Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize and determine the bi-functional efficacy of active packaging films produced with starch (4%) and glycerol (1.0%), reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (0–1%) and activated with alcoholic extracts of red propolis (0.4 to 1.0%). The cellulose nanocrystals used in this study were extracted from licuri leaves. The films were characterized using moisture, water-activity analyses and water vapor-permeability tests and were tested regarding their total phenolic compounds and mechanical properties. The antimicrobial and antioxidant efficacy of the films were evaluated by monitoring the use of the active films for packaging cheese curds and butter, respectively. The cellulose nanocrystals increased the mechanical strength of the films and reduced the water permeability and water activity. The active film had an antimicrobial effect on coagulase-positive staphylococci in cheese curds and reduced the oxidation of butter during storage.
Highlights
The food industry seeks to develop products with quality and safety to meet a consumer market increasingly demanding
[4] In this context, packaging is seen as a major contributor to the environmental impact, since over a third of current plastics production is used to make them, and too because its relativity short life cycle. [4,5] In addition, recent increases in the cost of raw petroleum have led to a dramatic increase in the cost of plastics
Nanoparticles can be observed in the image and are represented by both aggregate and individual fibrils that are commonly found in Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of cellulose nanocrystals extracted from natural fibers. [11,15] The licuri fiber used to extract the nanocellulose was composed of approximately 68% cellulose, 15.9% lignin and 8% hemicellulose
Summary
The food industry seeks to develop products with quality and safety to meet a consumer market increasingly demanding. Among the major types of containers for food and are flexible plastic films, which have excellent mechanical and gas barrier properties and water vapour [2,3]. Plastic pollution have driven the development of biobased packing with biodegradable polymers derived from renewable resources, that are kinds of environmentally-friendly materials, which can be degraded into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms in natural environment [2,3,4]. [6,7] the low mechanical resistance and high sensitivity to water restricts the use of these films, especially in foods with high moisture The starch based films are transparent, non-toxic, have moderately low permeability to oxygen and moisture barrier. [6,7] the low mechanical resistance and high sensitivity to water restricts the use of these films, especially in foods with high moisture
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