Potential of Carrot Juicing Waste as a Polymeric Base for the Production of High Added Value Packaging Film Containing Pectin and Chitosan Nanofiber

Fruit wastes as a by-product encompass valuable biopolymers that encouraged the development of biodegradable films. This study aimed to investigate the physical, mechanical, and structural features of carrot juicing waste powder (CWP) based films containing pectin (0, 5, and 10% (w/w) based on CWP weight) and chitosan nanofiber (CHNF) (0, 3, and 6% (w/w) based on CWP weight). According to the results, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated good compatibility between the CWP matrix and incorporated CHNF and pectin. Results showed a significant effect of increasing pectin concentration on elevating the thickness, color changes, water vapor permeability, tensile strength, and reducing the water contact angle and elongation at break values of film samples. The incorporation of 3% CHNF led to enhance mechanical and water barrier properties of the film samples which were decreased by elevating its concentration up to 6%. The results showed that biodegradable films based on carrot waste powder containing CHNF and pectin could be introduced as a good candidate for the development of food packaging and can open a new horizon in the field of fruit and vegetable waste management.