Microbial-Derived Biodegradable Polymers as Food Packaging Tool

Abstract

AbstractPlastic application is one of the crucial concerns due to the global environmental impact, and shifting to biodegradable food packaging would be a favorable option. This review aims to use biodegradable microbial-derived polymers in food packaging. The main criteria in food application are mechanical and thermal characteristics and water vapor gas transfer. Among materials, microbial polymers, polysaccharides, and polyhydroxyalkanoate are desirable in food packaging due to being biodegradable, having better physical properties, and lower O2 and CO2 permeability with no catalysts residue. This article focuses on microbial polysaccharides (e.g., bacterial cellulose) and polyhydroxyalkanoate in food packaging. The necessity of using biobased polymers in food packages is expressed in the introduction part. The application of the most common biopolymers is described. The biopolymers production, polyhydroxybutyrate-based nanocomposites, and some microbial polysaccharide (e.g., BC) properties in food packaging are also discussed. Moreover, some improvement issues of polyhydroxybutyrate and microbial polysaccharide (e.g., BC) properties are explained, and the nanotechnology impresses on improving the physical properties. Eventually, the article includes some possible future trends.KeywordsPoly(hydroxybutyrate)Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)Food packagingPropertiesModificationsNanoparticlesMicrobial polisaccharides and bacterial celulose