Abstract
The results of a recent study on starch-based films of improved cassava varieties show that these films have poor barrier properties and lower mechanical strength. Thus, for some applications, improving their resistance to breaking forces is a key factor in making their use possible and sustainable. In this study, to the starch of two improved varieties of cassava (Yavo and TMS), combined with peanut oil, soybean lecithin, glycerol was added microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) at 0, 7, 15 and 30 %. The addition of microcrystalline cellulose has resulted in an increase in the opacity (223.91 nm.UA to 425.33 nm.UA for Yavo and 251.42 nm.UA to 434.51 nm.UA for TMS), tensile strength (7.15 MPa-10.99 MPa for Yavo and 7.77 MPa-13.18 MPa for TMS), and Young's modulus (331.29 MPa-1351.08 for Yavo and 343.79 MPa-1476.08 MPa for TMS) of films. However, MCC induced a decrease in moisture content (15.99 %-11.43 % for Yavo and 14.24 %-10.66 % for TMS), water solubility (24.84 %-20.61 % for Yavo and 24.15 %-19.36 % for TMS), elongation at break (22.75 %-1.31 % for Yavo and 21.25 %-1.19 % for TMS) and water vapour permeability (WVP) (1.98 × 10(-11) to 1.39 × 10(-11) g Pa(-1). s(-1).m(1) for Yavo and 1.93 × 10(-11) to 1.29 × 10(-11) g Pa(-1). s(-1).m(1)). The MCC has also produced yellowish-coloured films. MCC has been shown to be effective in improving starch-based films of improved cassava varieties Yavo and TMS. These two varieties can be used in combination with MCC to produce food packaging.