Preparation and characterization of bionanocomposite film based on tapioca starch/bovine gelatin/nanorod zinc oxide

To exploring a nano-packaging materials for using as coating or edible films, tapioca starch/gelatin/nanorod ZnO (ZnO-N) bionanocomposites were prepared via solution casting technique. The effects of nanofiller addition on the mechanical, physicochemical, and crystalline structures, as well as the barrier properties of bionanocomposite films were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the bionanocomposite film incorporated with ZnO-N at a concentration of 3.5% w/w exhibited high intensity peaks compared with control samples. Results of UV-vis spectra analysis showed that incorporation of ZnO-N into the films can absorb the whole UV light. Tensile strength of the films was increased from 14 to 18 MPa whereas elongation at breaks decreased from 18 to 8 percent and oxygen permeability decreased from 151.03 to 91.52 cm(3) mu m/(m(2)-day) by incorporation of 3.5% ZnO-N into biopolymer matrix. In summary combined starch/gelatin films supported by ZnO-N showed better properties compared to starch or gelatin alone. Thus, the bionanocomposite films can be used in food, medicine, and pharmaceutical packaging. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.