Oxygen Barrier Film Research Articles

ScCO2-processed thermoplastic starch/chitosan oligosaccharide blown films and their oxygen barrier or antibacterial applications

Abstract Antibacterial and oxygen barrier films were inventively prepared by blending very small loadings (<2 wt%) of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) or chitosan (CS) in thermoplastic starch (TPS) and/or processing with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). Oxygen transmission rates (OTR) and free-volume-hole (FVH) characteristics of scCO2-processed TPS/COS and TPS/CS blown films diminish to a minimum, as their COS or CS approach a specific compatibility limit content. The minimum OTR and FVH characteristics of scCO2-processed TPS/COS films are somewhat smaller than those of corresponding TPS/COS films without scCO2-assistance, and decrease further with decreasing COS molecular weights. The minimum OTR values of scCO2-processed TPS/COS blown films with COS’s molecular weight of 200 and 500 are only 4.1 and 4.5 cm3/m2 × day × atm, respectively, and their antibacterial rates of Staphylococcus aureus are ≥97 %, which make them as promising antibacterial and oxygen barrier films having OTR ≦ 5 cm3/m2 × day × atm. Among other things, longitudinal or transversal tensile strengths acquired for the properly scCO2-processed TPS/COS or TPS/CS films are ∼30 to ∼50 % higher than those of the TPS films. Dynamic mechanical relaxation results of these scCO2-processed reveal that chitosan oligosaccharide or chitosan are compatible with TPS, as COS or CS contents are ≤ the compatibility limit value.

Fully renewable oxygen barrier films of scCO2-processed thermoplastic starch/sugar alcohol blends

Abstract Excellent oxygen barrier films were prepared by blending very small loadings (<1 wt%) of dihydroxyacetone (DHA), erythritol (ET) or xylitol (XT) in thermoplastic starch (TPS), and/or processing with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) assistance. The minimum oxygen transmission rates (OTR) and all free-volume-hole characteristic (FVH) values of each scCO2-processed TPS/sugar alcohol film series are somewhat smaller than those of corresponding TPS/sugar alcohol film series without scCO2-assistance, and decrease with the decrease in sugar alcohol’s molecular weight. The minimum OTR values acquired for scCO2-processed TPS/DHA and TPS/ET blown films are only 3.6 and 4.3 cm3/m2·day·atm, respectively, which meet the demand of high oxygen barrier films having OTR ≦5 cm3/m2·day·atm. The longitudinal or transversal tensile strengths acquired for each scCO2-processed TPS/sugar alcohol series films are ∼30 % to ∼40 % higher than those of the TPS blown films. Dynamic mechanical relaxations of each TPS/sugar alcohol or scCO2-processed TPS/sugar alcohol film series reveal that the sugar alcohols are compatible with TPS, as their sugar alcohol contents are ≤ the corresponding compatibility values. The decreased OTR and FVH values acquired for TPS/sugar alcohol or scCO2-processed TPS/sugar alcohol films are most likely due to them being scCO2-processed or incorporated with smaller molecular weight of sugar alcohols.

Construction of fully coated polypyrrole oxygen-barrier film based on MXene nanosheets for high reliability capacitive deionization

MXene has emerged as a promising capacitive deionization (CDI) faradic material for the advantages of excellent hydrophilicity, outstanding specific capacitance, and highly reversible ions intercalation/de-intercalation. However, its practical applications are severely restricted by the bottleneck problems of severe self-stacking and susceptibility to be oxidized by dissolved oxygen in aqueous solution. Herein, polypyrrole (PPy) oxygen-barrier film was fabricated and fully coated on the surface of MXene by the in-situ polymerization method to construct the composite electrode of PPy@MXene. In this unique architecture, the PPy oxygen-barrier film both enhances the antioxidant properties of MXene and weakens the strong interfacial interactions between MXene nanosheets to reduce the self-aggregation. Meanwhile, by doping different ions (Cl– and dodecyl benzene sulfonate, DBS–), PPy films were provided with excellent conductivity, abundant hole sites, and good ion exchange properties, which significantly promoted the charge priority adsorption capability of PPy-Cl@MXene and PPy-DBS@MXene electrodes. Consequently, compared with MXene//MXene cell, the PPy-Cl@MXene//PPy-DBS@MXene CDI cell presents dominant deionization capacity (55 mg g−1) and outstanding cycling stability (3 % degradation after 40 cycles). Most importantly, the morphology, structure and surface charge characteristics of the electrodes after long-term desalination confirmed that the MXene with fully coated PPy film was not destroyed by dissolved oxygen and maintained good structural integrity, which is conducive to improving the reliability of the MXene-based electrodes in CDI. Additionally, ion doped PPy@MXene electrodes highlight preferential adsorption to divalent cations. The work proposes a new strategy to advance the practical application of MXene by simultaneously solving its self-stacking and oxidative degradation issues.

Development and Evaluation of Pullulan Based Mouth Dissolving Film of Furosemide

Mouth dissolving oral film is an innovative approach as Oromucosal route for systemic delivery of therapeutically/medicinally active drug substance. As we know Furosemide belongs class IV in BCS classification of drug, having low solubility and permeability due to the presence of strong inter and intramolecular bond. Due to low aqeous solubility, it exhibits low oral bioavailability. Here we are preparing mouth dissolving film of furosemide to increase its solubility, which ultimately will enhance its bioavailability. By this way, we will achieve more rapid drug absorption, desired pharmacological effect with quick onset of action by avoiding degradation in GIT and first pass metabolism. This system will provide maximum therapeutic efficacy and maximum stability by reducing the frequency of dosage and as well as improve patient compliance. The present research aimed to prepare pullulan based mouth dissolving oral films of furosemide used in treatment and control of hypertension. Pullulan was selected as film former exhibit better moisture retention, oxygen barrier and uniform film forming properties. Due to the hydrophilic nature of pullulan, it provides quick dissolution. By considering above points, the film was prepared through solvent casting method by pullulan as film-forming polymer, glycerol as plasticizer and lepidium sativum mucilage as a natural disintegrant known as Asaliyo. Disintegration time, drug release, moisture loss and folding endurance of film were evaluated. Promising batch F6 exhibited better drug dissolution 98.75±0.09% within 8±0.4 minutes than the other films. The disintegration time for batch F6 was 23±5 sec. It is evident from the above results that it is an innovative dosage form to improve the drug delivery, onset of action as well as improve patient compliance.

Resilient high oxygen barrier multilayer films of nanocellulose and polylactide

Nanocelluloses are promising high gas barrier materials for biobased food packaging, but they must be protected from water to preserve high performance. The respective O2 barrier properties of different types of nanocelluloses were compared (nanofibers (CNF), oxidized nanofibers (CNF TEMPO) and nanocrystals (CNC)). The oxygen barrier performance for all types of nanocelluloses was similarly high. To protect the nanocellulose films from water, a multilayer material architecture was used with poly(lactide) (PLA) on the outside. To achieve this, a biobased tie layer was developed, using Corona treatment and chitosan. This allowed thin film coating with nanocellulose layers between 60 and 440 nm thickness. AFM images treated with Fast Fourier Transform showed the formation of locally-oriented CNC layers on the film. Coated PLA(CNC) films performed better (3.2 × 10−20 m3.m/m2.s.Pa) than PLA(CNF) and PLA(CNF TEMPO) (1.1 × 10−19 at best), because thicker layers could be obtained. The oxygen barrier properties were constant during successive measurements at 0 % RH, 80 % RH and again at 0 % RH. This shows that PLA is sufficiently shielding nanocelluloses from water uptake to keep high performance in an extended range of RH and opens the way to high oxygen barrier films which are biobased and biodegradable.

Estratégias de vedação na ensilagem de milho e desempenho de ovinos em confinamento

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different sealing strategies on aerobic stability and feed value of corn silage supplied to finishing lambs. The treatments were set up according to the silo sealing strategy: BP (black polyethylene film), BP + Bagasse (black polyethylene film + sugarcane bagasse) and BP + Silostop (Silostop® Orange oxygen barrier film + black polyethylene film). Six lambs per treatment were used, totaling 18 animals in an experimental period of 63 days. The silage from LP treatment presented the highest aerobic stability, however with lower dry matter digestibility coefficients. No significant differences were detected among treatments for intake and performance of lambs. But for final body weight, weight gain, daily average gain, feed efficiency and dry matter intake, the best results, in absolute value, were found for lambs fed with silage from LP + Bagasse treatment. The silage sealed exclusively with black polyethylene film showed greater aerobic stability. The different sealing strategies used in this experiment did not influence the performance of finishing Dorper x Santa Inês lambs.

Roll-to-Roll, Dual-Layer Slot Die Coating of Chitin and Cellulose Oxygen Barrier Films for Renewable Packaging.

Cellulose and chitin are the two most abundant naturally produced biopolymers and are being extensively studied as candidates for renewable oxygen barrier films used in packaging. It has been shown that bilayers formed from cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and chitin nanofibers (ChNFs) exhibit oxygen barrier properties similar to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, this prior work explored only coating each layer individually in sequence through techniques such as spray coating. Here, we demonstrate the viability of dual-layer slot die coating of CNC/ChNF bilayers onto cellulose acetate (CA) substrates. The dual-layer slot die method enables significantly lower oxygen permeability versus spray coating while using a roll-to-roll system that applies the bilayer in a single pass. This work discusses suspension properties, wetting, and drying conditions required to achieve well-controlled ChNF/CNC bilayers. Spray-coated bilayer films were on average 25% thinner than the dual-layer bilayer film; however, the thickness-normalized oxygen permeability (OP) of the dual-layer-coated ChNF/CNC bilayer film on CA was 20 times better than that of the spray-coated bilayers. It has been shown that ChNF contributes to the wetting and barrier properties. Values of OP for the slot die-coated bilayers under optimized drying conditions were as low as 1.2 cm3·μm·m-2·d-1·kPa-1, corresponding to a normalized oxygen transmission rate of 0.32 cm3·m-2·d-1 at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity. It is also noted that the adhesive properties of the dual-layer coating are also improved when films are air-dried and that ChNF contributes to the wetting and barrier properties.

Oxygen barrier films of scCO2-assisted thermoplastic starch/poly (vinyl alcohol) blends

Oxygen barrier films of scCO2-assisted thermoplastic starch/poly (vinyl alcohol) blends

Aqueous Modification of Chitosan with Itaconic Acid to Produce Strong Oxygen Barrier Film.

In this study, the chemical modification of chitosan using itaconic acid as a natural-based unsaturated dicarboxylic acid was investigated. In an aqueous environment, the amine group of chitosan reacts with itaconic acid to produce a chitosan derivative with pyrrolidone-4-carboxylic acid group. On the basis of the elemental analysis, 15% of the amine groups of chitosan reacted, thus creating modified chitosan with amine and carboxylic acid functionalities. Due to the presence of amine and carboxylic acid groups, the surface charge properties of the chitosan were notably altered after itaconic acid modification. In an aqueous solution, the modified chitosan exhibited zwitterionic properties, being cationic at low pH and turning anionic when the pH was increased over 6.5, whereas the original chitosan remained cationic until pH 9. Furthermore, it was demostrated that the modified chitosan was suitable for the preparation of a self-standing film with similarly high transparency but notably higher mechanical strength and oxygen barrier properties compared to a film made from the original chitosan. In addition, the thermal stability of the modified chitosan film was higher than that of the original chitosan film, and the modified chitosan exhibited flame-retardant properties.

QCL-based mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging of multilayer polymer oxygen barrier-films

In this work, mid-infrared hyperspectral images of multilayer polymer film (MLPF) cross sections are acquired with a high-speed quantum cascade laser (QCL) based mid-infrared microscope and analyzed using different data analysis techniques. The investigated MLPF is a polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-vinyl alcohol co-polymer (EVOH) composite commonly used for food packaging due to its outstanding barrier characteristics. Pure band integration of supposedly selective absorption bands for the two constituents of the MLPF is compared to principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate curve resolution (MCR) algorithms regarding the ability to spatially resolve the differently composed areas in the MLPF. While both pure band integration and PCA are strongly affected by common physical artifacts in the spectral data, such as sample tilt, scattering or interference effects, MCR managed to give a clear picture of the composition of the MLPF, which matches the actual situation given by the manufacturing process. The obtained results can guide the way to the application of high-performance mid-infrared spectroscopic instrumentation for spatially resolved polymer analysis by meaningful interpretation of hyperspectral image data.

Advancement of aliphatic polycarbonates with nanoclay addition: An overview

Aliphatic polycarbonates are considered as newly developed biodegradable polymer, which results from a sustainable copolymerization of epoxides and carbon dioxide (CO2) process. These aliphatic carbonates have weak properties in terms of thermal stability and mechanical properties, due to its carbon structure flexibility, hence causing limitation to its applications. Up to date, studies on aliphatic polycarbonates are progressively conducted to maximize its opportunity as an alternative nanocomposite. This review was carried out to provide insights on the progression in producing aliphatic polycarbonates by incorporating various type of fillers to enhance physicochemical, thermal and mechanical properties of aliphatic polycarbonates. The results revealed that a blend of aliphatic polycarbonates/clay nanocomposites with low clay content up to 10 wt.% displayed improved glass transition temperature and thermal degradation in comparison with the pure one. The improved thermal stability was due to the nanoparticle’s dispersion into matrix of aliphatic polycarbonates. The mechanical properties such as Young’s Modulus and tensile strength of aliphatic polycarbonates were also improved with addition of nanoclay. The improvement of thermal and mechanical properties of aliphatic polycarbonates at low content of nanoclay proves that the addition of nanoclay into polymer matrix is a promising technique to design the properties of aliphatic polycarbonates particularly for the coating application as water and oxygen barrier film.

Active barrier chitosan films containing gallic acid based oxygen scavenger

Active oxygen barrier films of chitosan/gallic acid/sodium carbonate (CH/GA/SC) were prepared by solution casting method. The effect of gallic acid on physical, mechanical, structural, and oxygen scavenging properties of films was investigated. As compared with neat CH film, CH/GA/SC films displayed higher thicknesses and water solubility. Tensile strength and elongation at break were affected by the addition of gallic acid and sodium carbonate. The chemical interaction evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and morphology evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, and it is noticed that sodium carbonate and gallic acid were distributed homogeneously in the film structure. The X-ray diffraction confirmed that gallic acid, sodium carbonate, and chitosan had excellent compatibility. The addition of gallic acid in the chitosan matrix caused low water and oxygen permeability. The lowest oxygen transmission rate of the film was 4.10 ± 1.07 cm3/μm/m2 day kpa. The CH/GA/SC 20 film displayed the maximum oxygen-absorbing rate and capacity of 2.66 mL O2/g. day and 19.55 mL O2/g respectively, at 23 ± 2 °C. Moisture inside the package was utilized as a catalyst to begin the oxygen scavenging reaction. The results suggest that the combination of gallic acid and the sodium carbonate in chitosan film is a promising oxygen scavenging material for active oxygen barrier films.

Feasibility of Utilizing Biodegradable Plastic Film to Cover Corn Silage under Farm Conditions

The degree of anaerobiosis and its maintenance over the conservation period are key factors in obtaining high quality silage. There is currently a demand to replace petroleum-based plastic films with biodegradable materials with suitable mechanical properties. This work has evaluated, under outdoor conditions, the shelf life of a Mater-Bi® biodegradable plastic (MB) film and its effects on the fermentative characteristics, microbial counts and aerobic stability of corn silage, and compared it with commercially available polyethylene (PE) and high oxygen barrier (OB) films. Corn (409 g DM/kg) was ensiled in 30 drive-over piles covered with MB, PE or OB films. The piles were opened after 21, 85, 133, 195 and 230 d of conservation. The effect of the film was assessed in silage sample close to (CF) and far (FF) from the film. The OB film allowed high quality corn silages to be obtained with similar pH, lactic acid, yeast and mold counts for CF and FF during the entire 230 d of conservation. The PE film showed similar values for the FF and CF areas for the first conservation period (until 133 d). The MB film showed a similar silage quality to OB until day 85, after which it underwent biodegradation and lost its ability to preserve silage in a good state.

Investigating thermal and storage stability of vitamins in pasteurized mashed potatoes packed in barrier packaging films

Encapsulation may solve thermal and storage stability issues for vitamins in foods. Here, the role of encapsulation in improving thermal and oxidative stability of vitamin C (encapsulated (EVC) and non-encapsulated (NVC), lipid-soluble vitamins (A & E together, esterified forms) was determined in mashed potato. The product was vacuum packed in four different oxygen barrier films, pasteurized using a microwave-assisted system or conventionally, and then stored at 5 °C for 90 days. We observed 4–5 % losses of NVC, while no losses occurred in EVC, vitamin A & E after thermal processing. At the end of storage, NVC and EVC losses in mashed potato varied between 12–76 % and 13–31 %, respectively depending upon film type, while vitamin A & E remained stable. TPC and pH of mashed potato were stable over the storage period in all selected films, but the color changed significantly in the lowest barrier film. Processing affected the gas barrier, dielectric, and thermal properties of films to a variable extent. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of encapsulation in improving the stability of vitamin C and can help processors in selecting optimal packaging film.

Carboxymethylation of hemicellulose isolated from poplar (Populus grandidentata) and its potential in water-soluble oxygen barrier films

Hemicelluloses, the second most abundant class of biopolymers, have emerged as an immense renewable resource of biopolymers that are recognized as currently being underutilized. Carboxymethyl carbohydrates are valuable products for thickeners, viscosity control, food additive and others. Hemicellulose isolated from poplar was converted to carboxymethyl hemicellulose using sodium chloroacetate (SCA) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The significance of the effects of carboxymethylation conditions in an 80% ethanol/water medium on the degree of substitution (DS) and reaction efficiency (RE) was evaluated using a definitive screening design model. There was strong evidence that the dosage of SCA and NaOH, and temperature have a significant effect on DS. A significant interaction between SCA and NaOH was also statistically confirmed. The RE resulting from the ethanol/water medium was lower than 50%. A higher RE of 72% with a DS 1.08 was achieved in a 90% tert-butyl alcohol/water medium, which was conducted at 85 °C with 120 min, 1.5 mol/mol anhydroxylose unit (AXU) of NaOH and 1.5 mol/mol AXU of SCA. The potential of using hemicellulose and carboxymethyl hemicellulose as materials to produce water-soluble films was evaluated. Due to the increased water solubility, the processing of carboxymethyl hemicellulose in water and the production of films were more facile than with unmodified hemicellulose. All of the films demonstrated significant oxygen barrier characteristics, with low oxygen permeability ranging from 0.28 to 0.55 cm3 µm/(m2 d kPa). The films did not display effective water vapor barrier characteristics, with high water vapor permeability ranging from 4.8 to 6.5 g mm/(m2 d kPa). Carboxymethylation of HC decreased the tensile strength, increased the elongation at break, and decreased the water vapor and oxygen barrier properties of the produced films. Both hemicellulose and carboxymethyl hemicellulose films could offer a bio-based and biodegradable alternative to existing synthetic oxygen barrier materials. The hemicellulose and carboxymethyl hemicellulose materials might be exploited in water-soluble films, washable fruit coating or used in composites or multilayer films in conjunction with hydrophobic layers.

Oxygen Scavenging and Oxygen Barrier Poly(1,2‐butadiene) Films Containing an Iron‐Complex Catalyst

AbstractTough films of poly(1,2‐butadiene) are prepared by introducing small amounts of the less toxic iron complex N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine‐benzylimidazole and methyl linoleate. The catalytic activity of the iron complex for air oxidation of unsaturated groups is substantially higher than those of previously reported films. The oxygen scavenging capacity of the films is up to 200 mL (oxygen gas at STP) g(film)−1 after 1 month, based on oxidative consumption of the poly(1,2‐butadiene) double bonds, which is more than twice that of a previously reported poly(1,4‐butadiene) film containing a cobalt complex catalyst and a film containing reduced iron powder. The oxygen absorption and scavenging of the films is independent of humidity and is maintained over 1 month. The results suggest that the combination of poly(1,2‐butadiene) and the iron complex catalyst is a promising oxygen scavenging material for active oxygen barrier films.

Sustainable Barrier System via Self-Assembly of Colloidal Montmorillonite and Cross-linking Resins on Nanocellulose Interfaces.

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are able to form strong oxygen-barrier films suitable for food packaging but lack the needed water resistance in comparison to plastics. Desired water barrier quality can be achieved by applying mineral additives within the nanofibrils network. In current contribution, a sustainable hybrid system with an improved water barrier function is proposed by incorporating colloidal montmorillonite nanoclay (MMT) and two cross-linking agents, namely, polyamidoamine epichlorohydrin (PAE) and Acrodur thermoset acrylic resin (ACR) into CNF interfaces. Continuous matrices were produced via evaporation-induced self-assembly of colloidal building blocks followed by appropriate heat-curing regime to impart internal cross-linking. The development of chromophore functionalities and formation of ester motifs on the hybrid matrix (with no evidence of degradation) were detected by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Intercalation of clay, solely, reduced the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) to some extent; however, a more remarkable decline (by 60%) was observed upon the curing and cross-linking process. In fact, combination of clay platelets and cross-linkers contributed to a denser film structure and restricted water passage. Also, an excellent resistance to oil and grease was observed in all the studied films (Kit number of 11). A reduction in tensile strengths and resistance to cracking at fold was noted and ascribed to MMT interference in cellulose interchain hydrogen bonds. This however was counteracted by the introduction of cross-linkers, apparently by aiding stress transfer within the matrix. MMT imparted a limited elevation in the surface free energy, pointing out to an induced hydrophilicity; however, surface energy values declined markedly upon using cross-linkers. Finally, thermal stability of hybrids was adversely affected, compared to neat CNFs. Our study suggests the potential utilization of low-cost, sustainable biobarrier films for application in food/drug packaging, where low permeation of moisture is highly desirable.

Improving the oxygen barrier properties of PET polymer by radio frequency plasma-polymerized SiOxNy thin film

Plasma-polymerized silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy) oxygen barrier thin film was deposited on polyethylene terephthalate substrate by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition at low temperature. The deposition reactor utilizes capacitively coupled plasma operating at radio frequency (13.56 MHz). Nitrogen incorporation during the polymerization leads to a SiOxNy dense film with low defects which assists to improve the oxygen barrier properties. The gas mixture of tetraethyl orthosilicate as organosilicon precursor with oxygen and nitrogen gases was used to deposit the transparent polymerized SiOxNy thin films. The effects of nitrogen flow rate on deposition rate, refractive index, surface morphology, surface wettability, chemical structure and binding composition and oxygen permeability of the barrier films were investigated. Moreover, the plasma parameters were monitored by optical emission spectroscopy. SiOxNy oxygen barrier films showed 89–91% transparency. Under the optimal deposition conditions the minimum oxygen permeability of 0.08cm3/cm2day bar was obtained.

Preparation of polyacrylic acid-grafted-acryloyl/hemicellulose (PAA-g-AH) hybrid films with high oxygen barrier performance

Developing high-performance oxygen barrier films using biomass-based materials is crucial for the development of green and sustainable society. Herein, we develop a strategy to synthesize polyacrylic acid-grafted-acryloyl/hemicellulose composites (PAA-g-AH) as film materials with excellent oxygen barrier property. The as-synthesized films were extensively characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), mechanical test, light transmittance and oxygen transmission rate (OTR) measurement. All these testing results showed that the optimum film exhibit great oxygen barrier property with a low OTR value of 0.25 ± 0.01 cm3* μm/(m2*d*kPa), which was much lower than that of pure PAA film. Moreover, the hybrid films possess well mechanical strength, light transmittance and recycle usage properties. Experimental results indicated that the as-synthesized films have great potential applications in several fields as packaging materials, such as drug, food and electronic products.

Application of layer-by-layer assembled chitosan/montmorillonite nanocomposite as oxygen barrier film over the ceramic separator of the microbial fuel cell

Chitosan/Montmorillonite nanocomposite films are layer-by-layer assembled over the surface of commercial unglazed wall ceramics to utilize as the separator of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The oxygen diffusion coefficient of the ceramic is decreased to about one-sixth of the blank-ceramic by the addition of seven bi-layers of the nanocomposite and fairly remained unchanged with further layer increments. The lower oxygen diffusion rate of separator provides more anoxic conditions in the anode chamber and sidelong reactions are prohibited thereby. The electrochemical impedance spectra of MFCs are interpreted using the equivalent electrical circuit fitting. The ohmic resistance is notably decreased by deposition of up to ten bi-layers of the nanocomposite, but it is slightly increased afterward for MFCs with 13 and 15 bi-layers. The charge transfer impedances have the rather similar trends with the ohmic resistance and the MFC with seven bi-layers has the minimum charge transfer resistances for both the anode and cathode electrodes. The maximum power and current densities of 119.58 ± 19.16 mW/m2 and 869.44 ± 27.49 mA/m2 were obtained for the MFC with seven bi-layers of nanocomposite which are twice as much as the MFC with the blank-ceramic. The wastewater treatment efficiencies of MFCs are not significantly affected by deposition of nanocomposite films.