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ABSTRACT
The growing demand for sustainable materials and the imperativeto safeguard environmental health have spurred a heightenedinterest in biodegradable films. One promising material for thispurpose is the composite of starch and hydroxyapatite. Thestarch,derived from cocoyam (specifically the red species Xanthosomasagittifolium), was combined with Hippuric acid templatedhydroxyapatite, forming a composite film with glycerol as aplasticizer. This study characterized the starch-based hydroxyapatite film in terms of film thickness, mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break), water permeability, biodegradability, and microbial analysis (antibacterialand antifungal sensitivity). Results revealed a thickness variationfrom 0.07 mm to 0.10 mm corresponding to the decrease inhydroxyapatite mass from 1g to 0.2g. The mechanical analysisindicated an increase in tensile strength from0.0877 kg/mm² to0.1317 kg/mm² as the mass of hydroxyapatite increasedfrom0.2gto 1g, while elongation at break decreased from24%to 10%withinthe same range. Water permeability ranged from0.875g mmhr. to0.330 g mm hr. over a period of 1hr to 4hrs. Biodegradabilitytestsdemonstrated complete film degradation in soil without anytraceremaining. Microbial analysis revealed no inhibition against Escherichia coli. Salmonella enterica, and Staphylococcus aureus.However. the film exhibited activity against Serratia marcescens. Fungal isolates displayed resistance to thebiodegradable plasticfilms. The film produced holds potential as a packaging material orcoating, offering a sustainable solution in various applications.
