Abstract

• This research work is concerned with the study on the properties of biodegradable composite film derived from chitosan, corncob and glutaraldehyde (used as cross-linking agent). Biodegradable composite films were prepared by using optimum composition of 0.2 g corncob and 1.5 % chitosan with different concentrations of cross-linking agent. The effect of cross-linking agent was studied over a range of concentrations from 6 % to 30 % (total solid weight). The comparative study of cross-linking agent and its concentrations incorporated into biodegradable films was investigated based on thickness, tensile strength, elongation at break and tear strength. From the results of physicomechanical parameters, the tensile strength of biodegradable films incorporated with glutaraldehyde was higher than that of chitosan-corncob biocomposite film. The physicochemical properties of biodegradable composite films such as degree of swelling was also determined. The degree of swelling increases with increasing immersion time. With increasing glutaraldehyde concentration, the ultimate degree of swelling after 4 days of immersion time of composite films was found to decrease. Comparative characterization of biodegradable composite films with corncob powder and glutaraldehyde were determined by SEM and TG-DTA analyses. From SEM analysis, the prepared chitosan film and chitosan-corncob biocomposite film had distinct phase structures whereas chitosan-corncob-glutaraldehyde biocomposite film showed homogeneous and smooth surface. In TG-DTA analysis, only exothermic peaks appeared in chitosan film but both endothermic and exothermic peaks were observed in chitosan-corncob and chitosan-corncob-glutaraldehyde biocomposite films. The biodegradable nature of prepared composite films was also studied according to the soil burial techniques.