Development and characterization of pectin/vinasse films for agriculture applications

Abstract. The intensification of the use of plastics in agriculture, although has significantly improved productivity and quality, is associated to environmental impacts caused by its disposal. Thus, interest in the use of biodegradable polymers to produce alternative materials has increased. Pectin is one of the most widely studied polysaccharide with versatile properties such as film formation. Vinasse, the main wastewater from ethanol industry, is rich in nutrients and is currently applied as irrigation medium and additive for animal feed. However, its use is limited to the areas of sugarcane processing and when indiscriminately used can cause soil salinization and groundwater contamination. In this study, we propose the use of vinasse as the solvent, replacing pure water in the pectin film formulation. The process for pectin/vinasse film formation was stablished and the properties of the resulting films were evaluated. Vinasse had its pH lowered and then high methoxyl pectin were added. The solution was poured into molds and dried at 40°C/18h. Films were characterized by their thickness, moisture content, water vapor permeability (WVP), color and mechanical properties. Compared to control films (prepared with distilled water); vinasse addition resulted in thicker and more flexible films, with higher moisture content and WVP. Pectin/vinasse films obtained were homogeneous and exhibit suitable functional attributes with good perspectives for agriculture applications.