Physicochemical, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of sodium alginate films as carriers of zein emulsion with pelargonic acid and eugenol for active food packing

Abstract

Biodegradable and antimicrobial food packaging is preferred by consumers and has the potential to improve food safety. In this study, we develop and test films based on pelargonic acid (PA) and eugenol (EUG) entrapped in a zein (Z) emulsion (size 146.57 nm) dispersed in sodium alginate (SA) as wrap to improve the physiochemical, and antibacterial properties The moisture content, solubility, absorption, and biodegradation of the films were evaluated. Thermal properties of films were determined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Our results indicate that Ca2+ treatment enhanced the mechanical properties, imparted hydrophobicity, and produced a rough surface on films, as visualized with scanning electron microscopy. The untreated films demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes V7, with a reduction of ∼6.0 in log (colony-forming units/mL) after 24 h. These biodegradable films with enhanced antimicrobial activity and improved thermal and mechanical properties have potential applications in sustainable food packaging systems.