Chapter 7 - Processing of biopolymer loaded with porous inorganic fillers encapsulating active substance for active food packaging applications

Abstract

Because biopolymers have some disadvantages over traditional food packaging materials, the addition of fillers improves the barrier and thermomechanical performance of biopolymers. Furthermore, active packaging based on bionanocomposites is gaining popularity for ensuring food quality by delaying food lipid oxidation and/or avoiding microorganism contamination. Active packaging technologies rely on either directly incorporating active substances into the packaging material or encapsulating active substances in a suitable carrier. Recently, the active packaging industry has focused on the use of porous inorganic fillers capable of improving overall material performance while also carrying active substances for the development of active food packaging materials. This chapter discusses the possibility of using halloysite nanotubes and diatomaceous earth as active compound carriers in the development of active bionanocomposites for food packaging applications that can protect active molecules from thermal degradation during processing.