Levan-chitosan blend films: Preparation, structural, physical properties and application in pork packaging

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Food Science

Background:

• Conventional fossil fuel-based packaging poses food safety risks and environmental concerns.
• Developing sustainable and biodegradable packaging is crucial for environmental protection.
• Levan and chitosan are biocompatible polymers with potential for packaging applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a novel levan-chitosan (LE/CS) blend film.
• To evaluate the physical, mechanical, and barrier properties of the LE/CS blend film.
• To assess the efficacy of LE/CS blend film as a food packaging material for fresh pork.

Main Methods:

• Solution casting method for LE/CS blend film fabrication.
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for structural analysis.
• Mechanical testing (tensile strength), UV-vis spectroscopy, water swelling tests, and water vapor permeability (WVP) measurements.
• Application testing for fresh pork preservation.

Main Results:

• Hydrogen bonding confirmed between levan and chitosan in the blend film.
• LE/CS blend films exhibited enhanced tensile strength (up to 18.78 MPa at 1:1 ratio) compared to pure chitosan films.
• Significant increase in UV light absorption and a substantial reduction in water swelling (from 29.13% to 2.07%).
• Improved barrier properties with higher contact angle and lower WVP observed for LE/CS films.
• LE/CS blend films effectively maintained the quality of fresh pork during storage.

Conclusions:

• Levan-chitosan blend films demonstrate superior mechanical and barrier properties compared to chitosan films alone.
• The developed LE/CS blend film shows significant potential as an environmentally friendly food packaging material.
• This sustainable packaging solution contributes to reducing plastic waste and enhancing food safety.