TY  - EJOU
AU  - Yurid, Fitra 
AU  - Silmi, Nadiatus 
AU  - Rachmawati, Heni 
AU  - Nagara, Nanda 
AU  - Ekafitri, Riyanti 
AU  - Septevani, Athanasia Amanda 

TI  - Sustainable Biopolymer Packaging Utilizing Non-Food-Competing Starches Derived from Rubber Cassava and Banana Wastes
T2  - Journal of Renewable Materials

PY  - 2026
VL  - 14
IS  - 2
SN  - 2164-6341

AB  - This study investigates the potential of starch extracted from underutilized agro-industrial resources as non-food-competing raw materials for the development of flexible bioplastics for food packaging applications. Starch was extracted from three biomass sources: rubber cassava (<i>Manihot glaziovii</i>), banana stem, and banana peel from Ambonese banana (<i>Musa acuminata</i> L.). Rubber cassava starch (S<sub>RC</sub>) exhibited the highest starch yield (50.68 ± 0.28%), significantly surpassing banana stem (S<sub>BS</sub>, 14.20 ± 0.25%) and banana peel (S<sub>BP</sub>, 3.07 ± 0.15%). The amylose contents of S<sub>RC</sub>, S<sub>BS</sub>, and S<sub>BP</sub> were 28.18%, 52.80%, and 56.57%, respectively, while their amylopectin contents were 71.83%, 47.20%, and 43.43%. FTIR spectra confirmed the absence of cyanogenic groups in S<sub>RC</sub>, indicating its safety for packaging applications. XRD analysis revealed that PS<sub>RC</sub> films were predominantly amorphous, while PS<sub>BS</sub> and PS<sub>BP</sub> showed higher crystallinity. The enhancement of mechanical properties, specifically PS<sub>BS</sub>, showed the highest tensile strength at 16.04 ± 0.56 MPa, whereas PS<sub>RC</sub> demonstrated the highest elongation at break at 23.57 ± 0.40%, which could be attributed to the inherent characteristics of the starch sources. Additionally, PS<sub>RC</sub> film exhibited the highest transparency at 60.2%, the greatest water solubility at 34.92%, and the lowest water contact angle at 41.58°, confirming its more hydrophilic nature compared to other films. This work highlights the potential of low-cost, sustainable, and non-food agro-industrial starch sources as promising candidates for the development of flexible, eco-friendly bioplastics.
KW  - Rubber cassava; ambonese banana; agro-industrial resources; bioplastic film; banana stem; banana peel; starch

DO  - 10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0118