Modifikasi Biokomposit Kitosan dari Cangkang Rajungan (Portunus Pelagicus) dan Pektin untuk Aplikasi Edible Film

According to the 2016 data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia is the second largest plastic waste disposal country after China. The use of synthetic plastic today contains negative effects on the environment and health due to its non-biodegradable nature. It is necessary to develop renewable plastics that are safe for the environment and health to reduce the negative impact of these problems. Edible film is a good alternative to synthetic plastic because it is biodegradable and safe for health. Edible film modification by blending chitosan and pectin biopolymers is a potential way to produce denser biocomposite of edible film. This study aimed to utilize the chitosan of crab shell waste and pectin as edible film biocomposite because those wastes have not been widely utilized. The synthesis edible film and the effect of the ratio of chitosan and pectin mixture to physical properties, mechanical properties, and the biodegradability of edible film were also studied by using various ratios of chitosan and pectin (C: P), i.e., 100:0, 50:50, 0 100). In the blending process, glycerol was added as a plasticizer with a concentration of 20% of the weight of the biopolymer. Edible films produced were analyzed to investigate the physical properties, and mechanical properties. The results show that the best characteristics of edible film produced from a mixture of chitosan and pectin with a thickness of 0.068 mm and 44.11% of air solubility. Thickness and water solubility of edible films can be improved by mixing chitosan biopolymer and pectin. However, the edible film solubility in water was not too high because of the hydrophobic nature of the chitosan