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

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Abstract
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 (TiO 2 ) and graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ) 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/m 2 ·h for TiO 2 and 78.65 g/m 2 ·h for g‐C 3 N 4 , compared to 86.07 g/m 2 ·h for the PVA/ST/GL blend. This indicates improved food preservation capabilities. Furthermore, films with g‐C 3 N 4 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.

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