Incorporation of bentonite clay in cassava starch films for the reduction of water vapor permeability

Complete factorial planning 23 was applied to identify the influence of the cassava starch(A), glycerol(B) and modified clay(C) content on the water vapor permeability(WVP) of the cassava starch films with the addition of bentonite clay as a filler, its surface was modified by ion exchange from cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), fourier transform by infrared radiation(FTIR), atomic force microscopy(AFM) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The factorial analysis suggested a mathematical model thats predicting the optimal condition of the minimization of WVP. The influence of each individual factor and interaction in the WVP was investigated by Pareto graph, response surface and the optimization was established by the desirability function. The sequence of the degree of statistical significance of the investigated effects on the WVP observed in the Pareto graph was C>B>A>BC>AC. Interactions AB, BC and AC showed that the modified clay was the factor of greater significance. Cycle of obtaining, characterizing and optimizing the parameter WVP from a factorial design 23. Own authorship. [Display omitted] •Improvement of the properties of biofilms, equating them with synthetic polymers•Utilization of films as coating of fruits aiming at the increase of useful life•Influence of biopolymer, filling material and plasticizer in the rate of WVP•Understand and evaluate the transfer of water vapor up to the surface of the fruit•Use statistical software in the quantitative optimization of the analyzed factors