Development of (TiO₂-ZnO)/LDPE based active nanocomposite films and detection of migration to minced beef during...

In the current research, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using ethylene ethyl acrylate as compatibilizer are incorporated into low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to generate active nanocomposite films (ANFs) using melt blowing technique. The film properties such as colour, thickness, mechanical and thermal properties, surface morphology, and molecular composition were analyzed. Subsequently, minced beef samples were packed with ANFs, and migration was determined in 7-days storage period at 1 °C, 7 °C, and -18 ⁰C. The migration characteristics were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at these 3 different temperature applications. The SEM results indicated that metal oxides had a substantially homogenous distribution in the polymer matrix, but agglomerates were formed in some regions. The Ti and Zn nanoparticles migrated to minced beef were significantly affected by the independent variables. The amounts of Ti and Zn migrated into minced beef samples ranged from 21.37 to 48.15 ppm and 11.01 and 52.74 ppm, respectively. In general, migration from Ti nanoparticles was greater compared to Zn nanoparticles. As a result, it has been demonstrated that TiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles are good alternatives to functionalizing food packaging film.