Mechanical, structural and barrier properties of starch-based film reinforced with cellulose microfibres extracted from midribs of Musa Saba'

Starch-based films have poor mechanical strength and high-water vapour permeability. This research aimed to develop biopolymeric films that contain wheat starch, glycerine, reinforcing agent, and cellulose microfibres (CMR) at 0.5 and 1 wt.%, through a casting technique. The CMR was derived from chemically treated banana midrib residues (Musa Saba' sp.). The effect of CMR filler on structural, mechanical and barrier properties was studied. The results show that the incorporation of CMR into...