Preparation and characterization of a biodegradable film from cactus Nopalea sp.

Fred Augusto Lourêdo de Brito; Yara Panta de  Araújo; Ariel Sharon de Araújo Nogueira  Marcelino; Natanael Lucena  Ferreira; Kelem Silva  Fonseca; Andréa Monteiro Santana Silva  Brito; Thieres George Freire da  Silva; Adriano do Nascimento  Simões

doi:10.56890/jpacd.v24i.507

Authors

Fred Augusto Lourêdo de Brito 1Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Yara Panta de Araújo 1Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Ariel Sharon de Araújo Nogueira Marcelino 1Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Natanael Lucena Ferreira 1Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Kelem Silva Fonseca 1Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Andréa Monteiro Santana Silva Brito 1Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Thieres George Freire da Silva 1 Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brasil. 2 Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil.
Adriano do Nascimento Simões 1Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56890/jpacd.v24i.507

Keywords:

Edible film, Fourier Transform Infrared Mucilage, Nopalea cochinillifera, Opuntia stricta, scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

The increasing use of natural biodegradable polymers is a consequence of the concern of society with sustainability. Mucilage of forage cactus of the genus Nopalea is an attractive polymer matrix for the composition of edible films. Most studies on biodegradable films are carried out with the genus Opuntia. This makes Nopalea an important source of interest in the investigation of film formation. The objective was to study the formulation of films and evaluation of physical, optical, and mechanical characteristics of clones of Nopalea and Opuntia, through the addition of water and glycerol. The mucilage was extracted from cladodes of Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck: clones IPA Sertânia (IPA) and Miúda (MIU); and, from Opuntia stricta [Haw.] Haw., clone Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM). The powdered mucilage was hydrated and vacuum filtered, followed by the formulation of the films, without glycerol (just water) and with the addition of glycerol at 15%, 25%, and 14% for IPA, MIU, and OEM clones, respectively. The yield of powdered mucilage was higher for Nopalea. Optical tests with the films revealed that the addition of glycerol generated slightly yellow films (positive b* values), with less transparency than the control films, regardless of the clone and higher L* value in IPA clone films. Moisture content and thickness were increased when glycerol was added. All films, with and without glycerol, showed high water solubility. The microstructure revealed that the films with glycerol presented more compact, smooth, and linear surfaces, forming a homogeneous network. The FTIR spectra revealed that the glycerol films showed the same profile as the control samples, but with higher absorption intensities in some bands. The results found in the present work evidence the potential of the genus Nopalea to produce biodegradable films, as already widely known for the genus Opuntia.