<![CDATA[The research investigates Bacterial Cellulose (BC)–starch films infused with tapioca starch to create eco-friendly, high-performance materials. It examines how different starch concentrations influence the microstructure, elemental composition, and degradation behavior of BC–based films. The films were produced through static fermentation of Acetobacter xylinum (A. xylinum), combined with tapioca starch at various weight ratios (97:3, 19:1, and 93:7). They were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and biodegradability tests under soil burial conditions. The results showed that increasing starch content significantly changed the film morphology, transforming the dense, smooth nanofibrillar structure of pure BC into a rougher, more porous surface. Elemental analysis indicated that carbon content rose with starch addition, peaking at 76.85% at an intermediate BC–starch ratio (19:1), then decreasing at higher starch loadings, suggesting surface compositional heterogeneity. Biodegradability tests revealed that the film with a BC-to-starch ratio of 93:7 degraded fastest after 27 days, likely due to increased hydrophilicity and microbial accessibility. These findings suggest that starch addition allows control over structural and degradation properties, making BC-starch films promising for sustainable applications such as flexible, biodegradable cable insulation or protective sheathing.]]>
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