Plastic Packaging Materials Research Articles

Screening of volatile organic compounds emitted from different packaging materials: case study on fresh-cut artichokes

In the present work, the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from plastic packaging materials and their migration to the packaged product was investigated. Fresh-cut artichokes were chosen as a case study owing to their nutritional profile, including phenolic compounds, antioxidants, inulin and fiber, and the high market demand. Artichokes were cut into quarters, packaged in active modified atmosphere (5% O2 and 10% CO2) in three different micro-perforated (MP) packages (polypropylene (PP), polypropylene/polyamide (PP/PA) and polylactic acid (PLA)) and stored for 10 days at 5° C. For the detection of VOCs on the packaging materials and in the packaged product, three approaches were considered. First, VOCs emitted from a piece of package were extracted by solid phase micro extraction (SPME), at 30°C, and analyzed by gas-chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Second, VOCs from the headspace of the empty closed bag were extracted by SPME, at 5°C, to understand if any packaging volatile compound was transferred into the package atmosphere in this temperature condition. Finally, packaged artichokes were also analyzed by SPME/GC–MS to detect any presence of packaging volatiles compared to the fresh product. Emitted VOCs were different according to the material; in particular PP/PA emitted the greatest number of VOCs, most of them belonging to the class of branched alkanes and alkenes, such as 4-methyl-heptane, 2,4-dimethyl-heptane, 4-methyl-octane and 2,4 dimethyl heptene; PP emitted octane, aldehydes, and 1-metoxy-2-propanol; PLA emitted aldehydes and propanoic acid. Some VOCs were found into the atmosphere of the empty bags as well as on packaged artichokes, while they were not found in the fresh samples before packaging, suggesting that a study on the emission of VOCs from different plastic materials in contact with food and on the effect of different storage conditions is very critical for a better understanding of this issue.

Simulation and Characterization of Nanoplastic Dissolution under Different Food Consumption Scenarios.

Understanding of the potential leaching of plastic particles, particularly nanoplastics (NPs), from food packaging is crucial in assessing the safety of the packaging materials. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate potential exposure risks by simulating the release of NPs from various plastic packaging materials, including polypropylene (PP), general casting polypropylene (GCPP) or metalized casting polypropylene (MCPP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), under corresponding food consumption scenarios. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to identify and characterize the NPs leached from plastic packaging. The presence of separated NPs was observed in PP groups subjected to 100 °C hot water, GCPP plastic sterilized at a high temperature (121 °C), and PE plastic soaked in 100 °C hot water, exhibited a distorted morphology and susceptibility to aggregation. The findings suggest that the frequent consumption of takeaway food, hot beverages served in disposable paper cups, and foods packaged with GCPP materials may elevate the risk of ingestion of NPs. This reminds us that food packaging can serve as an important avenue for human exposure to NPs, and the results can offer valuable insights for food safety management and the development of food packaging materials.

Hepatoprotective effect of Artemisia Argyi essential oil on bisphenol A-induced hepatotoxicity via inhibition of ferroptosis in mice.

The environmental pollutant bisphenol A (BPA), used in the manufacture of plastic packaging materials for various diets, is widely distributed in the environment and causes severe hepatotoxicity by inducing oxidative stress. Artemisia argyi essential oil (AAEO), a volatile oil component isolated from Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot, has pharmacological effects, especially for hepatoprotective actions. However, the potential effect of AAEO in BPA induced hepatotoxicity has not been characterized. First, we analyzed the chemical composition in AAEO by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Herein, we investigated the effect of AAEO on hepatic metabolic changes in mice exposed to BPA. Results showed that compared with the BPA group, AAEO could reduce the level of liver function enzymes in BPA mice serum, and ameliorate hepatic lesions and fibrosis. Additionally, 20 differential metabolites screened by metabolomics were mainly involved in the reprogramming of glutathione metabolism, purine metabolism, and polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis. Moreover, AAEO could reduce hepatic ferroptosis induced by BPA, as demonstrated by reducing xanthine oxidase activity, up-regulating the activities of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), superoxide dismutase, and catalase and the expression of SLC7A11 to promote the glutathione synthetic, while inhibiting transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1) expression to reduce the accumulation of Fe2+ in cells. Therefore, our study identified AAEO as a hepatic protectant against BPA-induced hepatotoxicity by reversing the occurrence of ferroptosis.

Thermoplastic collagen fiber films improved by bacterial cellulose with high barrier properties

Irradiated bacterial cellulose (mBC) was used to enhance the properties of collagen fiber (CF)-based food packaging films to gradually replace plastic packaging materials. The structural differences between bacterial cellulose (BC) and irradiated bacterial cellulose (mBC) were analyzed, and the heat sealing properties, mechanical properties and barrier properties of CF-mBC composite films were investigated and analyzed. FTIR and XPS results showed that CF and mBC mainly have hydrogen bonding and amide bond formation. The addition of mBC improved the thermal stability of the CF film and increased the heat seal performance, optical properties and mechanical properties from 1 N/15 mm to 8.53 N/15 mm, 82.45 % to 85.02 % and 44.54 MPa to 58.56 MPa, respectively. In addition, the good barrier property of this composite film makes it achieve grade 12 oil-proof under − 9 ℃ to 100 ℃ oil temperature. Therefore, mBC reinforced CF film has a broad application prospect in the food packaging field.

Migration of Dihydroxy Alkylamines and Their Possible Impurities from Packaging into Foods and Food Simulants: Analysis and Safety Evaluation.

Alkyl diethanolamines are a group of compounds commonly used as antistatic agents in plastic food packaging materials. These additives and their possible impurities have the ability to transfer into the food; hence, the consumer may be exposed to these chemicals. Recently, scientific evidence of unknown adverse effects associated with these compounds was reported. N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkyl (C8-C18) amines as well as other related compounds and their possible impurities were analyzed in different plastic packaging materials and coffee capsules using target and non-target LC-MS methods. N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkyl amines, precisely, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17 and C18, 2-(octadecylamino)ethanol and octadecylamine, among others, were identified in most of the analyzed samples. It should be emphasized that the latter compounds are not listed in the European Regulation 10/2011 and 2-(octadecylamino)ethanol was classified as high toxicity according to Cramer rules. Migration tests were carried out in foods and in the food simulants Tenax and 20% ethanol (v/v). The results showed that stearyldiethanolamine migrated into the tomato, salty biscuits, salad and Tenax. Lastly, as a crucial step in the risk assessment process, the dietary exposure to stearyldiethanolamine transferred from the food packaging into the food was determined. The estimated values ranged from 0.0005 to 0.0026 µg/kg bw/day.

Covalently phenolated-β-lactoglobulin-pullulan as a green halochromic biosensor efficiency monitored Barramundi fish's spoilage

The effect of the covalent binding between anthocyanins extracted from purple potato peels and beta-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) on its ability to fabricate a green/smart halochromic biosensor combined with pullulan (Pul) was studied. The physical, mechanical, colorimetry, optical, morphological, stability, functionality, biodegradability, and applicability of β-Lg/Pul/Anthocyanin biosensors to monitor the Barramundi fish's freshness during storage were entirely evaluated. The docking and multispectral results proved that β-Lg could be successfully phenolated with anthocyanins and subsequently interacted with Pul via H-bonding and other forces which mainly subsequently form the smart biosensors. Phenolation with anthocyanins significantly heightened the mechanical, moisture resistance, and thermal steadiness of β-Lg/Pul biosensors. Anthocyanins also nearly duplicated the bacteriostatic and antioxidant activities of β-Lg/Pul biosensors. The biosensors changed the color associated with the loss in freshness of the Barramundi fish, mostly due to the ammonia production and pH-alteration throughout fish deterioration. Most importantly, β-Lg/Pul/Anthocyanin biosensors are biodegradable and decomposed within ∼30 d of simulated environmental circumstances. Overall, β-Lg/Pul/Anthocyanin smart biosensors could minimize the usage of plastic packaging materials and employ to monitor the freshness of stored fish and fish-stuffs.

Mono-material product design with bio-based, circular, and biodegradable polymers

Mono-material product design with bio-based, circular, and biodegradable polymers

Analysis of Lifespan of Plastic Pallets and Containers in Korea Using Probability Density Function (PDF)

Pallets and containers are reused for a long period of time and are circulated and shared among consumers via a pool system. Although attempts have recently been made to convert to an EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) system in Korea, it is difficult to calculate their mandatory recycling rates because they are treated as the same waste, even though they are clearly different from disposable consumer goods and plastic packaging materials. In this study, we tried to calculate waste generation based on the lifespan of plastic pallets and containers using the probability density function. The life distribution for each material (PE (polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene)) of pallets and containers was derived, and by applying this, the amount of waste generation from 2010 to 2027 was estimated. The Mean Time to Failure among pallets was 9.6 years for PE and 3.2 years for PP, and among containers, was 16.5 years for PE and 12.2 years for PP. Additionally, it was calculated that pallets had a waste generation rate of 67.5% to 75.1% by shipment, and containers 26.9–69.2%. These results can be used to calculate the waste generation rate when calculating the mandatory recycling rate of pallets and containers in the future. However, since pallets and containers are used second-hand, or are exported together with products after being shipped domestically, the amount flowing into recycling companies decreases, so it is considered that supplementation via material balance analysis is necessary to calculate the mandatory recycling rate.

A survey of phthalates in flavored olive oils from Turkey

Phthalates are organic contaminants that are used as plasticizers in many plastic food packaging materials. Because of their lipophilic character, oils are the primary source of human exposure to phthalates. In this study, the presence of five phthalate esters; diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in olive oils flavored with different materials and marketed in Turkey in 2020 was determined. The samples included BBP, DINP, DIDP at lower concentrations than their LOQ. DEHP was the most abundant phthalate in all samples at varying concentrations between < LOQ to 1.81 mg/kg. The highest amount of DEHP was found in the oil sample flavored with bergamot (1.81 mg/kg). DBP was detected in 9 of the 25 samples at concentrations from 0.11 to 0.27 mg/kg.

Analytical techniques for determination of heavy metal migration from different types of locally made plastic food packaging materials using ICP-MS.

Plastic food packaging is an essential element for customer convenience and the preservation of food quality. Nonetheless, heavy metals in the packaging materials, either intentionally or nonintentionally added, can be transferred to the food. Therefore, determining heavy metal contents in these packaging materials is essential. In this study, heavy metals, including Co, Ge, As, Cd, Sb, Pb, Al, and Zn from different intrinsic plastic food packaging materials were analyzed using the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. Moreover, the migration of these elements into the environment was also investigated. This method is validated following the new technique's requirements, which include linearity range, accuracy, precision, the limit of detection (LOD), and the limit of quantitation (LOQ). The method has been suitably validated with the regression equation from the standards prepared in HNO3 1% v/v. The linear range was found to be ~1-20 ng mL-1 for Co, Ge, As, Cd, Sb, and Pb and 5-80 ng mL-1 for Al and Zn elements. The LODs are ~0.10, 0.25, 0.12, 0.13, 0.11, 0.12, 0.61, and 0.85 ng mL-1, and the LOQs are 0.33, 0.83, 0.40, 0.43, 0.36, 0.40, 2.01, and 2.81 ng mL-1 obtained for Co, Ge, As, Cd, Sb, Pb, Al, and Zn, respectively. In addition, the recovery percentages received ranged 85.4%-94.1% for Co, 82.6%-95.1% for Ge, 86.3%-97.9% for As, 87.3%-96.3% for Cd, 88.0%-104.4% for Sb, 96.3%-106.0% for Pb, 88.4%-104.0% for Al, and 95.1%-99.7% for Zn. Finally, the migration of these heavy metals from polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) into foodstuffs was also simulated according to EU legislation, showing that the most leached element was Zn, followed by Al and Pd, with the migration of ~8.38% and ~0.41%, and ~0.19%, respectively.

Active carbon-based waste packaging materials for uranium sorption from aqueous solution

Waste (packaging plastic and industrial water) accumulation is one of the great global challenges over the world. Combining waste recycling science and water treatment knowledge are fascinating as applied sciences add value to the safe disposal of waste plastic packaging materials and wastewater. Active carbons (ACs) are prepared from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at two pyrolysis temperatures (i.e. 450 and 500 °C) and compressed in well-defined designed molds to form cylinder shapes as applied in industry. Particle size (817 and 1074 nm), zeta potential (− 7.17 and − 25.6 mV), surface area (544 and 632 m2/g), and topography of prepared ACs were investigated and discussed. Zeta potential exhibited nice dispersion in accordance to charge value and surficial SEM images prove space hole filling with adsorbed materials after treatment. The prepared activated carbon sorbents have been applied for the removal of radioactive elements from wastewater. The displayed data declare that both sorbents have the same sorption performance, whereas the uranium sorption process using both sorbents is obeyed to pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the prepared AC at a pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C exhibits higher sorption capacity (38.9 mg g−1) than that prepared at lower temperature, i.e., 450 °C (36.2 mg g−1) which indicates that the increase in pyrolysis temperature improves the sorption characteristics of the yield-activated carbon.

Effect of soy protein isolate nanoparticles loaded with litsea cubeba essential oil on performance of lentinan edible films

Environmental issues caused by plastic packaging materials have gotten increasingly severe, and substantial research has been conducted on environmentally friendly active packaging materials. In this study, the Litsea cubeba essential oil loaded soy protein isolate nanoparticles (LSNPs) with appropriate particle size, high storage stability and salt solution stability were fabricated. The LSNPs with the highest encapsulation efficiency of 81.76 % were added into the lentinan edible film. The microstructures of the films were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The physical properties of the films were measured. The results show that the lentinan film with LSNPs in the volume ratio of 4:1 (LF-4) had the highest elongation at break of 196 %, the lowest oxygen permeability of 12 meq/kg, and good tensile strength, water vapor barrier property, antibacterial property, oxidation resistance and thermal stability. The study suggested that LF-4 film could inhibit the growth of bacteria and delay the oxidation of lipid and protein on beef surface for 7 d.

Development of Kinetic Microplate Immunoenzyme Determination of Dibutyl Phthalate

Phthalic acid esters are integral components of modern plastic products and packaging materials, which causes significant contamination of food products and the environment, leading to the need for simple productive monitoring methods. The article presents a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in fruit juices, based on the competitive interaction between free and bound antigen for the binding sites of specific antibodies. The analytical characteristics of the method were studied in various kinetic regimes of the competition stage. Optimal conditions have been established to ensure the minimum detection limit and high measurement accuracy. The duration of the competitive stage of ELISA was chosen 30 min; the range of determined concentrations of DBP was from 0.37 to 68.34 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.08 ng/mL. The efficiency of the proposed ELISA for testing fruit juices was shown for the chosen DBP extraction mode.

Design of Safe and Quality Potato Chips Product Packaging Using Quality Function Deployment Method

Packaging serves as a food storage system that protects food and goods from natural processes and facilitates ease of transportation. This study aimed to address the problems related to cassava chip packaging, such as inappropriate sizes and packages that are prone to breaking, by applying Quality Function Deployment (QFD) in designing packaging that meets food safety and quality. Through interviews with customers, the study confirmed the existence of packaging problems and the dissatisfaction expressed by customers regarding the product packaging. QFD was employed to determine consumer needs and desires for a product design that conforms to quality characteristics and technical requirements. The study also used a consumer assessment questionnaire to identify the most important product attributes and design requirements that meet consumer expectations. The study found that rectangular packaging shapes, bright colored primary packaging colors, polypropylene plastic packaging materials, the location of the logo on the packaging in the middle of the package square, four, light color, and an image of sweet potato chips on the logo are factors that influence product packaging design that meets food safety and quality. This study's findings can be useful for practitioners and researchers in designing packaging that meets consumer expectations, as well as for promoting food safety and quality.

Beeswax‐Modified Starch–Cellulose Composites with Superhydrophobic and Self‐Cleaning Capability

AbstractStarch‐based materials have been proposed as the alternatives to plastic tableware and packaging materials; however, starch materials suffer from poor wear resistance because of their hydrophilicity. Therefore, it is essential to prepare starch composites with hydrophobic functionalization especially using fluorine‐free compounds. In this study, superhydrophobic starch–cellulose composites are fabricated by using polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the adhesive layer and beeswax as the functionalized layer. The superhydrophobicity (contact angle: 152°) is achieved by building the rough surface and low surface energy of beeswax. Meanwhile, polyethyleneimine tightly connects the beeswax coating and the starch composites by hydrogen bonding, and the surface remains superhydrophobic even after 200 s of water impact. The water/moisture absorption reduced significantly (>30%) after beeswax functionalization thanks to the increased hydrophobicity while the mechanical strength keeps the same (≈22 MPa) compared with the unfunctionalized sample. The self‐cleaning study on various types of liquid drinks (milk, cola, coffee, tea) on the superhydrohobic starch composites demonstrates efficient repellence to the fluids and retains the superhydrophobicity upon different liquid. The durable and biodegradable starch–cellulose composites with excellent self‐cleaning and antifouling performance provide the methodological basis for developing next‐generation green packaging materials over common plastics.

Βisphenol a and its analogues migrated from contact materials into food and beverages: An updated review in sample preparation approaches.

Bisphenols are used as monomers in the production of plastic materials, and they are likely to be detected in food contact materials. Due to their migration from these plastic packaging materials into food and beverages, the organoleptic properties of the products are changing and plenty of harmful effects on human health are caused, especially if consumers are exposed to higher levels of bisphenols than those established by legislation. However, because of their trace-level presence, their determination into food and beverage matrices is rather difficult. For this reason, sensitive, simple, rapid, and green methods are required to extract and preconcentrate the analytes of interest. Effective and representative tests are required as well, to evaluate the migration of bisphenols from plastic materials under realistic usage conditions. This review provides a detailed background of Bisphenol A chemistry and legislation. Furthermore, it refers to bisphenol's A migration test procedures and the recent advances of the last decade in extraction of bisphenols from various matrices by using different sample preparation techniques prior to their chromatographic determination. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

DEVELOPMENT OF BIODEGRADABLE FILMS USING NANOCELLULOSE FOR FOOD PACKAGING APPLICATION – REVIEW

Due to the development of nanotechnology and changing customer demands for food safety and hygiene, the food packaging industry is growing significantly. In today's worldwide market, active packaging offers a number of advantages over traditional wrapping because of its capacity to absorb or release substances to improve the shelf life of food. Traditional food packaging materials are difficult to recycle and are made from nonrenewable fossil fuels. Development of Biodegradable films using Nano cellulose can be a good replacement for synthetic plastic packaging materials and can be a good solution for this problem. Other than that it has multiple advantages regarding tensile and physical properties, also in reducing health hazards. Tensile and physical characteristics are improved and water vapor permeability is decreased with the addition of cellulose nanoparticles to the biodegradable films/biodegradable composite films. The production of biodegradable materials employing Nano cellulose has been covered in this review study in four different ways, including extracts from agricultural waste, rice husk, various plant extracts, and biopolymer composite material in food packaging. The reason for using Nano cellulose based Biodegradable films in food packaging are also reviewed in this article. The key points for the future research in overcoming the problems related to Nano cellulose, biodegradable films are also predicted in the paper

Hydrothermal Treatment of Waste Plastics: An Environmental Impact Study

This paper presents the attributional life cycle assessment results of a study of plastic recycling using hydrothermal treatment (HTT), a chemical recycling technology. HTT was investigated due to its potential to address current gaps in the plastic recycling system, largely due to several plastic packaging materials and formats that are currently not processed by traditional mechanical recycling technologies. As society transitions towards a net-zero-based circular economy, assessments should be conducted with a futuristic outlook, preventing costly mistakes by employing the right technologies in the right areas. The results using ReCiPe 2016 impact assessment methodology shows HTT with a GWP of 478 kg CO2 eq. per tonne can generate up to 80% reduction in climate change impacts when compared with comparable end-of-life treatment technologies whilst conserving material with the system. Additionally, the GWP could be reduced by up to 57% by changing how electricity is generated for on-site consumption. This represents a new understanding of the chemical recycling of polymers by establishing a prospective life cycle assessment study that looks to introduce a step-change in the recycling system and highlights the benefits of introducing this technology as opposed to the current model of disposal through incineration or landfill.

Innovations in the Packaging of Meat and Meat Products—A Review

This study aims to systematize the knowledge about innovative solutions to understand the composition of packaging materials and bioactive substances used in the packaging processes of meat and meat products, given the contemporary trends and consumer expectations. In edible packaging, the application of natural and renewable biopolymers is gaining popularity as, unlike petroleum-based plastic packaging materials, they do not cause environmental problems. Packaging using active compounds further extends the shelf life of food products compared with traditional packaging by reducing the adverse effects during storage, such as oxidation, microbial growth, and moisture loss. On the other hand, the inclusion of natural bioactive substances in packaging provides an opportunity to increase the shelf life of food products and/or decrease the use of preservatives. This direction offers a wide field for research due to the multitude of substances, their impact, and the properties of the packaged product.

Research on China's Plastic Packaging Strategy for Sustainable Supply Chain Management

The environmental impact of plastic packaging in China has attracted significant attention due to the implementation of plastic restrictions and the rapid growth of e-commerce. This article examines the pertinent policies regarding plastic packaging in both China and other countries, while also addressing the challenges that China encounters in relation to plastic packaging. The challenges that have been encountered include a lack of adequate customer demand for plastic packaging that is environmentally friendly, the adoption of excessive packing practices by producers, and the need to improve the technological capabilities of recyclable plastic packaging materials. The aim of this study is to provide theoretical insights and reference value to help the sustainable development of green packaging and supply chains in China.