Enhancement of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Dioscorea Dumetorum Starch Films With Dialdehyde Starch Solution

The influence of varying amount of dialdehyde starch solution on the physical and mechanical properties of bitter yam starch-based biofilms were investigated. Proportional increase in film thickness (0.20-0.26mm), density (1.15 to 1.43gcm(-3)) and opacity (0.92 to 1.04%) were observed from neat film (Film(0)) to film with highest dialdehyde starch content (Film(3)) respectively. The moisture content and film solubility after 24h depicted an inverse relationship with the amount of the added dialdehyde starch solution. From Film(0) to Film(3), moisture content reduced from 11.40 to 9.32%(,) while solubility reduced from 13.61 to 6.46% correspondingly. It was further found that addition of higher amount of dialdehyde starch led to longer biodegradable duration and lesser water absorption capacity of the bioplastics. There was great improvement in mechanical properties of the bioplastics as twofold increase in tensile strength and threefold increase in rigidity from Film(0) to Film(3) were recorded. The result of elongation at break shows a reverse order of 0.50 at Film(0) bioplastic to 0.31 at Film(3) bioplastic. Therefore, the results of the study suggest that the properties of starch-based bioplastic film could be enhanced by adding dialdehyde starch solution.