Development and Characterization of Pectin Films with Salicornia ramosissima: Biodegradation in Soil and Seawater

Pectin films were developed by incorporating a halophyte plant Salicornia ramosissima (dry powder from stem parts) to modify the film’s properties. The films’ physicomechanical properties, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and microstructure, as well their biodegradation capacity in soil seawater, evaluated. inclusion of S. significantly increased thickness (0.25 ± 0.01 mm; control 0.18 mm), color parameters a* (4.96 0.30; 3.29 0.16) b* (28.62 0.51; 12.74 0.75), water vapor permeability (1.62 × 10?9 1.09 10?10 (g/m·s·Pa); 1.24 6.58 10?11 (g/m·s·Pa)), solubility (50.50 5.00%; 11.56 5.56%), elongation at break (5.89 0.29%; 3.91 0.62%). On other hand, L* (48.84 1.60), tensile strength (0.13 0.02 MPa), Young’s modulus (0.01 0 MPa) presented lower values compared with (L* 81.20 1.60; 4.19 0.82 MPa; 0.93 0.12 while moisture content varied between 30% 45%, for film film, respectively. addition led opaque relatively heterogeneous microstructures. showed also good capacity—after 21 days (around 90%), after 30 seawater (fully fragmented). These results show that pectin may have great potential be used future an eco-friendly food packaging material.