Biochar-Stabilized Tea Tree Oil in Chitosan Membranes for Sustainable Antimicrobial Packaging.

The amyloid fibril-stabilized Pickering emulsion significantly enhances the mechanical and barrier properties of Konjac Glucomannan active films for cherry preservation.

In this study, antioxidant biodegradable films based on pea protein and alpha-tocopherol were successfully developed by solution casting. The effect of both the homogenization conditions (rotor–stator and microfluidizer) and the relative humidity (RH) on the microstructure and physical properties (transparency, tensile, oxygen and water vapour barrier properties) of pea protein/alpha-tocopherol-based films was evaluated. The addition of alpha-tocopherol produced minimal changes in the films’ transparency, while providing them with antioxidant properties and improved water vapour and oxygen barrier properties (up to 30 % in both water vapour and oxygen permeability) when films were at low and intermediate RH. The addition of alpha-tocopherol in microfluidized films gave rise to an increase in their resistance to break and extensibility (up to 27 % in E values) at intermediate and high RH. These results add a new insight into the potential of employing pea protein and alpha-tocopherol in the development of fully biodegradable antioxidant films which are of interest in food packaging.

Nanocellulose/natural rubber latex composite film with high barrier and preservation properties

Development and characterization of active poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) based composites with grapeseed oil and MgO nanoparticles for shelf-life extension of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable biopolyester synthesized via bacterial fermentation from renewable resources that has received great attention over the last years for medicine and food packaging applications. However, it shows several shortcomings such as narrow processing window and a high crystallinity (>50%), which leads to brittleness and low impact resistance. To solve these drawbacks, the hydroxybutyrate units can be copolymerized with other monomers like 3‐hydroxyhexanoate to yield poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxy‐hexanoate) (PHBHHx), a copolymer with higher ductility, improved impact strength, and lower melting point. However, PHBHHx displays lower crystallinity than PHB, hence reduced stiffness, and poorer barrier properties against moisture and gases, which is a disadvantage for its use as food packaging material. In this regard, (PHBHHx)‐based bionanocomposites incorporating 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 wt% zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized via solution casting technique. Their morphology, mechanical, thermal, barrier, and antibacterial properties were investigated via transmission electron microscopy, tensile and impact strength tests, thermogravimetric analysis, water vapor, and oxygen permeability measurements as well as antibacterial tests. In terms of gas permeability, the optimum performance was attained at 5.0 wt% ZnO loading, with reductions in the water vapor and oxygen permeability of 45 and 33%, respectively. Conversely, the impact strength decreased with increasing ZnO concentration, leading to 25% reduction for the highest ZnO loading tested. The bionanocomposite with 5.0 wt% ZnO is a promising alternative to synthetic plastics, with an optimal balance of toughness, barrier, and antibacterial properties to be used in packaging and disposable applications such as beverage and food containers.Practical applicationsThis study analyzes the morphology, thermal, mechanical, barrier, and antibacterial properties of biodegradable nanocomposites based on PHBHHx copolymer and ZnO nanoparticles. These safe and environmentally friendly nanomaterials can be used as a sustainable alternative to synthetic plastics for food and beverage containers.

Progress in chitosan/essential oil/ZnO nanobiocomposites fabrication for wound healing applications: A review.

A facile method to prepare cellulose fiber-based food packaging papers with improved mechanical strength, enhanced barrier, and antibacterial properties

The growing awareness of the environmental damage associated with food product packaging waste has led the public to a keen interest in the development of sustainable packaging. The development of sustainable packaging capable of reducing packaging waste may contribute to slowing down environmental damage caused by current unsustainable packaging material. However, previous research in consumer behaviour shows that not all sustainable attributes of food packaging would encourage consumers’ decision-making towards more sustainable choices. This pattern might be explained by the lack of understanding on behalf of the food industry and policymakers of what sustainable packaging attributes consumers prefer and of what motivations can influence consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) towards innovative sustainable packaging. To fill such a gap, this study aims to explore how consumers’ pro-environmental behaviour affect their purchasing decisions in the context of innovative sustainable food packaging in the UK. A psychology environmental theory (value-belief-norm) was combined with stated choice methods to assess how consumers’ values and beliefs of environmental concern and personal norms influence WTP for new bioplastic food packaging obtained from agricultural waste and tree cellulose. To assess consumer preferences and WTP for this innovative eco-friendly packaging material stated choice experiment on innovative milk packaging and contingent valuation on innovative bioplastic material packaging were applied to their basket of food products. Data were collected online and was administered to a sample of 600 UK respondents. Structural equation modelling was performed to confirm the goodness of fit of the proposed conceptual framework, while mixed logit model and Tobit model were used to estimate WTP for eco-friendly packaging. Results indicate that environmental values and beliefs together with socio-demographic characteristics of respondents influenced consumers’ pro-environmental purchasing behaviour subjectively. Purchasing decisions were influenced positively by female, young and married respondents with knowledge of bioplastic packaging material. On the average participants were WTP £2.72 extra for bioplastic packaging in food products. Respondents also showed to prefer sustainable packaging made from certified agricultural waste because of its recyclable and biodegradable characteristics. The study also found empirical evidence that some consumers tend to use attribute cut-offs in decision-making and thus to support the hypothesis that ignoring cut-off attributes in the estimation model may generate biased estimates.

From nature to nanotech: Harnessing the power of electrospun polysaccharide-based nanofibers as sustainable packaging.

ABSTRACTIncorporating cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) into chitosan has shown promise for enhancing mechanical and barrier properties. However, conventional CNF production methods are time‐intensive, consume significant energy, and require hazardous chemicals. This study explores the enhancement of chitosan films by incorporating CNFs, a reinforcing nanomaterial derived from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), using mechanical‐assisted ultrasonication without chemical pretreatment. The ultrasonication techniques leverage cavitation to disrupt cellulose structure and facilitate better dispersion and interaction within the matrix with higher CNF loadings (> 10% v/v). Ultrasonication effectively breaks down MCC into CNF, primarily through the formation of hydrogen bonds, leading to an increase in the crystalline index to 81.98%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses revealed that CNFs appeared as aggregates and clusters within the chitosan matrix. Adding 20% v/v CNFs significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the composite films, increasing the tensile strength by 39.60 MPa and the elongation at break by 106.29%. Incorporating CNFs into the chitosan film significantly improved the light transmittance and water vapor permeability properties of the composite films. Results suggest that ultrasonically extracted CNFs significantly enhance the chitosan film's structural and functional properties, making them a viable alternative for sustainable food packaging applications.

Food packaging is critical to prevent food waste, but most of the packaging used today is not sustainable. Paper-based packaging materials offer a renewable option, but exhibit poor resistance to common permeants such as oxygen, grease, and water vapor. In this work, a complex coacervate coating is prepared from two waste biopolymers, gelatin and DNA, and applied to kraft paper to substantially improve its barrier properties. Thermally curing the coating after deposition decreases the water vapor transmission rate and oxygen transmission rate by 83 and 99%, respectively, relative to uncoated paper. This work represents one of the best fully biobased barrier coatings reported for paper and is a promising option for sustainable food packaging.

The use of agro-industrial residues in the development of packaging materials is a topic of interest from a sustainable perspective, as it promotes biodegradability, reduces production costs, and aligns with the concept of a circular economy. The aim of this work was to develop and characterize biodegradable composite films based on Poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) and the tiger nut horchata solid residue (HSR) at different ratios. The obtained composites were evaluated as to their suitability as food active packaging materials in terms of microstructure, water content and solubility, mechanical, barrier and thermal properties, and total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. The incorporation of HSR into the PHBV matrix led to more opaque, darker reddish films and promoted significant changes in their mechanical and barrier properties. Specifically, the composite films showed lower water vapor barrier capacity and reduced tensile strength (43-81% lower TS) and elongation at break (46-77% lower Ɛ values) while the rigidity increased or maintained when using up to 20% wt. of HSR. In contrast, the incorporation of the HSR provided the films with remarkable antioxidant capacity and effective light-blocking capacity, which could be of great interest for food preservation, as active packaging materials. The total phenol content of the composites increased in line with the increment of the HSR content, ranging from 9 to 34 mg GAE/100 g film.

In this study, we investigated the impact of ultrasound treatment on barrier properties of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and acrylic/poly(vinylidene chloride) polypropylene (PPAcPVDC)-coated pouches intended for food packaging before and after exposure to food simulants. Packaging pouches were filled with two food simulants, namely ethanol (10% (v/v)) and acetic acid (3% (w/v)), in order to simulate food–packaging interaction and possible compound migration from packaging materials. Samples were subjected to an ultrasound water bath treatment for 5 min, 15 min, and 30 min at 60 °C (±2 °C) and with an amplitude of 100% as an equivalent to the heat-treatment conditions combined with an ultrasound effect. Furthermore, the effect of temperature on the polymer barrier (water vapour and oxygen permeability) properties was tested at 20 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C. Results showed that PPAcPVDC possessed better properties of water vapour permeability and oxygen permeability properties to LLDPE. Statistical analyses showed a significant (p < 0.001) impact of ultrasound treatment on the overall migration value, regardless of the food simulant used.

Chitosan (CS) is biopolymer derived from deacetylation of chitin which can be found mainly in crustacean shells such as shrimp, crab, lobster etc. CS powder has been used to remove dye in many research. However, it was difficult to separate CS powder from aqueous solution. Considering the three-dimensional sponge natural structure of luffa fiber. it may address this issue by coating CS onto the surface of luffa fiber. This adsorbent was called chitosan coated luffa fiber (CS-LF). The aim of this studied is to investigate the potential of CS-LF to remove the anionic dye. Congo red is representative of anionic dye. Adsorption of anionic dye from aqueous solution using CS-LF was studied in a batch system. The effect of chitosan concentration coated on luffa fiber and initial anionic dye concentrations had been investigated on adsorption equilibrium and adsorption kinetic. An adsorption isotherm data were regularly analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. While, adsorption kinetic were basically evaluated by pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion equation. The results showed that the adsorption isotherm fitted well by Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity 20.37 mg/g. The anionic dye adsorption kinetic of CS-LF were greatest described by pseudo-second-order equation and rate-controlling step of anionic dye adsorption process may be chemical reaction. Therefore, CS-LF is potential adsorbent as low-cost adsorbent to remove anionic dye from aqueous solution and could be simply separated from aqueous solutions after used. Finally, our study is firstly report in anionic dye adsorption using chitosan coated luffa fiber.

This study looked at using modified camelina oil to develop sustainable coatings that could replace those derived from petroleum-based materials for use in packaging and other industrial sectors. Solvent-free synthesis of maleic anhydride grafted camelina oil (MCO) was carried out at two different temperatures (200 and 230 °C) to obtain sustainable hydrophobic coating materials for paper substrates. Maleic anhydride grafting of camelina oil was confirmed with attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared and NMR spectroscopic techniques, and up to 16% grafting of maleic anhydride was achieved, as determined by the titration method. MCO, obtained at different reaction temperatures, was coated onto cellulosic paper and evaluated for its hydrophobicity, mechanical, oxygen, and water vapor barrier properties. Scanning electron microscopy indicated the homogeneous dispersion of coating material onto the paper substrate. MCO-coated papers (MCO-200C paper and MCO-230C paper) provided a water contact angle of above 90° which indicates that the modified oil was working as a hydrophobic coating. Water vapor permeability (WVP) testing of coated papers revealed a reduction in WVP of up to 94% in comparison to the uncoated paper. Moreover, an improved oxygen barrier property was also observed for paper coated with both types of MCO. Analysis of the mechanical properties showed a greater than 70% retention of tensile strength and up to a five-fold increase in elongation at break of coated versus uncoated papers. Overall, the results show that camelina oil, a renewable resource, can be modified to produce environmentally friendly hydrophobic coating materials with improved mechanical and water vapor barrier properties that can serve as a potential coating material in the packaging industry. The results of this research could find applications in the huge paper packaging industries, specially in food packaging.