Oxygen-scavenging coatings and films based on lignosulfonates and laccase

Laccase and lignosulfonates were included in coating colors and embedded in latex-based or starch-based films and coatings on foil or board. After 6 days at 23 °C and 100% relative humidity, the oxygen content in airtight chambers decreased from 1.0% (synthetic gas consisting of 99% N(2) and 1% O(2)) to 0.3% in the presence of board coated with lignosulfonate and laccase, while the oxygen content remained unchanged in control experiments without enzyme. The water stability of lignosulfonate-containing latex-based coatings and starch-based films was improved after laccase-catalyzed oxidation of lignosulfonates, which indicates polymerization to products with lower solubility in water. Furthermore, the E' modulus of starch-based films increased with 30%, which indicates laccase-catalyzed polymerization of lignosulfonates resulting in increased stiffness of the film. The results suggest that laccases and lignosulfonates can be used as an oxygen-scavenging system in active packaging and that enzyme-catalyzed polymerization of lignosulfonates contributes to improved water stability and mechanical properties.