b) or blueness (−b) values of the prepared films. A test for food spoilage was conducted using pasteurized milk. This research proposed a novel technique for fabricating films that are suitable for use in food packaging and as a biodegradable substitute for existing packaging materials.

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All of the data sets that were included and/or examined in the present study can be obtained from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology, CUSAT, Kochi, Kerala, India, for helping with mechanical studies; School of Marine Sciences, CUSAT, Kerala, India, and Instrumentation Facility Centre, Bharata Mata College, Thrikakara, Kerala, India, for carrying out FTIR analysis; SAIF STIC, CUSAT, Kochi, Kerala, India, for the TGA, XRD, and SEM analysis; and finally, the management and faculty of the Department of Chemistry, St. Paul’s College, Kalamassery, Kerala, for providing the necessary facilities and encouragement to carry out this research work.

Funding

Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Kerala, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, St. Paul’s College, H.M.T colony P.O, Kalamassery, Kochi, Kerala, 683503, India

    Mohammed Irfan Thottathil Nazar, Tresa Sunitha George & Sainul Abidh Muhammadaly

  2. Centre for Refining & Advanced Chemicals, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Sainul Abidh Muhammadaly

  3. Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kalamassery, Kochi, Kerala, 682022, India

    Bipinbal Parambath Kanoth

  4. Post Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, Kerala, 682011, India

    Neena George & Venugopal Balachandrakurup

  5. Department of Chemistry, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Kochi, Kerala, 682013, India

    Midhun Dominic Chemmarickal Dominic

  6. Post Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Union Christian College, Aluva, Kerala, 683102, India

    Ajalesh Balachandran Nair

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  1. Mohammed Irfan Thottathil Nazar
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  2. Tresa Sunitha George
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  3. Sainul Abidh Muhammadaly
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Contributions

Mohammed Irfan T N: investigation, data curation, writing – original draft. Tresa Sunitha George: conceptualisation, methodology, supervision, fund acquisition, reviewing. Sainul Abidh K M: investigation, data curation, resources. Bipinbal Parambath Kanoth, Neena George: reviewing and editing. Venugopal Balachandrakurup, Midhun Dominic C D: visualization and reviewing. Ajalesh B Nair: resources.

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Correspondence to Tresa Sunitha George.

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Thottathil Nazar, M.I., George, T.S., Muhammadaly, S.A. et al. Biodegradable pH sensor in packaging material using anthocyanin from banana bracts. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-04294-7

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