Fabrication and characterization of biodegradable films derived from novel Goroho banana (Musa acuminafe L) peel pectin

Goroho banana peels are an underutilized agroindustrial residue with potential as a source of pectin material for biodegradable film production. This study aimed to valorize Goroho banana peels as a pectin source and evaluate the effect of CaCl₂ incorporation on the performance of pectin–glycerol films. Pectin was extracted from dried Goroho banana peel using 0.3 M citric acid at 85 and 90 °C, then characterised for yield, composition, and functional groups. Biodegradable films, with and without 0.5% (w/w) CaCl₂ were assessed for thickness, clarity, mechanical and barrier properties, morphology, functional groups, and biodegradability. Pectin extracted at 85 °C produced a slightly higher yield (14.80%) and more favorable composition, with a high degree of esterification and FTIR profiles exhibiting similar major absorption bands to commercial pectin. The addition of CaCl₂ resulted in thicker, more transparent films and enhanced the elongation at break (7.21% to 66.74%), but decreased the tensile strength (1.45 to 0.36 MPa) and increased the water-vapor transmission rate (5.18 to 6.25 g/m 2 ·24 h), indicating a trade-off between flexibility and barrier performance. SEM and FTIR analyses indicated Ca² + -mediated ionic interactions aligned with an “egg-box” type arrangement. Soil burial tests showed a reduced weight loss for CaCl₂-containing films (23.96% to 15.94%), indicating slower biodegradation under the tested conditions and potential suitability for applications requiring relatively higher extensibility and gas permeability. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of valorizing Goroho banana peel waste into film-forming biodegradable materials and highlights the need for further optimization of extract purity and CaCl₂ formulation to enhance mechanical and barrier properties.