This study creates a citric-acid-crosslinked ternary film from carboxymethyl cellulose, aqueous soybean extract, and 10 wt% rambutan-peel extract to provide biodegradable, transparent UV protection for photosensitive products.
Key findings
- All RPE films reached UPF 141.5, blocking 99.3% total UV, 99.8% UVB, and 99.0% UVA while retaining 70-85% visible transparency. Non-RPE films reached UPF 1.2-1.4. After seven UV days, vitamin C retention was 74.3% versus 55.2% control. Twenty-eight-day weight loss was 68-92%, increasing with ASE.
Why this matters globally
Upcycling rambutan peel and soybean material into films could reduce petrochemical plastics and light-driven food or drug degradation, provided biomass, safety, and performance are industrially consistent.
Thai researcher contribution
The Burapha University team developed agricultural-resource films relevant to eastern Thailand and tested structure, optics, mechanics, degradation, and vitamin-C function.
Limitations to consider
RPE was fixed at 10%, so dose response is unknown. Weight loss is not mineralization, and water/oxygen barrier, migration, contact safety, shelf life, roll processing, and LCA are missing. A seven-day vitamin-C test is not pharmaceutical validation.