ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the potential use of some types of agroindustrial biomass as a source of biopolymers to produce films or as a source of fibres to act as filler in biopackaging. Application of agroindustrial biomass as raw material to produce biopolymeric film is advantageous over the use of petroleum-based materials because they are biodegradable, inexpensive, abundant and renewable, contributing to the reduction of environmental pollution. Biodegradable films from agroindustrial biomass combine the filmforming properties of biopolymers with additional properties like antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and have therefore attracted increasing attention from researchers worldwide. Polysaccharides and proteins present in agroindustrial residues can serve as film-forming matrix, whereas the lignocellulosic material can act as film matrix filler. Carrot residues and residues from the extraction of turmeric and annatto dyes are among the agroindustrial biomass containing additional compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.
