Impact of electron beam irradiation in potato starch films containing hibiscus aqueous extract

Abstract

The development of starch films containing natural antioxidants is one alternative of active packaging. Starch is a well studied natural biopolymer that can be used for the development of biodegradable films because it presents a low cost, is easy to obtain and presents good ability to form films. Hibiscus sabdariffa, commonly known as roselle or red sorrel, is an annual her baceous sub shrub that contains many types of biocompounds, including organic and phenolic acids. The aim of the present work was to determine the influence of electron beam irradiation on potato starch film containing hibiscus extract. The aqueous hibiscu s solution was prepared by boiling for 3 min 1% w/ml dehydrated hibiscus flowers in 500 ml deionized water. The film forming solution was prepared by casting ( potato starch, 3% glycerol as plasticizer and the hibiscus solution) and irradiated in a 1.5 M eV electron beam accelerator Dynamitron II (Radiation Dynamics Inc.), with doses of 0, 20, 40 and 60 kGy. After drying some mechanical properties were measured. The tensile strength of the control films and the irradiated ones was established. There were n o significant differences among them. Hibiscus antioxidants were able to prevent the starch radiation degradation process caused by radiation induced free radicals.