Alkenyl succinic anhydride modified tree-gum kondagogu: A bio-based material with potential for food packaging

Tree gums are a class of abundantly available carbohydrate polymers that have not been explored thoroughly in film fabrication for food packaging. Films obtained from pristine tree gums are often brittle, hygroscopic, and lack mechanical strength. This study focuses on the chemical modification of gum kondagogu using long-chain alkenyl groups of dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA), an esterifying agent that introduces a 12-carbon hydrophobic chain to the kondagogu structure. The esterification reaction was confirmed by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of nano-cellulose as an additive on various film properties was investigated. The developed films were characterized for their mechanical, morphological, optical, barrier, antibacterial, and biodegradable properties. The inclusion of long-chain carbon groups acted as internal plasticizers and resulted in an amorphous structure with better film-forming ability, improved hydrophobicity, and higher elongation at break values. The modified films exhibited antibacterial properties and excellent biodegradability under aerobic conditions.