Shelf-life extension of tomato fruits using thermoplastics from sweet potato starch (<i>Ipomoea batatas</i>)

Abstract

Bioplastics are plastics made from plants that are fully bio-based and bio compostable. The study is aimed to extend the shelf life of tomato fruit by coating with a thermoplastic starch film made from sweet potato starch. Thermoplastic edible coating films were prepared and used to coat the tomato fruits. The shelf lives were evaluated for 30 days. Sweet potato thermoplastic starch was prepared with 1.25g of starch extracted from sweet potato tubers, 2.5 % and 50 % acetic acid and glycerol respectively of the weight of dry starch. The characterization of sweet potato thermoplastic starch was conducted and the parameters analyzed and results obtained were: Tensile strength (1285 Mpa), Elongation at break (30 %), moisture uptake (49 %), oil uptake (0.2 %) and water uptake (35.5 %). The shelflife of tomatoes coated with sweet Potato thermoplastic starch (TPSp) formulation was extended by 20 days over controls.