Exploring the potential of pineapple waste parts in agar film production: characterization and performance analysis

Introduction: The excessive use of non-biodegradable plastics in food packaging significantly contributes to environmental pollution and resource depletion. The use of food processing by-products in developing bioplastics and organic films represents a promising strategy for reducing waste and creating value-added products. Pineapple waste, for instance, is rich in fibers and bioactive compounds, making it an ideal candidate for incorporation into biopolymer films. Objectives: o explore the potential of utilizing pineapple waste parts (core, rind, and leaves) to produce biodegradable packaging films using agar-agar as the primary binding matrix. To characterize the films' physical, chemical, and mechanical properties through various tests including colour, thickness, pH, water activity, moisture content, wettability, tensile strength, elongation at break, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis for comprehensive comparison. Main achievements: Different parts of pineapple waste impart different properties of agar-based films. The developed films can be customized for specific applications by adjusting their composition, which allows for enhanced stability. This adaptability lays the groundwork for further optimization to meet targeted needs. Future research on water and oxygen permeability should be conducted to fully realize the potential of these films across diverse packaging applications.