Benzoyl chloride modified ionomer films as antimicrobial food packaging materials

Abstract

Modified ionomer films were prepared and their antimicrobial abilities were investigated. The anhydride linkage of the modified films was manufactured via the reaction of acid/base‐treated films with benzoyl chloride as evidenced by the specific anhydride absorption (–CO–O–CO–, 1807 cm−1 and 1741 cm−1; –C–O–C–, 1009 cm−1) in Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra. Release of benzoic acid from the modified ionomer films either immersed in buffer solutions or buried between two layers of potato dextrose agar (PDA) media was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) that implied the feasibility of the modified ionomer films as an antimicrobial food packaging material. It showed that the base‐treated modified films expressed better choice as an antimicrobial food packaging materials than the acid‐treated ones because of the higher amount of benzoic acid released from the former than from the later. The antimicrobial ability of modified ionomer films was further demonstrated by its inhibition against the growth of Penicillium sp. and Aspergillusniger. The modified ionomer films successfully exhibited high efficiency in the inhibition of microbial growth.