APPLICATION OF MAIZE STARCH-PEANUT SHELL NANOCOMPOSITE PACKAGING ON MUSHROOM UNDER VARYING MOISTURE, THICKNESS, AND COLD STORAGE

In this research, a maize starch-peanut shell nanocomposite film was applied to package mushroom under varying moisture, thickness, and cold temperature conditions. The film was developed by congealing 18 g starch, 0.38 g peanut nanoparticles, 16 g glycerol in 300 ml distilled water at 70oC, and its thermal, mechanical, barrier and microstructural behaviors were determined using standard methods. The film was applied to package oyster mushroom by varying the thickness (5– 10 mm) and moisture content (77.18 –91.14 %, wb) of the product, and thereafter storing it under 4– 8 oC cold temperature condition. The results revealed ~ 5% weight fraction degradation at ≤ 310 oC with endothermic peaks occurring at 250 oC and 400 oC, which corresponds to phase transition points where the film was thermally stable. The deformation pattern of the film at atomic level mimics a natural plastic material, with a heterogeneous particle size distribution across the film matrix. The permeability coefficients were 0.68× 10-10, 2.10× 10-10 and 14.0× 10-10 cm3 (STP) cm/cm2scm Hg for nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon-dioxide, gases, respectively. Also, the microbial load of the packaged product significantly decreased with an increase pH, moisture, and temperature (p< 0.05). Thus, the film can be suitable for mushroom packaging.