Abstract
Adipic acid, an abundant and nontoxic compound, was used to dissolve and cross-link chitosan. After the preparation of chitosan films through casting technique, the in situ amidation reaction was performed at 80–100 °C as verified by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The reaction was accompanied by the release of water which was employed to investigate the reaction kinetics. Accordingly, the reaction rate followed the first-order model and Arrhenius equation, and the activation energy was calculated to be 18 kJ/mol. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the chitosan films were comprehensively studied. First, optimal curing conditions (84 °C, 93 min) were introduced through a central composite design. In order to evaluate the effects of adipic acid, the mechanical properties of physically cross-linked (uncured), chemically cross-linked (cured), and uncross-linked (prepared by acetic acid) films were compared. The use of adipic acid improved the tensile strength of uncured and chemically cross-linked films more than 60% and 113%, respectively. Finally, the effect of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) on the mechanical performance of cured films, in the presence of glycerol as a plasticizer, was investigated. The plasticized chitosan films reinforced by 5 wt % CNFs showed superior properties as a promising material for the development of chitosan-based biomaterials.
Highlights
Environmental issues, regarding the consumption of petroleum-based products, raise serious efforts to employ alternative materials from natural resources
Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Analysis to Verify Amide Bond To investigate the changes in the chemical structure of chitosan films after cross-linking, Fourier transfoTrominvinefsrtiagraetde t(hFeTc-hIRan) gaensainlytshies cwheams iccoalnsdtruucctteudr.e oTf chheitoFsTa-nIRfilsmpsecatfrtear ocrfosnsa-ltiinvkeincgh,iFtoosuarnierand chtriatonssafonr-madiinpfircaraecdid(FfiTl-mIRs) a(nuanlcyusirsewd aasncdoncdhuecmteidca
The present study developed a novel approach to prepare chitosan films
Summary
Environmental issues, regarding the consumption of petroleum-based products, raise serious efforts to employ alternative materials from natural resources. More attention has been paid to polysaccharides as polymeric renewable materials. This is owing to their natural abundance, and because of their interesting properties and applications. Chitosan is the deacetylated form and the most important derivative of chitin, the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature after cellulose. Chitosan has shown an excellent film-forming ability. Biodegradability, biocompatibility, antimicrobial activity, and moderate values of water and oxygen permeability are among the superior characteristics of chitosan films which can be utilized for food packaging and coating to prevent contamination and microbial spoilage and, improve quality and shelf life of food products [1,2,3,4]
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