Utilisation of Carp Skin Post-Production Waste in Binary Films Based on Furcellaran and Chitosan to Obtain Packaging Materials for Storing Blueberries

The aim of the study was to develop and characterise an innovative three-component biopolymer film based on chitosan (CHIT), furcellaran (FUR) and a gelatin hydrolysate from carp skins (Cyprinus carpio) (HGEL). The structure and morphology were characterised using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The FT-IR test showed no changes in the matrix after the addition of HGEL, which indicates that the film components were compatible. Based on the obtained AFM results, it was found that the addition of HGEL caused the formation of grooves and cracks on the surface of the film (reduction by ~21%). The addition of HGEL improved the antioxidant activity of the film (improvement by up to 2.318% and 444% of DPPH and FRAP power, respectively). Due to their properties, the tested films were used as active materials in the preservation of American blueberries. In the active films, the blueberries lost mass quickly compared to the synthetic film and were characterised by higher phenol content. The results obtained in this study create the opportunity to use the designed CHIT–FUR films in developing biodegradable packaging materials for food protection, but it is necessary to test their effectiveness on other food products.

Current Opportunities and Challenges in Biopolymer Thin Film Analysis—Determination of Film Thickness

Polymer thin films with thickness below 100 nm are a fascinating class of 2D materials with commercial and research applications in many branches ranging from coatings to photoresists and insulating materials, to mention just a few uses. Biopolymers have extended the scope of polymer thin films with unique materials such as cellulose, cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibrils with tunable water uptake, crystallinity and optical properties. The key information needed in thin biopolymer film use and research is film thickness. It is often challenging to determine precisely and hence several techniques and their combinations are used. Additional challenges with hydrophilic biopolymers such as cellulose are the presence of humidity and the soft and often heterogenous structure of the films. This minireview summarizes currently used methods and techniques for biopolymer thin film thickness analysis and outlines challenges for accurate and reproducible characterization. Cellulose is chosen as the representative biopolymer.

Role of Zingiber Officinale Essential Oil- Chitosan Based Biopolymer Film For Bioactive Packaging

The recent interest in bio-packing at field of food become trending in the development of antimicrobial coatings. The focus of this study was to assess the potential application of zingiber officinale essential oil (GEO) in chitosan films (CHf). The data indicated that there were significant differences(p < 0.05) in the chemical composition of the samples.Forty-seven active compounds of the essential oil were identified from the rhizomes of ginger, which were identified byGC-MS. Fourier transforms infrared spectra (FT-IR) confirmed that an interaction between the hydroxyl groups of the phenolic compounds of the essential oil and the amide groups of polymer matrix. As shown the appearance of peaks at wavenumbers 1639cm-1 and 1558cm-1 Furthermore, X-ray diffraction results suggested a lower crystallintiyin CHf due to GEO effect. Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) analysis revealed that CHf possessed high thermal stability, especially when different concentrations of GEO added. The bioactive CHf showed distinct activity against both positive and negative gram bacteria. They are Staphylococcus aurous, Bacillus subtillis, Streptococcus Sp. Escherichia coli, Salmonella Sp. Pseudomonas erugiosa. This results provides a comprehensive insight on the importance of films incorporated with EOs of interest in food packaging.

Frozen Meat-Containing Semi-Finished Minced Products: Biopolymer Packaging Materials

Introduction. Meat-containing semi-finished minced products demonstrate a wide variety of properties, as they contain both plant and meat components. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to plan the freezing process. In view of the current environmental situation, packaging films used for cold storage should be biodegradable. The effect of low-temperature freezing and storage on biodegradable polymers remains understudied. The research objective was to find the optimal modes for minced-meat semi-finished products frozen in a biopolymer package. Study objects and methods. The study featured zrazy, or meat balls, with vegetable filling and a biopolymer film based on corn starch. It involved a laboratory combination freezing and storage cabinet and an XLW(M) tension tester to establish the physical properties of the film. Results and discussion. The meat-containing semi-finished minced products were vacuum-packaged in biopolymer material and subjected to convection, contact, and combined freezing. The experiments resulted in a new combined method of freezing for biopolymer-packaged semi-finished meat-containing products. The research also tested the strength properties of the CornBag biopolymer film during freezing and cold storage. The paper introduces a graphoanalytic method of calculation of freezing time. Conclusion. The new combined freezing method involved vacuum packaging, air-blast subfreezing, and further freezing on a refrigerated plate. The biopolymer film proved suitable for freezing and cold storage of food products. It keeps the product from drying, reduces vitamin losses, and preserves sensory properties. The optimal storage mode was –18°C, the maximum storage time – 6 months. The improved freezing technology combined freezing method with convective air-blasting and contact freezing on a refrigerated plate for products pre-packaging in a biopolymer vacuum bag. The optimal freezing parameters: temperature = –40°С, time = 85 min, rate = 1.33 cm/h.

Design, preparation, and characterization of CS/PVA/SA hydrogels modified with mesoporous Ag2O/SiO2 and curcumin nanoparticles for green, biocompatible, and antibacterial biopolymer film

CS/PVA/SA hydrogels modified with mesoporous Ag2O/SiO2 and curcumin nanoparticles for antibacterial biopolymer film.

Biosynthesis and Characteristics of Polyhydroxyalkanoates. 1. Polyhydroxybutyrates of Azotobacter vinelandii N-15

The biosynthesis of cellular polymers of Azotobacter vinelandii N-15 strain using molasses as a carbon source has been optimized. The highest yield of polymer (25.8 % of cell mass) was obtained on a nutrient medium with a molasses concentration of 50 g/l. Using TL-chromatography and IR-spectroscopy the obtained product was identified as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and its properties were investigated. The wetting contact angle was used to characterize the biopolymer film surface properties. According to the results of thermal and thermomechanical studies, it was found that the obtained РHB is characterized by a high thermal stability and heat resistance: the melting point is 462 K; deep destruction and thermooxidative processes begin at the temperatures above 567 K.