Assessment of the properties of ginger starch-based films and their potential application as intelligent packaging

In response to the growing demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, this study developed biodegradable films from ginger starch using the solvent casting method, with (FGS30) and without (FGS0) glycerol. Coconut oil (CO) was incorporated to enhance mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, and biodegradability. After one year of physical aging, biodegradation was assessed using Staphylococcus aureus. The films exhibited good structural, thermal, and mechanical stability. CO promoted VH-type crystalline structures, slightly reduced hydrophilicity, and accelerated biodegradation. Additionally, FGS30 films embedded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) enabled sensitive and selective colorimetric detection of hydrogen peroxide, demonstrating their potential for intelligent packaging. While CO did not improve water vapor barrier properties, AgNPs significantly reduced water vapor permeability by approximately 72 %, enhancing barrier performance.