Agency:

Agricultural Research Service

September 19, 1995

The invention relates to a wide variety of products including films, fibers, coatings, adhesives and wrappings which can be fabricated from blends of pectin. Pectin is an underutilized agricultural product which can be produced from plentiful agricultural waste materials. Starch can be blended with the pectin to produce adhesives, and edible films or food wrappings such as bags for soup pharmaceutical compositions and control release matrixes. Films and fibers in accordance with the invention can be cast, extruded or utilized in wet or dry spinning processes. The resulting films or fabrics are all soluble over time and biodegradable. The films have extensive potential for use in packaging processed foods.

Marshall L. Fishman

Plant Sciences & technology Research

600 East Mermaid Lane

Wyndmoor, PA 19038

(215) 233-6450 / Fax: (215) 233-6406

Industry Keywords:

agricultural waste, stone fruit peaches, pears, apples, citrus lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, beets, cucumbers, squash, nuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, high modulus flexible films