A team of Indian scientists have developed a non-toxic, environmentally friendly, biodegradable polymer using guar gum and chitosan.

Key Facts

• Guar gum and Chitosan are polysaccharides that are extracted from guar beans and shells of crab & shrimps.
• Fabricated guar gum-chitosan film with high water stability, high mechanical strength, and excellent resistance against harsh environmental conditions can be used in packaging applications.

Polysaccharide

Polysaccharide is one of the biopolymers having high potential for use in synthesis of packaging material. But due to some drawbacks of polysaccharides, like low mechanical properties, low barrier properties and high water-solubility, they are not preferred for packaging materials.

Guar gum-chitosan composite film

To overcome the challenges associated with polysaccharide, the team of scientists fabricated a guar gum-chitosan composite film. It is a cross-linked polysaccharide that do not use any plasticizer with the help “solution casting method”.

Properties of the film

The Fabricated biopolymer composite film had high water stability, high mechanical strength as well as excellent resistance towards harsh environmental conditions. The fabricated cross-linked film is not easily soluble in water. As per scientists, it did not dissolve even after 240 hours. Furthermore, the mechanical strength is higher compared to general biopolymer. It is highly water repellent or hydrophobic because of its high contact angle of 92.8º.  Water vapor permeability is low as compared to the film made only from chitosan.