Eco‐Friendly Bioplastic Film Produced With Green Plantain Starch ( Musa paradisiaca L.): Effect of Activated Carbon Addition and Hydrothermal Modification

ABSTRACT Eco‐friendly starch‐based bioplastic films reinforced with activated carbon (AC) were produced using green plantain starch in its native and heat‐moisture treatment (HMT) forms to overcome typical limitations of starch materials, such as low mechanical strength and poor water vapor barrier properties. Starch was modified under controlled heat and moisture conditions prior to film formation using the casting method. The bioplastic films were characterized in terms of thickness, solubility, water vapor permeability, and mechanical, thermal, morphological, and optical properties. The incorporation of AC significantly reduced the water vapor permeability of starch‐based films (from 0.81 ± 0.07 to 0.45 ± 0.05 g water mm day ⁻¹ m ⁻² kPa ⁻¹ ), improving their barrier capacity. Mechanical analyses indicated that AC addition increased tensile strength but decreased elongation at break, suggesting strong interactions between AC particles and the polymer matrix. HMT‐modified starch films exhibited the highest elongation at break values (38.6% ± 0.89% and 40.51% ± 1.33%), which decreased with increasing AC concentration. Although thermal stability was not significantly affected, AC incorporation did not impair other film characteristics. Considering its potential to adsorb antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds, the use of AC in starch‐based bioplastic films represents a promising strategy for developing sustainable and functional materials for active food packaging applications.