Characterization of novel cellulose nanofibril and phenolic acid-based active and hydrophobic packaging films

SuriyaPrakaash LakshmiBalasubramaniam; Caitlin Howell; Mehdi Tajvidi; Denise Skonberg

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131773

Characterization of novel cellulose nanofibril and phenolic acid-based active and hydrophobic packaging films

Food Chem. 2022 Apr 16:374:131773. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131773. Epub 2021 Dec 4.

Authors

SuriyaPrakaash LakshmiBalasubramaniam¹, Caitlin Howell², Mehdi Tajvidi³, Denise Skonberg⁴

Affiliations

¹ Food Science and Human Nutrition, School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine Orono, Maine 04469, USA.
² Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA.
³ School of Forest Resources & Advanced Structures and Composite Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA.
⁴ Food Science and Human Nutrition, School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine Orono, Maine 04469, USA. Electronic address: denise.skonberg@maine.edu.

PMID: 34915376
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131773

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibril (CNF) is a natural biodegradable biopolymer with excellent mechanical and barrier properties. However, it is susceptible to moisture-induced deterioration of its properties. Attachment of phenolic acids can improve its hydrophobicity and provide additional active functionalities such as antioxidant properties. In this study, CNF films were esterified to vanillic and syringic acid through two different reaction mechanisms. The films were investigated for evidence of modification, hydrophobicity, mechanical properties, crystallinity, thermal stability, and antioxidant properties. Results indicate that esterification with vanillic and syringic acids imparted antioxidant activity to CNF films, with a significantly higher ABTS^+· scavenging activity (76 ± 18%) when compared to control CNF films (30 ± 6%). Similarly, esterification of phenolic acids significantly improved the hydrophobicity of the films with a water contact angle of 94 ± 3° when compared to control CNF films (46 ± 5°). Covalent attachment of phenolic acids can improve hydrophobicity while providing additional functionality to CNF important for food packaging applications.

Keywords: Active packaging; Antioxidant; Cellulose nanofibril; Hydrophobicity; Phenolic acids.

MeSH terms

Cellulose*
Food Packaging
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Hydroxybenzoates*

Substances

Hydroxybenzoates
Cellulose
phenolic acid