Production and Characterization of Novel Biodegradable Films Using Fruit Industrial Waste and Aloe Vera Gel

Abstract

One of the huge volumes of fruit waste that is a concern for waste management challenges today is the fruit juice industry sour cherry kernel (SCK) waste. The gel obtained by processing the leaf extract of aloe vera (AVG) is the most commercial aloe species and has become a major industry worldwide. This study used AVG and SCK as an additive in acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) to prepare biobased film materials. Two types of processes were used in curing the films: UV curing from acrylate groups and thermal curing from epoxide groups of AESO. The effect of additive type and amount on antibacterial activity, mechanical, swelling, mass loss, and water vapor permeability properties of the films were investigated. The produced films were characterized using FTIR spectra. Thermal properties were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The biodegradability of AESO was determined as 7.095%. In comparison, the highest biodegradation was observed in films with 50% additive content and this value was measured as 8.89% and 39.95% for AVG- and SCK-containing films, respectively. In addition, the corrosion tests of the films were also carried out and the films with SCK additives were more resistant to corrosive environments. Data were analyzed using an ANOVA test.