Field Of Packaging Research Articles

Toughening Mechanism of CaAl12O19 in Red Mud–Al2O3 Composite Ceramics

The utilization of red mud in the production of ceramic products represents an efficient approach for harnessing red mud resources. Composite ceramics were prepared from Al2O3, red mud, and Cr2O3 by atmospheric pressure sintering, and the phase composition and microscopic morphology of the composite ceramics were investigated by XRD, SEM, and EDS. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of composite ceramics were measured by three-point bending and SENB methods. The results showed that the composite ceramics sintered at 1500 °C with the addition of 1.5 wt.% Cr2O3 had a flexural strength of 297.03 MPa, a hardness of 17.44 GPa, and a densification of 97.75% and fracture toughness of 6.57 MPa·m1/2. The addition of Cr2O3 helps to improve the low strength of red mud composite ceramic samples. The CaAl12O19 phase can form a similar “endo-crystalline” structure with Al2O3 grains, which changes the fracture mode of the ceramics and thus significantly improves the fracture toughness. The wettability tests conducted on Cu and RM–Al2O3 composite ceramic materials revealed that the composites exhibited non-wetting behavior towards Cu at elevated temperatures, while no interfacial reactions or elemental diffusion were observed. Composites have higher surface energy than Al2O3 ceramic at high temperatures. The present study provides a crucial foundation for enhancing the comprehensive utilization value of red mud and the application of red mud ceramics in the field of electronic packaging.

Mechanism analysis of dual wavelength laser welding AlN-PC joint based on microtexture treatment

High-strength interfacial bonding between ceramics and transparent polymers is hardly to be achieved, especially in the field of optical packaging of biochips. This paper proposes a novel laser welding method that enhances the joint strength between aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramic and polycarbonate (PC) by laser surface microtexturing. The study investigates the influence of welding methods and microtextures on welding effectiveness, elucidating the bonding mechanisms of the joints. The obtained results showed that dual wavelength laser welding effectively achieves the connection between AlN ceramic and PC. Laser microtexturing increases surface roughness and contact area, leading to stronger mechanical interlocking and overall joint strength. The highest shear strength reached up to 14.66 MPa with longitudinal grooves microtexture. The laser microtexturing improves the hydrophilicity of the AlN surface, facilitating more effective bonding between the materials. The bonding mechanisms at the joint interface include both mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding. Microtexturing improves the stress distribution at the joint interface. The formation of C-O-Al chemical bonds at the interface effectively enhances the joint strength. Longitudinal grooves microtexture exhibit a higher substrate fracture rate due to stress concentration and capillary pores. In contrast, staggered square holes microtexture provide superior mechanical performance through uniform stress distribution and robust mechanical interlocking.

Preparation and Performance of PBAT/PLA/CaCO3 Composites via Solid-State Shear Milling Technology

Replacing traditional disposable, non-biodegradable plastic packaging with biodegradable plastic packaging is one of the key approaches to address the issue of “white pollution”. PBAT/PLA/inorganic filler composites are widely utilized as a biodegradable material, commonly employed in the field of packaging films. However, the poor dispersion of inorganic fillers in the polymer matrix and the limited compatibility between PBAT and PLA have led to inferior mechanical properties and elevated costs. In this work, we propose a simple and effective strategy to improve the dispersion of nano-CaCO3 in a PBAT/PLA matrix through solid-state shear- milling (S3M) technology, combined with mechanochemical modification and in situ compatibilization to enhance the compatibility between PBAT and PLA. The impact of varying milling conditions on the structure and performance of the PBAT/PLA/CaCO3 composites was investigated. During the milling process, PBAT and PLA undergo partial molecular chain fragmentation, generating more active functional groups. In the presence of the chain extender ADR during melt blending, more branched PBAT-g-PLA is formed, thereby enhancing matrix compatibility. The results indicate that the choice of milling materials significantly affects the structure and properties of the composite. The film obtained by milling only PBAT and CaCO3 exhibited the best performance, with its longitudinal tensile strength and fracture elongation reaching 22 MPa and 437%, respectively. This film holds great potential for application in the field of green packaging.

Development and preservative applications of polysaccharide-based bilayer packaging films: Enhanced functional properties through metal-phenolic network-coated zein nanoparticles and biomimetic hydrophobic surfaces

This study develops an innovative bilayer biomimetic hydrophobic film, tailored to provide a sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solution for fresh produce. The outer layer, crafted from chitosan, utilized polydimethylsiloxane templating to mimic the ultra-hydrophobic surface of a lotus leaf, achieving a water contact angle exceeding 130°. The inner layer comprised sodium alginate and zein nanoparticles, enriched with citral and fortified by a metal-phenolic network to facilitate uniform dispersion and controlled release of bioactive agents. The structural design of the film significantly improved mechanical properties, evidenced by a maximum tensile strength of 29.3 ± 3.6 MPa, and enhanced hydrophobicity, reducing water solubility to 28.3 ± 1.5% and substantially decreasing water absorption. The barrier functionality of film was also strengthened, demonstrated by a lowered water vapor transmission rate of 289.3 ± 1.5 g m−2 24 h−1, and it supported extended citral release in acidic media up to 70 h. Moreover, the film exhibited robust antioxidant and antibacterial properties. In practical tests, it effectively mitigated weight loss, browning, and hardness degradation in fresh-cut apples and lotus roots, concurrently inhibiting microbial growth and extending shelf life. This study presents an effective strategy for enhancing the hydrophobicity and bioactivity of bio-based films, contributing valuable insights to the field of sustainable food packaging.

An entropy- TOPSIS approach to find PMMA/cellulose based biocomposite with optimum mechanical and bio-degradation properties

Poly methyl methacrylate based biocomposite has been manufactured using nanocellulose as reinforcement, which has been extracted from bagasse. The biocomposites are formed by bulk polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The composites are evaluated by FTIR, X-ray diffraction, mechanical properties, UV analysis, scanning electron microscope, polarizing light microscope and thermo-gravimetric analysis. Variation in properties is an inherent drawback of natural fibers, for which this MCDM technique is very effective to decipher, the biocomposite with optimum properties. It has been found that when the bagasse fiber is treated with 3.5 % of sodium chlorite solution, it can produce biocomposite with PMMA. It has been observed that, cellulose grafting takes place in the PMMA chain in presence of benzoyl peroxide. Further the work has been extended with loading variation of the said cellulose fibers and 1.5 % loading has been found as the best. The novelty of the work lies in the fact that these evaluations have been substantiated by Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique involving ENTROPY and TOPSIS approach and successfully selected 1.5 wt % loading to fabricate the optimum biocomposite. This composite exhibited around 13.5 % biodegradation within 90 days. This film can find application in packaging field.

Electrospun gelatin/tea polyphenol@pullulan nanofibers for fast-dissolving antibacterial and antioxidant applications.

Bio-based active food packaging materials have a high market demand. We use coaxial electrospinning technology to prepare core-shell structured nanofibers with sustained antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The fiber core layer was composed of gelatin and tea polyphenols, whereas tea polyphenols provide antibacterial and antioxidant properties; the fiber sheath was composed of pullulan polysaccharides with antioxidant properties. By using a scanning electron microscope, it can be seen that the diameter distribution of the prepared nanofibers was uniform and the surface is smooth; using a transmission electron microscope, it can be clearly seen that the nanofibers have a core-shell structure; Fourier Transform Infrared and X-ray diffraction analysis indicate that the nanofibers have an amorphous structure; the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging shows that nanofibers have higher antioxidant properties with the addition of tea polyphenols; antibacterial test showed that nanofibers had obvious inhibitory effect on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli; and the nanofiber film dissolution test shows that nanofibers can be used as fast soluble active packaging. Finally, core-sheath-structured nanofibers can serve as active packaging for instant food, possessing both rapid water solubility and excellent antibacterial and antioxidant activity, making water-soluble nanofibers interesting applications in the field of food packaging.

Unlocking superior preservation: The synergy of lignin and zeolite in chitosan-based composite films for perishable foods

Chitosan-based films are confronted with several technical challenges that impede their broad application in the preservation of perishable foods, such as suboptimal mechanical properties and insufficient antioxidant activity. In this work, we have introduced lignin (LG) and natural clinoptilolite zeolite (NCZ) into pure chitosan-based films to address the above limitations. The synergistic incorporation of LG and NCZ has endowed the composite films, designated as CTSLC, with a suite of enhanced attributes, including improved thermostability, enhanced UV-shielding capability and hydrophobicity, augmented antioxidant activity, refined gas selectivity, and bolstered mechanical properties. The enhancements in the antioxidant activity, gas selectivity, and mechanical properties of CTSLC are notably pronounced, reflecting a substantial advancement in their overall performance. These attributes surpass those of both pure chitosan-based film or commercial polyethylene film. Consequently, CTSLC could keep the freshness and appearance of strawberries and mangoes at least 60 hours and 10 days, respectively. The findings suggest that CTSLC has the potential to be a promising material for the preservation of perishable foods, offering a significant advancement in the field of food packaging and preservation technology.

Effect of hydroxylated boron nitride and boron nitride nanosheets on the properties of doped organosilicone rubber composites

As the electronic industry develops rapidly, the miniaturisation, integration and multifunctionality of electronic devices have resulted in a dramatic increase in power density, and the heat dispersal of electronic devices has attracted much attention. In this work, hydroxylated hexagonal boron nitride (BN-H) was obtained by hot alkali treatment, and boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) with a thickness of about 4 nm were obtained by boric acid-assisted ball milling stripping. The effects of different types of fillers as well as filler contents on the thermally conductive and mechanical performance of organosilicon composites were also compared. Notably, when BN-H and BNNS thermally conductive fillers were added at 12 wt%, the thermally conductive coefficients of the composites were 0.4831 W·m−1·K−1 and 0.7131 W·m−1 K−1, respectively, which were 183% and 318% of higher than that for the pure silicone rubber (SR, with a thermally conductive coefficient of 0.1706 W·m−1·K−1). In addition, in respect of mechanical performance, the tensile strengths of SR/BN-H and SR/BNNS composites with a filling level of 12 wt% were 3.59 MPa and 3.89 MPa, respectively, and the storage moduli were 4501 MPa and 4583 MPa, respectively, which were improved to a certain extent compared with pure SR. The present work provides an effective way to develop organosilicone rubber composites with good thermal conductivity and mechanical properties by boric acid assisted ball milling to strip boron nitride in the field of electronics packages.

Sputtering of (111) highly-oriented nanotwinned Ag on polycrystalline Si3N4 substrates for high-power electronic packaging

Nanotwinned silver (NT-Ag) exhibits excellent mechanical and electrical properties, attributed to its high-density and (111) highly-oriented twinning structure in nanoscale. Therefore, it has recently drawn much attention in the field of electronic packaging, where it can be utilized as interconnection or metallization materials. However, it has been a critical challenge to fabricate the high-density and highly-oriented NT-Ag onto polycrystalline ceramic substrates, whose crystal structure does not support the epitaxial growth of NT-Ag films. In the current work, a high-density and highly-oriented NT-Ag film has been fabricated onto a polycrystalline ceramic substrate, i.e., NT-Ag on silicon nitride (NT-Ag@Si3N4), using the magnetron sputtering method. As results, a close-packed arrangement of high-density NT-Ag has been observed within columnar grains aligned along its growth direction, whereas the nanoindentation hardness of the NT-Ag film reached 1.82 GPa, with an electrical resistivity of 2.06 μΩ‧cm. Moreover, this study has discussed and explained the growth kinetics and mechanism of NT-Ag films, by controlling magnetron sputtering process parameters, such as sputtering power and argon flow rate. Additionally, the differences in the growth mechanism of NT-Ag on (100) Si and polycrystalline Si3N4 have also been investigated. With its superior material properties, NT-Ag@Si3N4 holds great promise in the applications of advanced packaging technology for high-power electronics.

Antioxidant packaging films based upon starch-montmorillonite with forsythia flower extract: characterization and application

Plastic pollution is one of the most acute environmental problems in the world, so active packaging materials made from biodegradable natural polymers have received widespread attention in recent years. In this paper, forsythia flower extract, serving as an active ingredient, was integrated into the starch-sodium alginate-montmorillonite composite film. The physicochemical properties and functional packaging applications of the composite films were investigated. The results demonstrate the formation of a tightly-knit network structure through molecular interactions among forsythia flowers, starch, sodium alginate, and montmorillonite. Notably, the addition of forsythia flower extracts conferred better UV resistance (from 200 nm to 400 nm) and outstanding antioxidant properties to the composite films. After 18 days of storage, in comparison with the control group, the decay rate of fresh cherry tomatoes packaged with the composite film containing forsythia flower extract showed a significant reduction of 40%, the hardness increased by 25%, and the content of vitamin C was enhanced by 33%. Hence, the forsythia flower extract composite film offers a novel perspective for the design and development of bio-based packaging films for preserving fresh fruits. The results serve as a foundation for the subsequent advancement and application of forsythia flower in the field of packaging.

A high-efficiency strategy for fruit preservation using green, natural raw materials

Straw is an abundant renewable biomass resource material. Lignin contained in straw is a unique natural aromatic compound in nature. At present, it is urgent to find ways to realize the higher value of natural lignin resources. In this study, alkali lignin was separated from rice straw by hydrothermal method in NaOH solution, which was prepared lignin nanoparticles by a simple green anti-solvent method. The obtained lignin nanoparticles had excellent anti-tyrosinase activity (IC50 = 0.329 mg mL−1) and anti-oxidation performance (IC50 = 0.0451 mg mL−1). Meanwhile, through the analysis of tyrosinase inhibition kinetics, it is concluded that the tyrosinase inhibition by lignin nanoparticles belongs to mixed inhibition. The affinity of lignin nanoparticles to the free enzyme is greater than that of enzyme and substrate complex. In addition, lignin nanoparticles were added to chitosan solution for compounding, then the composite films for fruit preservation were prepared by casting method. The experimental results show that the composite membrane can effectively extend the shelf life of fruits, which is expected to achieve a broader application in the field of fruit preservation and food packaging.

Recent Advances in the Development of 1,4-Cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) and Cyclic-Monomer-Based Advanced Amorphous and Semi-Crystalline Polyesters for Smart Film Applications.

Polyester-based advanced thin films have versatile industrial applications, especially in the fields of textiles, packaging, and electronics. Recent advances in polymer science and engineering have resulted in the development of advanced amorphous and semi-crystalline polyesters with exceptional performance compared to those of conventional polymeric films. Among these, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) and cyclic-monomer-based polyesters have gained considerable attention for their exceptional characteristics and potential applications in smart films. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, and applications of CHDM and cyclic-monomer-based advanced polymers for smart film applications. It discusses the structure-property relationships of these innovative polyesters and highlights their unique characteristics, including thermal, mechanical, and barrier characteristics. Furthermore, this article also emphasizes the solution, melt, and solid-state polymerizations of the polymers. Special emphasis is placed on the influence of the addition of a second diol or second diacid on the performance characteristics of synthesized polyesters/copolyesters to explore their versatile industrial applications. Additionally, the impact of the stereochemistry of the monomers is explored to optimize the characterization of polyesters suitable for industrial applications. Furthermore, this article explores the potential of these advanced polyesters to be considered as materials for smart film applications, especially in the field of flexible electronics. Finally, this article examines the challenges and future recommendations for the development of CHDM and cyclic-monomer-based polyesters for smart film applications. It discusses potential avenues for further research, including in-depth studies for the synthesis and characterization of polyesters, the development of sustainable and biodegradable alternatives to cyclic monomers, alternative green approaches for the synthesis of polymers, etc. This review article provides valuable insight for researchers in academia and industry who are working in the fields of polymer science and materials engineering.

Slow-release antimicrobial preservation composite coating based on bamboo-derived xylan–A new way to preserve blueberry freshness

In recent years, the biocompatibility and environmental friendliness of xylan-based materials have demonstrated great potential in the field of food packaging and coatings. In this study, the cationized xylan based composite coating (CXC) was developed using a hybrid system of cationic-modified bamboo xylan (CMX) and sodium alginate (SA) combined with thyme oil microcapsules (TM). The optimized CXC-B was composed of 1.27 % TM, 2.42 % CMX (CMX: SA = 3:2), and 96.31 % distilled water. When applied to the surface of a blueberry, the CXC-B treatment extended the ambient storage time of the fruit to 10 days while substantially reducing its morbidity (P < 0.05) and protecting its texture, flavor, and nutritional integrity. The resulting composite coating provides a promising solution to the problem of blueberry perishability during ambient storage.

Boron nitride nanosheets synergized with two‐dimensional micron silver sheets to enhance thermal conductivity and insulation of epoxy resin composites

AbstractWith the rapid progress of the advanced electronic device industry, precision electronic instruments are gradually developing towards miniaturization. In this case, epoxy resin gradually attracts people's attention, but its intrinsic thermal conductivity is not high, and the resulting heat dissipation problem limits the further application of epoxy resin in the field of electronic packaging. Therefore, how to enhance the thermal conductivity of epoxy resins has become an urgent problem in the field of electronic packaging. In this work, BNNS was successfully prepared by stripping h‐BN into a flaky two‐dimensional material, which was added to the epoxy resin as a filler to make the composite material. And on the basis of the above, two‐dimensional micron silver flakes (AgMS) with different mass fractions were added to the composites, and the AgMS/BNNS/EP composites were successfully prepared. When BNNS was 25 wt% and AgMS was 1 wt%, its out‐of‐plane thermal conductivity was enhanced from 0.17 W m−1 K−1 of pure epoxy resin to 0.43 W m−1 K−1. When BNNS was 20 wt% and AgMS was 1 wt%, the breakdown strength was enhanced from 105 kV/mm for pure epoxy to 130 kV/mm. This work provides a new strategy for synthesizing high‐thermal‐conductivity epoxy matrix composites.

Modified Chitosan-Based Coating/Packaging Composites with Enhanced Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and UV-Resistant Properties for Fresh Food Preservation.

Chitosan-based biomass packaging materials are a promising material for food preservation, but their limited solubility, antioxidant capacity, UV resistance, and mechanical properties severely restrict their application. In this study, we developed a novel chitosan-based coating/packaging composite (QCTO) using quaternary ammonium salt and tannic acid (TA)-modified chitosan (QCS-TA) and oxidized chitosan (OCS). The introduction of quaternary ammonium salt and TA effectively improves the water solubility and antibacterial, antioxidant, and UV-resistant properties of chitosan. The Schiff-base bond formed between OCS and QCS-TA, along with the TA-mediated multiple interactions, conferred the prepared composite film with good mechanical properties (69.9 MPa tensile strength) and gas barrier performance to water (14.3 g·h-1·m-2) and oxygen (3.5 g·mm·m-2·h-1). Meanwhile, the prepared QCTO composites demonstrate excellent biocompatibility and safety and are applied as coatings for strawberries and bananas as well as packaging films for mushrooms. These preservation experiments demonstrated that the prepared composites are able to effectively reduce weight loss, prevent microbial growth, maintain color, and significantly prolong the shelf life of fresh products (bananas, strawberries, and mushrooms extended shelf life by 6, 5, and 6 days, respectively). Therefore, the developed QCTO coating/packaging film shows great potential for applications in the field of food preservation and packaging.

Tannic acid one-step induced quaternized chitin-based edible and easy-cleaning coatings with multifunctional preservation for perishable products

The development of biomass hydrogel coatings is significant for fruit preservation. This paper presents the facile development of a multifunctional polysaccharide-based hydrogel produced from quaternized chitin (QC) and tannic acid (TA) by in situ rapid cross-linking with high-density hydrogen bonding using the sample mixing method. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) proved that QC-TA hydrogel was formed by physical interactions (hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, etc.). Moreover, the cross-linking density of the QC-TA hydrogels was analyzed by rheological property measurements and scanning electron microscope (SEM) morphology observations. This polysaccharide-based hydrogel, QC-TA, was evaluated as an edible coating for perishable food items, demonstrating significant improvements in physic-chemical properties, oxidation resistance, and antimicrobial activity against key pathogens (E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans). Notably, the hydrogel formed a protective film that effectively shields fruits from mechanical damage, maintaining freshness and extending shelf life, and also featuring with easy cleaning. Applied to cherry tomatoes, the QC-TA coating ensured a smooth, uniform surface, reducing dehydration and flavor loss while inhibiting microbial growth. These findings underscore the potential of employing polyphenol induced polysaccharide forming green hydrogel coatings as an economical, efficient strategy for enhancing the quality and safety of perishable foods, representing an advancement in the field of sustainable food packaging.

Elastic properties identification of a bio-based material in tertiary packaging: Tools and methods development

This study focuses on the use of bio-based materials for structural purposes in the packaging field, which requires the identification of their mechanical properties at a representative scale. The mechanical properties of bio-based materials are more variable than those of traditional composite materials. In a standard characterization approach using elemental coupons under uniaxial loading, the variability depends on the chosen representative elementary volume (REV), free edges, boundary conditions, etc. for elastic properties that are not identified for representative working conditions; this could lead to the ineligibility of these bio-based materials as structural materials. This paper contributes to the debate on how to study the response of bio-based materials within a structure, here a packaging structure as a logistic unit (LU) subjected to a compressive load simulating storage and stacking conditions. In the set of tools and methods for the design of packaging materials made of bio-based materials, an elastic nonlinear geometric finite element model (FEM) and an experimental approach are presented. The FEM allows the numerical identification of zones of interest within the LU. Inevitably, the FEM classically requires input data which are elastic properties of the equivalent homogeneous material. The design of the FEM is based on a calculation-test approach using an existing reference LU and it can be summarized in two main steps. The first step concerns the development of a FEM able to restore the experimental conditions of vertical compression imposed by transport standards for packaging. The second step is based on updating the input properties of the FEM by reverse identification, to achieve the representative working condition properties, using experimental results obtained on the existing reference LU. For the reverse identification a multi-scale investigation is mandatory. For this purpose, the linear elastic part of the load/vertical displacement curves (at the LU stiffness scale) and the displacement and strain fields measured (at the local LU scale) by 3D digital image correlation (3D DIC) are evaluated. Then, FEM property updating is carried out by reducing the deviation of displacement/strain fields between FEM and experimentally measured results (3D DIC). Finally, we explain how FEM and 3D DIC help in decision-making by allowing the recognition of zones of interest in a phase of design of new LUs with the concept of Multi-Instrumented Technological Evaluator (MITE).

In situ modification of foaming bacterial cellulose with chitosan and its application to active food packaging

Owing to a lack of specific biological functions, bacterial cellulose (BC) has been restricted in its application to the field of active packaging. In this study, we developed antimicrobial packaging materials using foaming BC (FBC) with chitosan (CS) and applied it to the preservation of chilled sea bass. The material property analysis demonstrated that 1.5 % CS/FBC maintained a high water content of 91 %, a swelling ratio of 75.6 %, great stress of 1.61 MPa, and great strain of 1.87 %. CS incorporation into FBC also decreased its crystallinity from 73.39 % to 69.3 %. Meanwhile, 1.5 % CS/FBC also provided great antimicrobial ability against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by approximately 2 log colony-forming units/mL inhibition utilizing contact-killing. Results of the preservation assessment indicated that 1.5 % CS/FBC efficiently inhibited Shewanella putrefaciens growth, reduced total volatile basic nitrogen release, and slightly inhibited lipid oxidation. Based on the above results, CS/FBC is an ecofriendly biomaterial produced from a microorganism that possesses high absorbency and strong antibacterial properties, making it suitable for development as antibacterial active packaging.

Pomegranate peel extract incorporated soy protein isolate/Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch. gum composite films for fresh-cut apples preservation

The objective of this study was to prepare an active packaging film using phosphorylated soy protein isolate (PPS) and Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch. gum (ASKG) as film matrices, with the incorporation of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) to preserve fresh-cut apples. The results showed that PA-PPE (PPS/ASKG-PPE) films significantly increased thickness by 24.47 %, tensile strength by 58.76 %, and elongation at break by 30.48 %. Additionally, water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability decreased significantly to 6.17 × 10−13 and 0.62 × 10−13 Kg•m•m−2•s−1•Pa−1, respectively. FTIR, XRD, and SEM analyses confirmed the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between PPS, ASKG, and polyphenols extracted from pomegranate peel, indicating excellent compatibility. Furthermore, radical scavenging activity experiments demonstrated that these films exhibited a remarkable ability to scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ radicals up to 70.44 % and 74.28 %, respectively, when the PPE content was at 3 wt%. Moreover, PPS could achieve a sustained release effect on polyphenols with a relatively low release rate (63.83 %) even after seven days' time elapsed. Finally, the PA-PPE film displayed superior performance in reducing the weight loss and browning index of fresh-cut apples within 24 h of storage. The development of PA-PPE film could promote sustainable resource protection and demonstrate promising prospects in the field of fresh-cut fruit packaging.

Incorporation of Polygonatum cyrtonema extracts of NADES into chitosan/soybean isolate protein films: Impact on sweet cherry storage quality

This study developed a biodegradable food film, incorporating bioactive components of Polygonatum cyrtonema extracted using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) into a matrix of chitosan and soy protein isolate. The films containing varying concentrations (0 %–5 %) of P. cyrtonema extract (PCE) were characterized. The addition of PCE improved the mechanical (+25.9 MPa for tensile strength), optical (+11.29 mm−1 for opacity), and thermal stability (−14.39 % for weight loss) of the films. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates increased by approximately 1.1 times and 0.5 times, respectively, and malondialdehyde formation reduced by 8 %. The films also effectively inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli. The films showed complete biodegradability after 7 days. Using the NADES-PCE coated film reduced the weight loss of sweet cherries by 41.04 % while significantly decreasing the loss of hardness, total phenols, vitamin C, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity, thereby considerably extending the storage life of the sweet cherries. Overall, this study developed a new environmentally friendly packaging material and improved the functionality of the packaging film by leveraging natural plant extracts, demonstrating tremendous potential in the field of food preservation and packaging.