Optical transparency and mechanical properties of semi-refined iota carrageenan film reinforced with SiO2 as food packaging material

Extensive usage of long-lasting petroleum based plastics for short-lived application such as packaging has raised concerns regarding their role in environmental pollution. In this research, we have developed active, healable, and safely dissolvable alginate-pectin based biocomposites that have potential applications in food packaging. The morphological study revealed the rough surface of these biocomposite films. Tensile properties indicated that the fabricated samples have mechanical properties in the range of commercially available packaging films while possessing excellent healing efficiency. Biocomposite films exhibited higher hydrophobicity properties compared to neat alginate films. Thermal analysis indicated that crosslinked biocomposite samples possess higher thermal stability in temperatures below 120 °C, while antibacterial analysis against E. coli and S. aureus revealed the antibacterial properties of the prepared samples against different bacteria. The fabricated biodegradable multi-functional biocomposite films possess various imperative properties, making them ideal for utilization as packaging material.

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Production and characterization of bacterial cellulose-alginate biocomposites as food packaging material

Food Research ◽

10.26656/fr.2017.5(6).733 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (6) ◽

pp. 204-210

Author(s):

S. Agustin ◽

E.T. Wahyuni ◽

Suparmo ◽

Supriyadi ◽

M.N. Cahyanto

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Bacterial Cellulose ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Physical And Mechanical Properties ◽

Packaging Material ◽

Structure Change ◽

Gluconacetobacter Xylinus ◽

Sem Images ◽

Vapour Permeability

Biocomposite of bacterial cellulose-alginate has been developed for use as food packaging material. This study aims to understand the physical and mechanical properties of the biocomposite produced from static fermentation of Gluconacetobacter xylinus InaCC B404 in media supplemented with alginate. The strain was grown in a medium containing alginate at a concentration of 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2% w/v at 30oC for 7 days. The SEM images showed that bacterial cellulose produced in a medium supplemented with alginate had a denser structure of fibril network and a smaller pore size than the control one. The structure change was due to interactions through hydrogen bonds between bacterial cellulose and alginate proven by FTIR spectra, resulting in a decrease in crystallinity and crystallite size of bacterial cellulose. It led to the decrease in tensile and tear strength of the resulting biocomposite. Alginate also causes biocomposite to have higher water vapour permeability values.

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Tannic-Acid-Cross-Linked and TiO2-Nanoparticle-Reinforced Chitosan-Based Nanocomposite Film

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13020228 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 228

Author(s):

Swarup Roy ◽

Lindong Zhai ◽

Hyun Chan Kim ◽

Duc Hoa Pham ◽

Hussein Alrobei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Tannic Acid ◽

Nanocomposite Film ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles ◽

Casting Technique ◽

Active Food Packaging ◽

Reinforcing Agent ◽

Solution Casting Technique ◽

Cross Linker

A chitosan-based nanocomposite film with tannic acid (TA) as a cross-linker and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2) as a reinforcing agent was developed with a solution casting technique. TA and TiO2 are biocompatible with chitosan, and this paper studied the synergistic effect of the cross-linker and the reinforcing agent. The addition of TA enhanced the ultraviolet blocking and mechanical properties of the chitosan-based nanocomposite film. The reinforcement of TiO2 in chitosan/TA further improved the nanocomposite film’s mechanical properties compared to the neat chitosan or chitosan/TA film. The thermal stability of the chitosan-based nanocomposite film was slightly enhanced, whereas the swelling ratio decreased. Interestingly, its water vapor barrier property was also significantly increased. The developed chitosan-based nanocomposite film showed potent antioxidant activity, and it is promising for active food packaging.

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Effect of Organic Modifier Types on the Physical–Mechanical Properties and Overall Migration of Post-Consumer Polypropylene/Clay Nanocomposites for Food Packaging

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13091502 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1502

Author(s):

Eliezer Velásquez ◽

Sebastián Espinoza ◽

Ximena Valenzuela ◽

Luan Garrido ◽

María José Galotto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Clay Nanocomposites ◽

Organic Modifier ◽

Thermal And Mechanical Properties ◽

Chemical Safety ◽

Elongation At Break ◽

Fatty Food ◽

Recycled Plastics ◽

Thermal Stability Of

The deterioration of the physical–mechanical properties and loss of the chemical safety of plastics after consumption are topics of concern for food packaging applications. Incorporating nanoclays is an alternative to improve the performance of recycled plastics. However, properties and overall migration from polymer/clay nanocomposites to food require to be evaluated case-by-case. This work aimed to investigate the effect of organic modifier types of clays on the structural, thermal and mechanical properties and the overall migration of nanocomposites based on 50/50 virgin and recycled post-consumer polypropylene blend (VPP/RPP) and organoclays for food packaging applications. The clay with the most hydrophobic organic modifier caused higher thermal stability of the nanocomposites and greater intercalation of polypropylene between clay mineral layers but increased the overall migration to a fatty food simulant. This migration value was higher from the 50/50 VPP/RPP film than from VPP. Nonetheless, clays reduced the migration and even more when the clay had greater hydrophilicity because of lower interactions between the nanocomposite and the fatty simulant. Conversely, nanocomposites and VPP/RPP control films exhibited low migration values in the acid and non-acid food simulants. Regarding tensile parameters, elongation at break values of PP film significantly increased with RPP addition, but the incorporation of organoclays reduced its ductility to values closer to the VPP.

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Influence of a Natural Plant Antioxidant on the Ageing Process of Ethylene-norbornene Copolymer (Topas)

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22084018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (8) ◽

pp. 4018

Author(s):

Anna Masek ◽

Angelika Plota

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Colour Change ◽

Good Alternative ◽

Plant Origin ◽

Aging Behavior ◽

Current State ◽

Ft Ir ◽

Potential Use

In the field of polymer technology, a variety of mainly synthetic additives are used to stabilize the materials during processing. However, natural compounds of plant origin can be a green alternative to chemicals such as synthetic polyphenols. An analysis of the effect of hesperidin on the aging behavior of ethylene-norbornene copolymer was performed. The evaluation of changes in the tested samples was possible by applying the following tests: determination of the surface energy and OIT values, mechanical properties analysis, colour change measurements, FT-IR and TGA analyses. The obtained results proved that hesperidin can be effectively used as natural stabilizer for polymers. Furthermore, as a result of this compound addition to Topas-silica composites, their surface and physico-mechanical properties have been improved and the resistance to aging significantly increased. Additionally, hesperidin can act as a dye or colour indicator and only few scientific reports describe a possibility of using flavonoids to detect changes in products during their service life, e.g., in food packaging. In the available literature, there is no information about the potential use of hesperidin as a stabilizer for cycloolefin copolymers. Therefore, this approach may contribute not only to the current state of knowledge, but also presents an eco-friendly solution that can be a good alternative to synthetic stabilizers.

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Starch–Mucilage Composite Films: An Inclusive on Physicochemical and Biological Perspective

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13162588 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (16) ◽

pp. 2588

Author(s):

Mansuri M. Tosif ◽

Agnieszka Najda ◽

Aarti Bains ◽

Grażyna Zawiślak ◽

Grzegorz Maj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Barrier Properties ◽

Edible Films ◽

Packaging Material ◽

Polymer Materials ◽

Synthesis Process ◽

Packaging Materials ◽

Packaging Film ◽

Biodegradable Packaging ◽

Effective Manner

In recent years, scientists have focused on research to replace petroleum-based components plastics, in an eco-friendly and cost-effective manner, with plant-derived biopolymers offering suitable mechanical properties. Moreover, due to high environmental pollution, global warming, and the foreseen shortage of oil supplies, the quest for the formulation of biobased, non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer films is still emerging. Several biopolymers from varied natural resources such as starch, cellulose, gums, agar, milk, cereal, and legume proteins have been used as eco-friendly packaging materials for the substitute of non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastic-based packaging materials. Among all biopolymers, starch is an edible carbohydrate complex, composed of a linear polymer, amylose, and amylopectin. They have usually been considered as a favorite choice of material for food packaging applications due to their excellent forming ability, low cost, and environmental compatibility. Although the film prepared from bio-polymer materials improves the shelf life of commodities by protecting them against interior and exterior factors, suitable barrier properties are impossible to attain with single polymeric packaging material. Therefore, the properties of edible films can be modified based on the hydrophobic–hydrophilic qualities of biomolecules. Certain chemical modifications of starch have been performed; however, the chemical residues may impart toxicity in the food commodity. Therefore, in such cases, several plant-derived polymeric combinations could be used as an effective binary blend of the polymer to improve the mechanical and barrier properties of packaging film. Recently, scientists have shown their great interest in underutilized plant-derived mucilage to synthesize biodegradable packaging material with desirable properties. Mucilage has a great potential to produce a stable polymeric network that confines starch granules that delay the release of amylose, improving the mechanical property of films. Therefore, the proposed review article is emphasized on the utilization of a blend of source and plant-derived mucilage for the synthesis of biodegradable packaging film. Herein, the synthesis process, characterization, mechanical properties, functional properties, and application of starch and mucilage-based film are discussed in detail.

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Understanding the Barrier and Mechanical Behavior of Different Nanofillers in Chitosan Films for Food Packaging

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13050721 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 721 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

João Pires ◽

Camila Damásio de Paula ◽

Victor Gomes Lauriano Souza ◽

Ana Luísa Fernando ◽

Isabel Coelhoso

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Mechanical Behavior ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Scientific Research ◽

Barrier Properties ◽

Plastic Pollution ◽

Functional Attributes ◽

Chitosan Films ◽

Commercial Applications ◽

Innovative Techniques

The continuous petroleum-based plastics manufacturing generates disposal issues, spreading the problem of plastic pollution and its rise in the environment. Recently, innovative techniques and scientific research promoted biopolymers as the primary alternative for traditional plastics, raising and expanding global bioplastic production. Due to its unmatched biological and functional attributes, chitosan (Ch) has been substantially explored and employed as a biopolymeric matrix. Nevertheless, the hydrophilicity and the weak mechanical properties associated with this biopolymer represent a significant intrinsic restriction to its implementation into some commercial applications, namely, in food packaging industries. Distinct methodologies have been utilized to upgrade the mechanical and barrier properties of Ch, such as using organic or inorganic nanofillers, crosslinkers, or blends with other polymers. This review intends to analyze the most recent works that combine the action of different nanoparticle types with Ch films to reinforce their mechanical and barrier properties.

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