BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS BASED ON PLANT POLYSACCHARIDES FOR FOOD PACKAGING. PART 3: STUDY OF BIODEGRADATION

Abstract

Biodegradation is the transformation of complex substances using biological activity, consisting of three stages: transformation (minor changes in the molecule), fragmentation (decomposition of a complex molecule into simpler compounds), and mineralization (transformation of a complex substance into a simple substance). When creating biodegradable materials from organic raw materials, special attention is paid to the mechanisms of biodegradation. The destruction of the material is influenced by environ-mental factors and the type of exposure of microorganisms. The duration of destruction is influenced by the composition of the composite from which the film material was obtained. Biodegradable materials of the new composition should fulfill their functional purpose and further decompose into safe substances in the compost. The purpose of this study was to study the processes of biodegradation and to evaluate the characteristics of prepared samples of film material with a different ratio of the main raw materials (potato starch (CC) and flax cellulose (CL)). As part of the study, four film samples were obtained. In the course of the study, we found that the best indicators (surface structure, vapor permeability, water absorption, and biodegradability) are observed in sample 2 when used as part of the main ingredients of CC:CL in a ratio of 1.5:0.5. The resulting film materials can be used as packaging for dry food products.