scholarly journals Natural Polymers Used in Edible Food Packaging—History, Function and Application Trends as a Sustainable Alternative to Synthetic Plastic

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-58
Author(s):  
Barbara E. Teixeira-Costa ◽  
Cristina T. Andrade
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Antioxidant Activities ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Natural Polymers ◽  
World War ◽  
Biobased Materials ◽  
Plastic Materials ◽  
Low Toxicity

In this review, a historical perspective, functional and application trends of natural polymers used to the development of edible food packaging were presented and discussed. Polysaccharides and proteins, i.e., alginate; carrageenan; chitosan; starch; pea protein, were considered. These natural polymers are important materials obtained from renewable plant, algae and animal sources, as well as from agroindustrial residues. Historically, some of them have been widely used by ancient populations for food packaging until these were replaced by petroleum-based plastic materials after World War II. Nowadays, biobased materials for food packaging have attracted attention. Their use was boosted especially because of the environmental pollution caused by inappropriate disposal of plastic packaging. Biobased materials are welcome to the design of food packaging because they possess many advantages, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility and low toxicity. Depending on the formulation, certain biopolymer-based packaging may present good barrier properties, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities Thus, polysaccharides and proteins can be combined to form diverse composite films with improved mechanical and biological behaviors, making them suitable for packaging of different food products.

scholarly journals Preparation and Characterization of Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Based Bioactive Composite Films Modified with Fungal Melanin and Carvacrol

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 499
Author(s):  
Łukasz Łopusiewicz ◽  
Paweł Kwiatkowski ◽  
Emilia Drozłowska ◽  
Paulina Trocer ◽  
Mateusz Kostek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapour ◽  
Carboxymethyl Cellulose ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Antioxidant Activities ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Good Potential ◽  
Fungal Melanin ◽  
Spectroscopy Studies

Preparation of biodegradable packaging materials and valorisation of food industry residues to achieve “zero waste” goals is still a major challenge. Herein, biopolymer-based (carboxymethyl cellulose—CMC) bioactive films were prepared by the addition, alone or in combination, of carvacrol and fungal melanin isolated from champignon mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) agro-industrial residues. The mechanical, optical, thermal, water vapour, and UV-Vis barrier properties were studied. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy studies were carried out to analyse the chemical composition of the resulting films. Antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities were also determined. Both CMC/melanin and CMC/melanin/carvacrol films showed some antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The addition of melanin increased the UV-blocking, mechanical, water vapour barrier, and antioxidant properties without substantially reducing the transparency of the films. The addition of carvacrol caused loss of transparency, however, composite CMC/melanin/carvacrol films showed excellent antioxidant activity and enhanced mechanical strength. The developed bioactive biopolymer films have a good potential to be green bioactive alternatives to plastic films in food packaging applications.

scholarly journals Compostable Polylactide and Cellulose Based Packaging for Fresh-Cut Cherry Tomatoes: Performance Evaluation and Influence of Sterilization Treatment

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Rapisarda ◽  
Cristina Patanè ◽  
Alessandra Pellegrino ◽  
Angelo Malvuccio ◽  
Valeria Rizzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Packaging ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Attenuated Total Reflection ◽  
Cherry Tomato ◽  
Plastic Materials ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Fresh Cut

For food packaging, plastic materials display large appeal, mostly due to their versatility, mechanical, optical and barrier properties. However, they play an important role in environmental concerns and waste management issue. Compostable bioplastics represent alternative materials designed for a lower environmental impact. In this work, a biobased compostable packaging, constituted by polylactide (PLA) trays and NatureFlex™ film, was evaluated for fresh-cut cherry tomato. A comparative analysis was accomplished using traditional packaging materials, that is, polyethylene terephtalate (PET) trays and polypropylene (PP Coex) film. Structural stability under food contact conditions, mechanical and physical-chemical properties were investigated. Tensile mechanical properties, puncture resistance, contact angle (CA) and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), before and after UV or radiofrequency (RF) sterilization treatment, were evaluated. UV irradiation method resulted the less invasive one. Therefore, oxygen and water vapor transmission rate (OTR and WVTR), overall chemical migration test, biodegradation assessment by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) according to ISO 14851 and disintegration test by ISO 20200 were carried out to establish the further influence of UV sterilization on the packaging. Overall, data showed that the biobased compostable packaging for a prolonged shelf-life of fresh-cut cherry tomato has better properties that were surprisingly enhanced by the UV treatment.

scholarly journals Comparison of the Functional Barrier Properties of Chitosan Acetate Films with Conventionally Applied Polymers

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (15) ◽  
pp. 3491
Author(s):  
Andrea Walzl ◽  
Samir Kopacic ◽  
Wolfgang Bauer ◽  
Erich Leitner
Keyword(s):  
Polymer Films ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Good Alternative ◽  
Recycled Paper ◽  
Plastic Bags ◽  
Plastic Materials ◽  
Oil Hydrocarbons ◽  
Migration Experiment ◽  
Materials Used

The current demand to cut back on the use of plastic materials has brought a major boost to the search for bio-based alternatives. Not only are plastic bags and primary food packaging under scrutiny here, but also those materials used as functional barriers to reduce, for example, the migration of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) from recycled paper and board packaging. Most of the barriers now in use are synthetic, often have only moderate barrier functionalities and in addition reduce the environmentally-friendly character of cellulose-based materials. Against this background, bio-based polymers have been evaluated in terms of their functional barrier properties. Chitosan was found to be among the best performers in these materials. In this study, the behavior of a lab-made chitosan acetate film was compared with conventionally produced polymer films. The two-sided migration experiment described recently was used to determine the barrier properties of the tested materials. This not only allowed to test the intrinsic migration of the films and the permeation through them, but also to simulate real packaging situations by using a recycled paper as donor for MOH. The migrated fractions were determined using gas-chromatography-based techniques. While the conventionally produced polymer films showed only moderate barrier function, excellent results were seen for the biopolymer. It reduced the migration from the recycled paper to not detectable, singling it out as a good alternative to conventional materials.

scholarly journals Hybrid Biocomposites Based on Poly(Lactic Acid) and Silica Aerogel for Food Packaging Applications

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 4910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Aragón-Gutierrez ◽  
Marina P. Arrieta ◽  
Mar López-González ◽  
Marta Fernández-García ◽  
Daniel López
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stability ◽  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Silica Aerogel ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Extrusion Process ◽  
Poly Lactic Acid ◽  
Barrier Performance

Bionanocomposites based on poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and silica aerogel (SiA) were developed by means of melt extrusion process. PLA-SiA composite films were plasticized with 15 wt.% of acetyl (tributyl citrate) (ATBC) to facilitate the PLA processability as well as to attain flexible polymeric formulations for films for food packaging purposes. Meanwhile, SiA was added in four different proportions (0.5, 1, 3 and 5 wt.%) to evaluate the ability of SiA to improve the thermal, mechanical, and barrier performance of the bionanocomposites. The mechanical performance, thermal stability as well as the barrier properties against different gases (carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen) of the bionanocomposites were evaluated. It was observed that the addition of 3 wt.% of SiA to the plasticized PLA-ATBC matrix showed simultaneously an improvement on the thermal stability as well as the mechanical and barrier performance of films. Finally, PLA-SiA film formulations were disintegrated in compost at the lab-scale level. The combination of ATBC and SiA sped up the disintegration of PLA matrix. Thus, the bionanocomposites produced here show great potential as sustainable polymeric formulations with interest in the food packaging sector.

scholarly journals An Extensive Review of Natural Polymers Used as Coatings for Postharvest Shelf-Life Extension: Trends and Challenges

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 3271
Author(s):  
Maricarmen Iñiguez-Moreno ◽  
Juan Arturo Ragazzo-Sánchez ◽  
Montserrat Calderón-Santoyo
Keyword(s):  
Food Industry ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Composite Coatings ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Edible Films ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Natural Polymers

Global demand for minimally processed fruits and vegetables is increasing due to the tendency to acquire a healthy lifestyle. Losses of these foods during the chain supply reach as much as 30%; reducing them represents a challenge for the industry and scientific sectors. The use of edible packaging based on biopolymers is an alternative to mitigate the negative impact of conventional films and coatings on environmental and human health. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that natural coatings added with functional compounds reduce the post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables without altering their sensorial and nutritive properties. Furthermore, the enhancement of their mechanical, structural, and barrier properties can be achieved through mixing two or more biopolymers to form composite coatings and adding plasticizers and/or cross-linking agents. This review shows the latest updates, tendencies, and challenges in the food industry to develop eco-friendly food packaging from diverse natural sources, added with bioactive compounds, and their effect on perishable foods. Moreover, the methods used in the food industry and the new techniques used to coat foods such as electrospinning and electrospraying are also discussed. Finally, the tendency and challenges in the development of edible films and coatings for fresh foods are reviewed.

scholarly journals Physical and chemical modifications of cellulose fibers for food packaging applications

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahab Saedi ◽  
Coralia V. Garcia ◽  
Jun Tae Kim ◽  
Gye Hwa Shin
Keyword(s):  
Food Packaging ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Periodate Oxidation ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Cellulose Fibers ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Comparative Results ◽  
Cellulose Nanomaterials ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Abstract Cellulose fibers have gained considerable interest for use as gas barrier and reinforcing fillers in food packaging materials because of their interesting properties including biodegradability, low density, nontoxicity, and low cost. Although the modification of cellulose nanomaterials for reinforcing applications has been reviewed in the literature, they suffer from a lack of comparative results, and the modifications related to food packaging applications have not been covered yet. This study reviews physical and chemical methods used to improve oxygen and water barrier properties, water uptake, mechanical strength, and transparency of different food packaging films of cellulose nanomaterials and provides comparative results. Heat treatment, esterification, and tempo-mediated and periodate oxidation are the most common methods for the improvement of the barrier properties of free-standing, bilayer, and composite films prepared from cellulose nanomaterials. Modification using silane compounds is a well-established method for improving the mechanical properties of cellulose fibers and polymer composite films.

scholarly journals Nano-Brick Wall Architectures Account for Super Oxygen Barrier PET Film by Quadlayer Assembly of Polyelectrolytes and α-ZrP Nanoplatelets

Polymers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongmei Han ◽  
Yiqing Luo ◽  
Qing Ju ◽  
Xujing Xiao ◽  
Min Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zirconium Phosphate ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Oxygen Barrier ◽  
Brick Wall ◽  
Oxygen Transmission Rate ◽  
Repeat Units ◽  
Pet Film

Nanobrick wall hybrid coating with super oxygen barrier properties were fabricated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film using a quadlayer (QL) assembly of polyelectrolytes and nanoplateles. A quadlayer assembly consists of three repeat units of polyacrylic acid (PAA), poly (dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA) and layered α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP). PDDA with positive charges can assemble alternatively with both α-ZrP and PAA with negative charges to form nanobrick wall architectures on the surface of PET film via the electrostatic interaction. The lamellar structure of α-ZrP platelets and the dense QL assembly coating can greatly reduce the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of PET film. Compared to pristine PET film, the OTR of PET (QL)19 is reduced from 57 to 0.87 cc/m2/day. Moreover, even with 19 QLs coating, PET (QL)19 composite film is still with an optical transparency higher than 90% and a haze lower than 10%. Therefore, the transparent PET (QL)n composite films with super oxygen barrier properties show great potential application in food packaging and flexible electronic packaging.

scholarly journals Gelatin-Based Film Integrated with Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles for Active Packaging Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6307
Author(s):  
Swarup Roy ◽  
Jong-Whan Rhim
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Copper Sulfide ◽  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Antibacterial Properties ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Gelatin Film ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Water Vapor Barrier

Gelatin-based multifunctional composite films were prepared by reinforcing various amounts of copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuSNP, 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wt %), and the effect of CuSNP on the film was evaluated by analyzing its physical and antibacterial properties. CuSNP makes a compatible film with gelatin. The inclusion of CuSNP significantly enhanced the UV blocking, mechanical strength, and water vapor barrier properties of the gelatin film. The inclusion of CuSNP of 1.0 wt % or less did not affect the transparency of the gelatin film. When 2.0 wt % of CuSNP was mixed, the hydrophilicity of the gelatin film did not change noticeably, but its thermal properties slightly increased. Moreover, the gelatin/CuSNP composite film presented effective antibacterial activity against E. coli and some activity against L. monocytogenes. Gelatin/CuSNP composite films with better functional and physical properties can be used for food packaging or biomedical applications.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Suitability of Poly(Lactide)/Poly(Butylene-Adipate-co-Terephthalate) Blown Films for Chilled and Frozen Food Packaging Applications

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arianna Pietrosanto ◽  
Paola Scarfato ◽  
Luciano Di Maio ◽  
Maria Rossella Nobile ◽  
Loredana Incarnato
Keyword(s):  
Food Packaging ◽  
Viscosity Ratio ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Packaging Material ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Blown Films ◽  
Frozen Food ◽  
Plastic Materials ◽  
Wide Range

The use of biopolymers can reduce the environmental impact generated by plastic materials. Among biopolymers, blends made of poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) prove to have adequate performances for food packaging applications. Therefore, the present work deals with the production and the characterization of blown films based on PLA and PBAT blends in a wide range of compositions, in order to evaluate their suitability as chilled and frozen food packaging materials, thus extending their range of applications. The blends were fully characterized: they showed the typical two-phase structure, with a morphology varying from fibrillar to globular in accordance with their viscosity ratio. The increase of PBAT content in the blends led to a decrease of the barrier properties to oxygen and water vapor, and to an increase of the toughness of the films. The mechanical properties of the most ductile blends were also evaluated at 4 °C and −25 °C. The decrease in temperature caused an increase of the stiffness and a decrease of the ductility of the films to a different extent, depending upon the blend composition. The blend with 40% of PLA revealed to be a good candidate for chilled food packaging applications, while the blend with a PLA content of 20% revealed to be the best composition as frozen food packaging material.

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