Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Based Films for Sustainable Food Packaging: Modification Strategies and Structure-Property...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Food Science

Background:

• Petroleum-based plastics pose environmental concerns, driving demand for sustainable food packaging.
• Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a promising biodegradable polymer due to its availability and film-forming properties.
• Neat CMC has limitations like hydrophilicity and poor mechanical strength for direct packaging use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent strategies (2015-2025) for enhancing carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) films.
• To critically assess modifications for improving CMC performance in food packaging.
• To guide the development of advanced CMC-based materials as eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Main Methods:

• Physical and chemical modification routes for CMC films.
• Strategies include polymer blending, polyelectrolyte complex formation, and filler incorporation.
• Crosslinking approaches (ionic and covalent) are also discussed.

Main Results:

• Modifications significantly improve mechanical properties and water barrier performance of CMC films.
• Incorporation of functional fillers and nanomaterials enhances CMC functionality.
• Various strategies yield improved antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in CMC-based systems.

Conclusions:

• Advanced modification techniques are crucial for overcoming CMC limitations in food packaging.
• Structure-property relationships are key for designing high-performance CMC films.
• Optimized CMC materials offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic packaging.