DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTIVE BIODEGRADABLE FILM CONTAINING TOCOPHEROL AND AVOCADO PEEL EXTRACT

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) films and poly(butylene adipate co-terephthalate) (PBAT) (60/40 m/m) containing TOCO-70 (tocopherol/soybean oil 70/30 m/m) and avocado peel extract (ExA) were produced using blown film extrusion. The formulations of the 5 films (FC/F1/F2/F3 and F4) were established through mixture design with constraints maintaining constant PBAT and TPS proportion, and varying the antioxidant concentrations. Adding antioxidants reduced the water vapour permeability ([K.sup.W]) of the films, with formulation F2 presenting higher decrease in relation to FC, 77.8%. The presence of ExA improved the mechanical properties of the films. The production of the films was determined to be viable after they presented good processability in a pilot extruder, as well as mechanical properties appropriate to production and utilization in industry. The presence of ExA and TOCO 70 provided the films with antioxidant activity; their application as active packaging requires further studies. --Keywords: active packaging, antioxidant, biodegradable polymer, poly (butylene adipate co-terephthalate), thermoplastic starch