Chapter 2 - Chemical modification of protein-based biopolymers for application in food packaging

Abstract

Synthetic, nonbiodegradable materials cause severe health impacts and raise environmental concerns about their use. Over the past few decades, multidisciplinary research efforts have been taken to substitute synthetic materials with sustainable biobased materials. A wide variety of biobased raw materials are expected to replace fossil fuel-based materials. Among all biobased materials, proteins are abundant industrial by-products that have been extensively explored and are projected to offer excellent prospects for this trend. A significant limitation associated with the development of protein bioplastics is their poor thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties, which are the key determinants of a material’s utility. In this regard, chemical modification strategies are promising potential methodologies that would make this possible, and many innovative chemical modifications have been applied in recent years to bring about improvements in this invention. This review provides an overview of the research efforts taken in the area of chemical modification of either animal- or plant-based protein materials intended for use in food packaging, along with the recent advancements in green chemical modification methods.