Tannic acid as a crosslinking agent in poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) composite films enhanced with carbon nanoparticles: Processing, characterization, and antimicrobial activities for food packaging

Abstract

The disposal of plastics waste is currently a major environmental problem. Plastics are used frequently and in more variety in everyday life, which has an effect on the environment. As a result of the emissions of carbon dioxide caused by burning of non-biodegradable polymers like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride, there is a growing concern of a global warming. This article discusses the carbonization and activation of KOH to produce porous carbon nanoparticles (CNPs). The solution casting method was used to produced composites of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) with CNPs and tannic acid (TA). PBAT composites employing CNPs as reinforcement and TA as a cross-linker. TA and CNPs have been taken into account in investigating the morphological and antimicrobial activities of PBAT-based composites. The mechanical strength of PBAT/TA/CNPs composites increased as a result to the strengthening characteristics of CNPs. The thermal characterization of PBAT/TA/CNPs composites was improved with TA and CNPs, based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Contact angle measurements show that after reinforcement, PBAT/TA/CNPs composites became hydrophobic. In PBAT/TA/CNPs composites, the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) are reduced. The PBAT/TA/CNPs composites showed greater antimicrobial activity against the food-borne pathogenic microorganisms E. coli and S. aureus. Also, the results of food quality tests that PBAT/TA/CNPs composites used to have an improved shelf life for sliced carrot than control, commercial and PBAT film extending it from 1 to 12 days. The results indicated that PBAT/TA/CNPs composites would be suitable choices for materials to be used in food packaging.