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Published on: May 14, 2019
Poly(lactic acid)/cholecalciferol based composites for active food packaging application
Usman Lawal1, Raja Samyuktha2, Vijay Robert2
1Electrochemical Process Engineering Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi 630003, Tamil Nadu, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; Department of Chemical Sciences, Federal University Wukari, Taraba, Nigeria.
Sustainable Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites with Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) show promise for food packaging. These enhanced PLA films offer improved UV blocking, mechanical strength, and antibacterial properties.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Food Science
Background:
- Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer with potential for sustainable packaging.
- Enhancing PLA's properties is crucial for expanding its application in food packaging.
- Incorporating active compounds like Vitamin D3 can impart beneficial functionalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites with varying concentrations of cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3).
- To assess the performance of these PLA/cholecalciferol (CC) composite films for food packaging applications.
- To investigate the impact of CC on thermal, optical, barrier, mechanical, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties.
Main Methods:
- Solvent casting method was employed to prepare PLA/CC composite films at 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt% CC concentrations.
- Comprehensive performance analysis included thermal, optical, oxygen barrier, mechanical, antibacterial, and antioxidant assessments.
- UV-B light blockage was specifically evaluated at 320 nm.
Main Results:
- PLA/CC-5 composite film demonstrated complete blockage of UV-B light (320 nm), mitigating polymer photodegradation.
- Incorporation of CC improved mechanical strength and oxygen barrier properties of the PLA films.
- The composite films exhibited effective antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli, along with excellent antioxidant properties.
Conclusions:
- PLA/CC composite films possess a unique combination of UV-blocking, mechanical, barrier, antibacterial, and antioxidant functionalities.
- These properties suggest significant potential for advanced, sustainable food packaging applications.
- The study highlights Vitamin D3 as a valuable additive for enhancing PLA-based packaging materials.
