Sargassum inspired, optimized calcium alginate bioplastic composites for food packaging
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Plastic pollution, more specifically from food packaging and containers which account for the largest share of 36% of current plastic production, is one of the greatest threats to the natural environment and human health. Thus, the development of alternative renewable plastics are needed to complement a circular economy and reduce resource depletion. Seaweeds have been known to possess good film forming properties ideal for bioplastic production, and Sargassum natans-an invasive brown seaweed which has been inundating the shores of the Caribbean, has been shown to be an excellent candidate. This study presents, for the first time, the development of a novel optimized biodegradable alginate composite bioplastic as an alternative to traditional plastic packaging. The optimization process was carried out using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) resulting in a formulation of 6 wt% alginate, 0.263 wt% starch, 0.35 wt% CMC, 0.065 g/g sorbitol and 0.025 g/g PEG 200- with ultra-high oxygen barrier (OP - 0.2 cm3 μm m−2 d−1 kPa−1), good water vapor barrier (WVP - 2.18 × 10−12 g m/m2 s Pa) and high tensile modulus ( - 3.93 GPa)- with no migration of additives into a simulated aqueous food system in 10 days. Furthermore, composite films were found to fully degrade in 14 days and possessed better OP, higher WVP and comparable material properties to HDPE, PET and PLA. Ultimately, our results support alginate composite films as a viable alternative for food packaging best fitted for low moisture environments-encouraging the use of renewable materials for packaging innovation and supporting UNSDGs.
Date Issued
2023-02-01
Date Acceptance
2022-09-26
Citation
Food Hydrocolloids, 2023, 135, pp.1-12
ISSN
0268-005X
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1
End Page
12
Journal / Book Title
Food Hydrocolloids
Volume
135
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/).
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000876410700001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Chemistry, Applied
Food Science & Technology
Chemistry
Sargassum natans
Composite bioplastics
Biodegradable films
RSM
Food packaging
Alginate
WATER-VAPOR PERMEABILITY
MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES
BARRIER PROPERTIES
EDIBLE FILMS
OXYGEN PERMEABILITY
PROTEIN FILMS
PLASTICIZER
GLYCEROL
STARCH
ANTIPLASTICIZATION
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 108192
Date Publish Online
2022-09-30