Abstract
The use of advanced and eco-friendly materials has become a trend in the field of food packaging. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were prepared from bleached bagasse pulp board by a mechanical grinding method and were used to enhance the properties of a chitosan/oregano essential oil (OEO) biocomposite packaging film. The growth inhibition rate of the developed films with 2% (w/w) OEO against E. coli and L. monocytogenes reached 99%. With the increased levels of added CNFs, the fibrous network structure of the films became more obvious, as was determined by SEM and the formation of strong hydrogen bonds between CNFs and chitosan was observed in FTIR spectra, while the XRD pattern suggested that the strength of diffraction peaks and crystallinity of the films slightly increased. The addition of 20% CNFs contributed to an oxygen-transmission rate reduction of 5.96 cc/m2·day and water vapor transmission rate reduction of 741.49 g/m2·day. However, the increase in CNFs contents did not significantly improve the barrier properties of the film. The addition of 60% CNFs significantly improved the barrier properties of the film to light and exhibited the lowest light transmittance (28.53%) at 600 nm. Addition of CNFs to the chitosan/OEO film significantly improved tensile strength and the addition of 60% CNFs contributed to an increase of 16.80 MPa in tensile strength. The developed chitosan/oregano essential oil/CNFs biocomposite film with favorable properties and antibacterial activity can be used as a green, functional material in the food-packaging field. It has the potential to improve food quality and extend food shelf life.
Highlights
Petroleum-based plastic films have been widely used in recent decades in the packaging field due to their low cost, good chemical stability and excellent barrier performance [1]
The antibacterial properties of the chitosan/oregano essential oil (OEO) films significantly improved by adding OEO and demonstrated that OEO had good inhibition properties against E. coli and L. monocytogenes
Biocompatibility between Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and the chitosan matrix and a three-dimensional network structure the addition of CNFs to chitosan films shows good oxygen barrier performance and indicates formed between the fibers by producing winding paths for the water vapor molecules and led to that these composite films can be used as barrier packaging for food
Summary
Petroleum-based plastic films have been widely used in recent decades in the packaging field due to their low cost, good chemical stability and excellent barrier performance [1]. The demand for advanced and eco-friendly packaging materials owing to their excellent physical, mechanical, and barrier properties and antimicrobial activity is significantly increasing, especially with increased consumer awareness of environmental protection and with increased attention being paid to food quality and safety. Biodegradable materials, such as chitosan [2,3,4], starch [5], pectin [6], gelatine [7] and cellulose [8], as matrices to develop biologic composite packaging materials with good oxygen, water vapor barrier properties, antibacterial properties and mechanical properties, have become a focus of scholars. Two or more kinds of material are blended together, and the functional components are added to prepare biocomposite packaging materials with good mechanical properties, oxygen and water vapor barrier properties and antibacterial or antioxidant properties
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