Biobased polymer films from avocado oil extraction residue: Production and characterization

ABSTRACT In view of the increasing interest in the use of residues from the food industry as source for packing applications, the by‐product of the mechanical extraction of avocado oil is an attractive product as it consists basically a hydrated and defatted pulp, rich in proteins, fibers. and oil. This work aims to produce biobased polymer films from avocado oil extraction residue. Seven film‐forming solutions were elaborated from puree and the additives tested were glycerol, cassava starch, and microcrystalline cellulose. The films obtained from the pure residue presented brittle behavior. All films presented low values of water vapor permeability (0.064 to 0.446 g mm m−2·kPa−1 h−1) and medium water soluble fraction (43.79 to 56.92%). The films with cassava starch and glycerol presented the best results, with mechanical (tensile: 2.70 MPa; elongation: 13.7%) and thermal properties in the range typically found in the literature for biobased films. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43957.