Nano-fillers Embedded Green Polyvinyl Alcohol/Starch Mixed Matrix Polymeric Thin Film to Enhance the Freshness of Vegetables

This work presents the synthesis of a biodegradable nano-bio-composite thin film using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and starch (ST) for food packaging. Traditional synthetic polymers create microplastics that are harmful to the environment. In contrast, biodegradable films provide a safer alternative. Using a solution casting method, we blended PVA and ST with glycerol (GL) to enhance flexibility, while incorporating titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) as nano-fillers. Characterization techniques employed included FTIR, SEM, TGA, UV–vis, and degradation tests. The films containing nanomaterials showed a significant reduction in water vapor transmission rates, measuring 80.03 g/m²·h for TiO₂ and 78.65 g/m²·h for g-C₃N₄, compared to 86.07 g/m²·h for the PVA/ST/GL blend. This indicates improved food preservation capabilities. Furthermore, films with g-C₃N₄ exhibited enhanced degradation rates of 85.20% in microbial environments and 26.06% in soil, compared to those without nanomaterials. This approach not only addresses the issue of microplastic pollution but also supports biodiversity while extending the shelf life of vegetables by 10 – 12 days.