Biodegradable active packaging film with Cinnamomum Porrectum wood extract

Biodegradable active packaging film is developed to extend shelf life for product as it contain antimicrobial agent. The found of Cinnamomum porrectum wood (Medang Kemangi) in Malaysia is commonly used in daily life as antimicrobial. However, the efficiency of Cinnamomum porrectum wood extract as antimicrobial agent by mixing with other material has not been reported before .Cinnamomum porrectum (Medang Kemangi) wood was extracted with ethanol by Soxhlet extraction and the extract of this wood was then mix with the poly lactic acid (PLA) only and PLA with polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PRAT) to produce two different samples of biodegradable active packaging films. The samples were then tested with microbial test, tensile test, FTIR and degradation in soil test to determine their properties. In this study, the samples showed that biodegradable active packaging film with the wood extractive had showed less tensile strength compare to the samples without wood extractive. However, the research also showed that Cinnamomum porrectum wood extract had showed antimicrobial properties. The biodegradable active packaging with Cinnamomum porrectum wood extract showed the lowest percentage of weight loss due to degradation in soil and less growth of mould on the slice of apple. Cinnamomum porrectum wood extract was able to retard the growth of microorganism and degradation caused by microorganism which further can be developed into another new antimicrobial agent.