Facile synthesis of biodegradable corn starch-based plastic composite film reinforced with zinc oxide nanoparticles for packaging applications
Muhammad Imran Din, Nida Siddique, Zaib Hussain, Rida Khalid
Abstract
The present study deals with the novel biogenic synthesis of cornflour-based biodegradable film in the presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as nanofiller through solution casting method. However, the ZnO NPs were prepared through precipitation method. The absorbance peak at 350 nm confirmed the formation of stable, monodispersed ZnO NPs. High resolution-scanning electron microscopy analysis showed crystalline nature of ZnO NPs with spherical morphology. Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed changes in functional groups as a result of hydrogen bond interaction between matrix, plasticizer, and ZnO NPs. Moisture content and percentage solubility test showed that increase in ZnO NPs content decreased moisture content and percentage solubility of hybrid nanocomposite. In addition, the hybrid film with maximum ZnO content showed least water uptake. The biodegradability of 7 wt% ZnO hybrid composites displayed initial rise in mineralization rate that eventually decrease with time.