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This study evaluated the production of marine biodegradable plastics, specifically polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), using waste paper from food containers as a novel material source. The results showed that adding dilute sulfuric acid as a pretreatment may have a negative impact on enzyme hydrolysis efficiency. Without pretreatment, the highest glucose concentration was observed in the 50-min heating group. In the experimental group with 1% dilute sulfuric acid as a pretreatment, the highest average glucose concentration was observed in the 25-min treatment group. In flask scale experiments, the C/N ratio was controlled at 10, 20, and 30. The results showed that when the C/N ratio was 10, the PHA/CDM ratios were 16.3 and 23.6 at 48 and 72 h, respectively. After 96 h of cultivation using hydrolysis liquid from the waste paper container as the sole carbon source in a 5-L scale experiment, the PHA/CDM ratio was 28.7 and the PHA concentration was 0.95 g/L. The potential bacterial strain in this study was confirmed to be a Bacillus genus bacterium after strain identification. The signal peaks indicated that the PHA obtained from the Bacillus sp. production process was PHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of enhancing food packaging, nanotechnology, particularly green silver nanoparticles (G-AgNPs), have gained prominence for its remarkable antimicrobial properties with high potential for food shelf-life extension. Our study aims to develop corn starch-based coating materials reinforced with G-AgNPs. The mechanical properties were examined using a uniaxial tensile tester, revealing that starch coated with the highest G-AgNPs concentration (12.75 ppm) exhibited UTS of 87.6 MPa compared to 48.48 MPa of control paper, a significant (p < 0.02) 65% increase. The assessment of the WVP showcased a statistical reduction in permeability by up to 8% with the incorporation of the hydrophobic layer. Furthermore, antibacterial properties were assessed following ISO 22196:2011, demonstrating a strong and concentration-dependent activity of G-AgNPs against E. coli. All samples successfully disintegrated in both simulated environments (soil and seawater), including samples presenting G-AgNPs. In the food trial analysis, the presence of starch and G-AgNPs significantly reduced weight loss after 6 days, with cherry tomatoes decreasing by 8.59% and green grapes by 6.77% only. The results of this study contribute to the advancement of environmentally friendly packaging materials, aligning with the UN sustainable development goals of reducing food waste and promoting sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper coated with natural materials has advantages over paper coated with fossil resources, including easy recycling, renewable components, and cost-effective formulation. Coating the paper surface with thyme oil has antibacterial and antioxidant properties and is known to improve packaging product quality. In the current study, the water resistance of the materials was measured by the Cobb30 values. The base paper, the starch-coated paper, and the thyme oil and starch-coated paper had Cobb30 values of 20, 17.5, and 15.7 g/m², respectively. The tensile strength index of uncoating and coating paper samples was, respectively (machine direction M.D.) 64.3 and 64.7, and (cross direction C.D.) 32.2 and 37.2. The bursting strength index results were 72.7 and 84.0. Hence, according to the tensile strength results, the treated paper burst strength values were higher than the base paper samples. The starch and thyme oil coatings formed a film layer on the paper surface, which may have helped impart better burst-strength properties. Besides, compared to the untreated base papers, the surface of the coated papers was denser and smoother, with a less porous structure, according to SEM results. In addition, resistance features of papers that are desired in the end-use of paper are shown in this work based on paper strength property tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Change in the food consumption’s pattern and the widespread use of the fast foods, as well as, the globalization of the food trade and the transportation of food over the long distances have brought great challenges to the safety and quality of the foods. One of the most important uses of the papers is the food packaging industry to keep the health and quality of the packaged materials from the production step to the customer. The extract of medicinal plants has the ability to create antibacterial properties. In this research, rosemary extract was used to produce the antibacterial papers. Extraction of plant was done by using soxhlet extractor and ultrasonic. In the soxhlet method, the dry powder was extracted at 4 and 6 hours and in the ultrasonic method, 40 and 60 powers were used for extraction. Then the papers were treated with plant extract prepared in two amounts of 15 and 20% based on the dry weight of the paper. The antibacterial properties of the papers were investigated with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. All the papers treated with rosemary extracted by soxhlet method showed antibacterial property. Inhibition zone of bacteria was formed for both of them. The maximum diameter of the Inhibition zone for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria with 6 hours’ extraction and the consumption amount of 20% was 22 and 20 mm. In the treated paper with rosemary extracted by ultrasonic method, the maximum diameter of the Inhibition zone for Escherichia coli bacteria was 20 mm in 40A and 9 min. Also, the highest diameter of the Inhibition zone for Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was 20 mm in 40A and 9 min. Gas chromatography confirmed the presence of antibacterial substances including, Borneol, Camphor, and Bornyl acetate in rosemary extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kraft paper (KP) has the advantages of being biodegradable, recyclable, and environmentally friendly. It has a wide range of applications in paper packaging, food packaging, and other fields. However, the non-waterproof characteristic of KP limits its application in harsh environments or special paper packaging, etc. To solve the problem of poor water resistance of KP, a simple and efficient method is proposed to prepare superhydrophobic coatings on kraft paper (SKP) by spraying method using hydrophobic Nano-calcium carbonate (Nano-CaCO 3) particles and rosin (RA) as raw materials. Here, the micro-nano structures are mainly constructed by hydrophobic Nano-CaCO 3 particles, and RA is utilized as a binder to improve the adhesion between the nanoparticles and the paper. The results indicated that the water contact angle (WCA) of SKP reached 154.5° and the water sliding angle (WSA) was 3.2°. And after 34 h of immersion in water, the WCA of SKP surface can remain above 150°. It can also withstand 30 times of sandpaper abrasion and 30 times of tape peeling. Overall, SKP shows excellent stability, water resistance, stain resistance and self-cleaning. It is expected to protect important documents in harsh environments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great paradigm for foremost food packaging is to use renewable and biodegradable lignocellulose−based materials instead of plastic. Novel packages were successfully prepared from the cellulose paper by coating a mixture of polylactic acid (PLA) with cinnamaldehyde (CIN) as a barrier screen and nano silica−modified stearic acid (SA/SiO2) as a superhydrophobic layer. As comprehensively investigated by various tests, results showed that the as−prepared packages possessed excellent thermal stability attributed to inorganic SiO2 incorporation. The excellent film−forming characteristics of PLA improved the tensile strength of the manufactured papers (104.3 MPa) as compared to the original cellulose papers (70.50 MPa), enhanced by 47.94%. Benefiting from the rough nanostructure which was surface−modified by low surface energy SA, the contact angle of the composite papers attained 156.3°, owning superhydrophobic performance for various liquids. Moreover, the composite papers showed excellent gas, moisture, and oil bacteria barrier property as a result of the reinforcement by the functional coatings. The Cobb300s and WVP of the composite papers were reduced by 100% and 88.56%, respectively, and their antibacterial efficiency was about 100%. As the novel composite papers have remarkable thermal stability, tensile strength, and barrier property, they can be exploited as a potential candidate for eco−friendly, renewable, and biodegradable cellulose paper−based composites for the substitute of petroleum−derived packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the performance of attenuated total reflectance--Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to rapidly identify intentional additives in a variety of items commonly handled by consumers and workers. We investigated ortho-phthalate esters, specific alternative plasticizers, and flame retardants in food contact materials and consumer products. We also investigated bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) developers in thermal paper purchase receipts. Applications include regulatory compliance screening and product deformulation. We compared FTIR results with mass spectrometry measurements. Samples were analyzed either intact or after a simple liquid-phase extraction using small amounts of nonhalogenated solvents. These methods greatly reduced the time and expense of identifying intentionally added phthalates and other plasticizers compared with more sensitive methods. Similarly, BPA and BPS were readily identified in receipts and organophosphorus flame retardants were identified in child car seats. In some samples, FTIR detected novel or unexpected additives not detected by conventional targeted methods. These approaches are useful for screening diverse product samples for intentional additives with a relatively portable instrument while generating very low volumes of spent solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food packaging manufacturers often resort to lamination, typically with materials which are neither non-biodegradable nor biobased polymers, to confer barrier properties to paper and cardboard. The present work considers a greener solution: enhancing paper's resistance to moisture, grease, and air by aqueous coating suspensions. For hydrophobization, a combined approach between nanocellulose and common esterifying agents was considered, but the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) remained excessively high for the goal of wrapping moisture-sensitive products (>600 g m−2 d−1). Nonetheless, oil-repellant surfaces were effectively obtained with nanocellulose, illite, sodium alginate, and/or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), reaching Kit ratings up to 11. Regarding air resistance, mineral-rich coatings attained values above 1000 Gurley s. In light of these results, nanocellulose, minerals, PVA, pullulan, alginate, and a non-ionic surfactant were combined for multi-purpose coating formulations. It is hypothesized that these materials decrease porosity while complementing each other's flaws, e.g., PVA succeeds at decreasing porosity but has low dimensional stability. As an example, a suspension mostly constituted by nanocellulose, sizing agents, minerals and PVA yielded a WVTR of roughly 100 g m−2 d−1, a Kit rating of 12, and an air resistance above 300 s/100 mL. This indicates that multi-purpose coatings can be satisfactorily incorporated into paper structures for food packaging applications, although not as the food contact layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residual acrylamide in food paper packaging can be transferred into water and food, which will cause harmful effects on human beings. In this paper, a rapid and easily available fluorescent probe based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/Eu (Ⅲ) nanocomposites was designed to detect the residue acrylamide with high sensibility. The probe could respond in 1 min. The concentration of acrylamide was linearly correlated to the fluorescence intensity of the probe at the emission wavelength of 615 nm in the concentration range of 0.1–100 μmol/L. The limit of detection (LOD) of the probe was 0.085 μg/L, which is lower than the guideline value of the European Union, the U.S. EPA, and the WHO. An experiment was performed to simulate the acrylamide migrating from food-contacting paper materials to different foods, including waterborne food, alcohol beverage, acidic food, and greasy food. The recoveries and RSDs of acrylamide in all samples indicated that the CMC/Eu (Ⅲ) fluorescent probe was efficient for acrylamide detection. The possible mechanism of the probe for acrylamide detection involved both dynamically quenching and static quenching by forming of non-fluorescent substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobic coatings are of utmost importance for many applications of paper-based materials. However, to date, most coating methods demand vast amounts of chemicals and solvents. Frequently, fossil-based coating materials are being used and multiple derivatization reactions are often required to obtain desired performances. In this work, we present a solvent-free paper-coating process, where olive oil as the main biogenic component is being used to obtain a hydrophobic barrier on paper. UV-induced thiol-ene photocrosslinking of olive oil was pursued in a solvent-free state at a wavelength of 254 nm without addition of photoinitiator. Optimum reaction conditions were determined in advance using oleic acid as a model compound. Paper coatings based on olive oil crosslinked by thiol-ene reaction reach water contact angles of up to 120°. By means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, a successful reaction and the formation of a polymer network within the coating can be proven. These results show that click-chemistry strategies can be used to achieve hydrophobic polymeric paper coatings while keeping the amount of non-biobased chemicals and reaction steps at a minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable paper cups coated with rice bran wax and whey protein isolate were designed to package popcorn. Coatings with different concentrations of whey protein isolate (5.5, 7.75, and 10% w/v) and rice bran wax (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% w/v) were applied on the outer surface of the paper cups. Thickness, color changes, Young's modulus and tensile strength, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the coated and uncoated cups, and also popcorns properties (pH, texture, and sensory properties) were evaluated. Water vapor transmission rate, Young's modulus, thickness, total color change index, and tensile strength of coated cups with the optimal coating formulation was 19.785 (g/m2 day), 11.810 (MPa), 276.583 (µm), 1.839, and 11.222 (MPa), respectively. The results showed that paper cup coating increased thickness and yellowness and reduced the brightness, Young's modulus, and WVTR. Coating had a positive effect on the pH and texture of popcorns packaged in coated cups than samples packed in uncoated cups (p <.05). With increasing storage time due to moisture absorption, popcorn changes from crisp to viscoelastic and increases tissue firmness (p <.05). Popcorns' taste in uncoated cups had gained significantly lower scores by panelists compared with the samples packed in coated cups. There was a significant decrease in the general acceptance of popcorn during storage and also the type of coating used in the packaging cup (p <.05). Storage time and type of coating showed no significant effect on the moisture content, odor, and appearance of popcorn. In sensory evaluation, the coated packaging increased the taste, no difference in odor and appearance, and increased the overall acceptance of popcorn compared to the sample in uncoated cups. In general, the results showed that paper cup coating could be a new approach for barrier property improvement in paper‐based food packaging and extending the shelf life of the products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that fluorinated oil repellents are potentially harmful to humans and the environment, and therefore, the development of non-toxic, green, and environmentally friendly oil repellents has become inevitable. Microcrystalline wax is a branched saturated alkane with a molecular weight of 580–700 Da, which has a lower surface tension than edible oil. Herein, microcrystalline wax emulsion (fluorine-free oil repellent) was prepared by mechanical stirring–homogenization, the effects of emulsifier ratio and dosage on the emulsion performance were systematically investigated, and the resultant stable microcrystalline wax emulsions were applied to the paper surface to explore the oil and water resistance and water vapor barrier performance. The results showed that stabilized microcrystalline wax emulsion was obtained at the emulsifier Span-80/Tween-80 ratio of 5:5, and the emulsifier dosage was 20% (relative to the microcrystalline wax). When 6 g/m2 of microcrystalline wax was applied to the surface of starch pretreated paper, the kit rating value of the paper was high, at up to 10/12, the Cobb60 value decreased to 12.5 g/m2, the overall migration of paper was less than 10 mg/dm2, and the water vapor permeability was reduced by 81.9%, which met the requirements of oil and water resistance performance of food packaging paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective packaging solutions are pivotal in addressing sustainability challenges associated with food consumption. Sustainable packaging must not only reduce ecological impact but also ensure food quality preservation, minimize the risk of foodborne diseases, and contribute to mitigating the accumulation of plastic waste. While paper-based food packaging is environmentally friendly, it is susceptible to mold growth when exposed to specific humidity and temperatures, potentially leading to spoilage and safety concerns. This study introduces an innovative modeling approach employing survival analysis to estimate time to visible mold growth on paper-based materials used in food-contact packaging under varying environmental conditions. The objective is to establish an alternative statistical framework for assessing the impact of relative humidity and temperature on mold proliferation. This approach is particularly relevant to novel sustainable packaging materials in the food industry, especially when dealing with censored data. Survival heatmaps are developed to simplify the visualization of spoilage likelihood, measured by time to visible growth at a given confidence level. Although the survival model is proposed for paper-based materials, there are no theoretical limitations to its extension for use with other materials within and beyond the food industry. • Proposed survival heatmaps to simplify spoilage likelihood visualization. • Investigated spoilage characteristics of novel paper-based packaging. • Addressed challenges of censored data in mold growth modeling. • Proposed a conservative predictive model to assess spoilage timelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research work, a coated paper was prepared with poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) film to explore its use in eco-friendly food packaging. The paper was coated with PBAT film for packaging using hot pressing, a production method currently employed in the packaging industry. The coated papers were evaluated for their structural, mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. The structural morphology and chemical analysis of the coated paper confirmed the consistent formation of PBAT bi-layered on paper surfaces. Surface coating with PBAT film increased the water resistance of the paper samples, as demonstrated by tests of barrier characteristics, including the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), oxygen transmission rate (OTR), and water contact angle (WCA) of water drops. The transmission rate of the clean paper was 2010.40 cc m−2 per 24 h for OTR and 110.24 g m−2 per 24 h for WVTR. If the PBAT-film was coated, the value decreased to 91.79 g m−2 per 24 h and 992.86 cc m−2 per 24 h. The hydrophobic nature of PBAT, confirmed by WCA measurements, contributed to the enhanced water resistance of PBAT-coated paper. This result presents an improved PBAT-coated paper material, eliminating the need for adhesives and allowing for the fabrication of bi-layered packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocelluloses have gained significant attention in recent years due to their singular properties (good biocompatibility, high optical transparency and mechanical strength, large specific surface area, and good film-forming ability) and wide-ranging applications (paper, food packaging, textiles, electronics, and biomedical). This article is a comprehensive review of the applications of nanocelluloses (cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibrils, and bacterial nanocellulose) in the conservation and restoration of historical paper documents, including their preparation methods and main properties. The novelty lies in the information collected about nanocelluloses as renewable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable materials in the field of cultural heritage preservation as an alternative to conventional methods. Several studies have demonstrated that nanocelluloses, with or without other particles, may impart to the paper documents excellent optical and mechanical properties, very good stability against temperature and humidity aging, higher antibacterial and antifungal activity, high protection from UV light, and may be applied without requiring additional adhesive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper-based food packaging materials have gained great interests along with increasing environmental concern and fossil energy crisis. Inspired by strong adhesion of marine mussels, we proposed a simple and facile method to prepare a durable paper-based packaging material in combination of superhydrophobicity and ethylene scavenging capability, which is first surface decoration of polydopamine (PDA) on paper surface followed by immersion into mixture solution containing halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and stearic acid (SA). The PDMS/SA/HNTs@PDA-coated paper with a WCA of 157.5° exhibited excellent anti-fouling, self-cleaning and potential application in liquid food packaging. The obtained functional paper not only presented improved mechanical, barrier properties and outstanding anti-bacterial adhesion, but also could effectively extend shelf-life of cherry tomatoes under ambient conditions. After suffering from various rigorous treatments, the resultant multifunctional paper still exhibited excellent superhydrophobic durability. This study provided a new insight into fabrication of multifunctional paper-based materials for food packaging applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of antimicrobial polymeric materials has evolved into one of the more promising methods for preventing the growth of microbes and mitigating the spread of infectious diseases in several applications including the health and food packaging sectors. The outbreak of global pandemics, and particularly the recent COVID-19 pandemic, further strengthen the importance of developing such solutions. This review paper presents a fundamental understanding of how antimicrobial polymers are developed, describes the possible surface modification approaches to render polymers with antimicrobial properties, highlights the potential mechanism of action against a range of microorganisms (bacterial, viral, and fungal), and details some of the international standard protocols and procedures to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of modified materials (such as plastics and textiles). In addition, this review paper discusses the toxicity of antimicrobial additives when used in healthcare and food packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At a time when food safety awareness is increasing, attention is paid not only to food and additives but also to packaging materials. Most current food packaging is usually made of traditional petroleum-based polymeric materials, which are not biodegradable and have adverse effects on the environment and health. In this context, the development of new non-toxic and biodegradable materials for extending the best-before date of food is receiving increasing attention. In addition, additives in packaging materials may migrate outward, resulting in contact with food. For this reason, additives are also seen as a transition from synthetic additives to natural extracts. Active extracts from animals and plants having good antioxidant and antibacterial properties are also beneficial for human health. It is indisputable that active extracts are ideal substitutes for synthetic additives. Polymer packaging materials combined with active extracts not only maintain their original mechanical and optical properties and thermal stability but also endow polymers with new functions to extend the shelf life of food. This review paper provides an overview of this promising natural extract-containing polymer-based active packaging, with a focus on plant essential oils (containing phenolics, monoterpenes, terpene alcohols, terpene ketones, and aldehydes), pigments (procyanidins), vitamins (vitamin B), and peptides (nisin). In particular, this paper covers the research progress of such active extracts, in single or compound forms, combined with diverse polymers (mostly biopolymers) for food packaging applications with particular focus on the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan/lignin nanocomposites were coated on bagasse paper surface to improve antimicrobial packaging. A commercial softwood kraft lignin was selected and purified by fractionation process using organic solvent. The aliphatic, phenolic and carboxylic hydroxyl groups of commercial softwood lignin and fractionated lignin were investigated using 31P NMR spectroscopy. For lignin nanosphere particles (LNPs) preparation, the fractionated lignin was dissolved in organic solvent (acetone), then the deionized water was added under ultrasonic mixing. The size of LNPs were approximately 40–500 nm. Chitosan solutions were mixed with 6–33 wt% of LNPs. The mixture was then spread over the bagasse paper surface. The papers coated with chitosan/LNPs were dehydrated at 40 °C for 48 h. For food packaging applications, the antibacterial activity of the paper packaging coated with chitosan/LNPs was more successful and effective against gram-positive bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (such as Escherichia coli, E. coli) compared with the bagasse paper without any coating. The antimicrobial activity of all papers coated with chitosan/LNPs for S. aureus and E. coli was above 2 log CFU/cm2 which are acceptable for antimicrobial efficacy and the percent reduction of bacteria was nearly 100%. In addition, this evident of chitosan/LNPs nanocomposites showed a synergistic effect enhancing the antimicrobial efficiency on the paper surface. The morphology, wettability and overall migration of paper coated with chitosan/LNPs samples were also explored. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • First review on the extraction of tunicate-derived cellulose: alkali treatment and the kraft paper process. • Preparation methods of tunicate-derived nanocellulose are evaluated. • The unique structural composition of this cellulose and the application prospects in various fields are discussed. • Provide insight into future research prospects for this cellulose. Cellulose extracted from the outer capsule of tunicates has received much attention from researchers because of its excellent physicochemical properties. In addition, its nanocellulose has high strength, high purity, high modulus, and versatile photoelectromagnetic properties, and is gradually becoming a novel biomaterial. However, the utilization of tunicate is extremely low, and its discarded outer capsules accumulate in large quantities, resulting in a huge environmental burden and waste of resources. Therefore, it has become imperative to fully exploit and reuse tunicates. This review highlights the different extraction methods (e.g. , alkali treatment and kraft process, etc.) and the preparation techniques (e.g., acid hydrolysis, enzymatic treatment, TEMPO oxidation and spinning technique , etc.). The successful preparation and functional modification of tunicate nanocellulose provide the basis for the discovery of its new functions. The applications of tunicate and its composites in various fields (e.g. , biomedical field, energy and electronics, polymer reinforcement, food packaging field, paper industry and environmental materials, etc.) are also discussed. Finally, this review concludes with further applications and future perspectives of tunicate cellulose, to provide new ideas and references for improving the high-value integrated utilization of the outer capsule of tunicates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), as coating materials, possess oil-resistant and waterproof properties. However, their persistency and toxicity have caused concerns. This study developed a method for determining five types of 20 PFASs with ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, and measured seven categories of 32 commercial samples of oil-resistant food packaging in Taiwan. The assay was validated according to the specification of Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA). Samples of 100 cm² were cut into pieces and were ultra-sonicated in 20-mL methanol at 50 °C for 45 minutes. The extracts were concentrated to 1 mL for instrumental analysis. Most matrix effect factors and extraction efficiencies of the analytes were 50%e80% and 52%e99%, respectively. Most limits of detection and limits of quantification were between 0.07e11.3 ng/dm² and 0.17e18.3 ng/dm², respectively. Most recoveries ranged from 70% to 117% at three tested levels, and the precisions (%RSD) were lower than 19%. Microwave popcorn paper contained more types and higher levels of PFASs than other packaging, with perfluoroalkyl acids at 8.3e1960 ng/dm² and fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) at 9.7e7188 ng/dm². High concentrations of FTOHs were also observed in one oil-proof paper bag at 454¡2595 ng/dm² and in one French fries paper bag at 22.4e167 ng/dm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of non-degradable plastics in food packaging is alarming for the environment as they are often thrown away after short consumption. Though papers are replacing plastics in different sectors, their low water resistance limits their use in food packaging. in the past, water-resistant papers have been fabricated, but the natural degradability of the paper has been compensated. This study proposes water-resistant yet biodegradable papers from naturally abundant wastes, such as banana plant (BP) and water hyacinth (WH) and validates their properties for practical packaging uses. The resources were completely used, avoiding generation of any in-process biomass residue. This study for the first time reports the impact of ethyl cellulose (EC) coating (∼10 μm) on paper surfaces. The morphology and chemical analysis of the coated papers confirmed the consistent formation of EC layer on paper surfaces. The presence of EC significantly reduced the vapour transmission (22–30%) and moisture content (6–11%) of the papers. Water drops were stable on the coated surfaces at least for 20 min and then were wiped off leaving a dry surface. EC coating considerably increased the tensile index, i.e., 13–17% for BP and 20–35% for WH, though elongation and modulus properties remained almost unchanged. All the papers showed ultraviolet (UV)-resistance, while the coated papers were more transparent in the visible light region. Overall results confirmed the potential of the proposed EC-coated papers as a promising alternative to single-use plastics in food packaging. [Display omitted] • Water-resistant yet bio-friendly paper was made by ethyl cellulose (EC) coating. • Banana plant and water hyacinth were utilised as low-cost source of paper making. • Water drops were resisted by coated surface for at least 20 min. • Tensile index and transparency improved by coating though vapour transport reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-molecular-weight poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide) (PLLA-PEG-PLLA) is a flexible and biodegradable bioplastic that has promising potential in flexible food packaging but it has no antibacterial ability. Thus, in this work, the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnOs) which have antimicrobial activity on various properties of PLLA-PEG-PLLA was determined. The addition of nano-ZnOs enhanced the crystallization, tensile, UV-barrier, and antibacterial properties of PLLA-PEG-PLLA. However, the crystallization and tensile properties of nanocomposite films decreased again as the nano-ZnO increased beyond 2 wt%. The nano-ZnO was well distributed in the PLLA-PEG-PLLA matrix when the nano-ZnO content did not exceed 2 wt% and exhibited some nano-ZnO agglomerates when the nano-ZnO content was higher than 2 wt%. The thermal stability and moisture uptake of the PLLA-PEG-PLLA matrix decreased and the film's opacity increased as the nano-ZnO content increased. The PLLA-PEG-PLLA/ZnO nanocomposite films showed good antibacterial activity against bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. It can be concluded that nano-ZnOs can be used as a multi-functional filler of the flexible PLLA-PEG-PLLA. As a result, the addition of nano-ZnOs as a nucleating, reinforcing, UV-screening, and antibacterial agent in the flexible PLLA-PEG-PLLA matrix may provide protection for both the food and the packaging during transportation and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the number of resistant bacteria resistant to treatment is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. These bacteria are created in wounds and injuries and can be transferred through hospital equipment. Various attempts have been made to treat these bacteria in recent years, such as using different drugs and new sterilization methods. However, some bacteria resist drugs, and other traditional methods cannot destroy them. In the meantime, various studies have shown that cold atmospheric plasma can kill these bacteria through different mechanisms, making cold plasma a promising tool to deactivate bacteria. This new technology can be effectively used in the food industry because it has the potential to inactivate microorganisms such as spores and microbial toxins and increase the wettability and printability of polymers to pack fresh and dried food. It can also increase the shelf life of food without leaving any residue or chemical effluent. This paper investigates cold plasma's potential, advantages, and disadvantages in the food industry and sterilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for increasing the shelf life of fresh food as well as the need for protecting the food against foodborne infections warrant the demand for increasing the shelf life of fresh food. The incorporation of nanoparticles into the packaging material can enhance the preservation of perishable foods. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), in particular, have antibacterial, anti-mold, anti-yeast, and anti-viral activities can be embedded into the biodegradable packaging materials for this purpose. This study focuses on antimicrobial packaging materials for food by mixing the extracts of different plants with silver nitrate and depositing this mixture as a layer on the blotting papers, which are thick sheets of paper made of cellulose. Because the blotting papers are highly absorbent and porous, silver nitrate solution along with the plant extracts can be easily applied and allowed for in situ synthesis of AgNPs. Subsequently, these papers were analyzed and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The coated paper exhibited good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the coated paper when used as a packaging material for tomatoes and coriander leaf, the shelf life was extended to about 30 days and 15 days respectively. The prepared cost-effective silver packing material can be used in food packaging for various perishable foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing an inexpensive, sensitive, and point-of-use biosensor for pesticide detection is becoming an important area in sensing. Such sensors can be used in food packaging, agricultural fields, and environmental monitoring of pesticides. The present investigation has developed a zinc oxide (ZnO)-based biosensor on porous, flexible substrates such as carbon paper and carbon cloth to detect organophosphates such as paraoxon (OP). Here, the influence of morphology and underlying substrate on biosensor performance was studied. The biosensors were fabricated by immobilizing the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme on ZnO, which is directly grown on the flexible substrates. The ZnO biosensors fabricated on the carbon cloth demonstrated good performance with the detection limit of OP in the range of 0.5 nM–5 µM, higher sensitivity, and greater stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, a super-repellent biopaper suitable for food contact applications was developed. To do this, three different kinds of biopolymers, namely polylactide (PLA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), and hydrophobic silica microparticles (SiO2), were sequentially processed by electrohydrodynamic processing (EDHP). As a first step, the ultrathin biopolymer fibers were deposited onto a commercial food contact cellulose paper by electrospinning and, thereafter, the nanostructured silica was sequentially electrosprayed. The multilayer coated papers were annealed at different temperatures to promote adhesion between the layers and enhance the super-repellent properties. The developed coatings were characterized in terms of morphology, permeance to water vapor, adhesion, mechanical resistance, and contact and sliding angle. The resultant multilayer biopapers presented a hierarchical micro/nanostructured surface with an apparent water contact angle (WCA) higher than 155° and sliding angle (SA) lower than 10° for all the tested biopolymers used. Among the different multilayer approaches, it was observed that the paper/PHBV/SiO2 showed the best performance, in terms of water vapor permeance; resistance after the tape peeling-off test; and food super-repelling properties to water, yogurt, and custard. Overall, this study presents the successful generation of super-repellent biopapers coated with PLA, PCL, or PHBV along with hydrophobic silica microparticles and its effectiveness for easy emptying food packaging applications to reduce food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest to reduce global plastic consumption has led to the emergence of biodegradable fiber-based composites as a promising sustainable replacement to conventional plastics in the food packaging industry. As the packaging sector is shifting more towards fiber-centric materials, thermoforming techniques for the 3D forming of the fiber-based materials, especially using complex mold designs, should be thoroughly researched to replace the conventional plastics in the industry. Finite element analysis of the deformation behavior of the paperboard during the thermoforming process and the factors that trigger the fracture of the composite layers were studied in the present work. The results show that 90° fiber orientation, 0.3 mm sheet thicknesses, and specific mold geometries can result in better forming results, thereby maximizing the potential of fiberbased materials in thermoforming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanins are complex, polymeric pigments with interesting properties like UV-light absorbance ability, metal ion chelation capacity, antimicrobial action, redox behaviors, and scavenging properties. Based on these characteristics, melanins might be applied in different industrial fields like food packaging, environmental bioremediation, and bioelectronic fields. The actual melanin manufacturing process is not environmentally friendly as it is based on extraction and purification from cuttlefish. Synthetic melanin is available on the market, but it is more expensive than animal-sourced pigment and it requires long chemical procedures. The biotechnological production of microbial melanin, instead, might be a valid alternative. Streptomycetes synthesize melanins as pigments and as extracellular products. In this review, the melanin biotechnological production processes by different Streptomyces strains have been revised according to papers in the literature. The different fermentation strategies to increase melanin production such as the optimization of growth conditions and medium composition or the use of raw sources as growth substrates are here described. Diverse downstream purification processes are also reported as well as all the different analytical methods used to characterize the melanin produced by Streptomyces strains before its application in different fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of nanotechnology in the food industry has created several opportunities for this sector. Several recent advancements in food packaging use nanotechnology to enhance the function and quality of the packaging materials. This review focuses on how various nanomaterials used in different packaging materials help in maintaining the quality and shelf life of the food product. Several applications of nanomaterials in food packaging such as the use of silver nanoparticles as powerful antibacterial agents, polymer/clay nanocomposites as high barrier packaging materials, and nanosensors were mentioned here. The advances in food nanopackaging, including improved, active, smart, and bio-based packaging, were also discussed. The bio-based packaging offers a substitute for the most widely used non-degradable polymer substances. This review paper aims to highlight some of the most recent technological developments with the use of nanotechnology in the food industry and to indicate some of the many potential future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan and its derivatives are widely used in food packaging, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical, textile, paper, agriculture, and environmental industries. However, the flexibility of chitosan films is extremely poor, which limits its relevant applications to a large extent. In this paper, chitosan/sorbitol/nano-silica (CS/sorbitol/SiO2) composite films were prepared by the casting film method using chitosan, sorbitol, Tween-80 and nano-SiO2 as raw materials. The structure of the films was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, electron scanning microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The effects of sorbitol and nano-silica dosage on the mechanical properties, thermal properties and water vapor barrier properties of the composite film were investigated. The results show that with the gradual increase in sorbitol (≤75 wt %), the elongation at the break of chitosan/sorbitol films significantly increased. When the addition of sorbitol was 75 wt %, the elongation at break of the chitosan/sorbitol composite film was 13 times higher than that of the chitosan film. Moreover, nano-SiO2 can further improve the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the chitosan/sorbitol composite films. When the amount of nano-silica was 4.5 wt %, the composite film became more flexible, with a maximum elongation of 90.8% (which is 14 times that of chitosan film), and its toughness increased to 10.52 MJm−3 (which is 6 times that of chitosan film). This study balances the tensile strength and elongation at break of the composite films by adding a plasticizer and nano-filler, providing a reference for the preparation of chitosan composites or their blending with other polymers, and has practical guiding significance for the industrial production of biomass plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shift to an environmentally friendly material economy requires renewable resource exploration. This shift may depend on lignin valorization. Lignin is an aromatic polymer that makes up one-third of total lingo-cellulosic biomass and is separated into large amounts for biofuel and paper manufacture. This renewable polymer is readily available at a very low cost as nearly all the lignin that is produced each year (90–100 million tons) is simply burned as a low-value fuel. Lignin offers potential qualities for many applications, and yet it is underutilized. This Perspective highlights lignin-based material prospects and problems in food packaging, antimicrobial, and agricultural applications. The first half will discuss the present and future studies on exploiting lignin as an addition to improve food packaging's mechanical, gas, UV, bioactive molecules, polyphenols, and antioxidant qualities. Second, lignin's antibacterial activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses will be discussed. In conclusion, lignin agriculture will be discussed in the food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All current rehydratable food and drink items prepared for U.S. astronauts on missions to the International Space Station (ISS) must be compatible with the station's potable water dispenser, called the rehydration station. This highly validated system ensures that water is compartmentalized and safely transferred to custom-made food and beverage pouches to prevent free-floating food particles and water in microgravity. However, the food and beverages packaged in these single-purpose pouches require complex, time-consuming, and costly procedures before flight, which is not feasible for future commercial space stations seeking more affordable life-support systems. Furthermore, even though a vast number of rehydratable food and beverage items available at supermarkets have appropriate nutritional content and shelf life for spaceflight, their incompatible consumer packaging renders them unusable by astronauts. In this paper, we present a low-cost solution that draws on NASA technology to adapt these commercially developed food and drink items for spaceflight and makes them compatible with the water dispensing unit and consumption in a microgravity environment. The 3D-printed adapter is based on the NASA septum adapter with the addition of a piercing end and one-way barb that stabilizes the adapter inside the food pouch and ensures it is not released due to the force generated by the water when it is dispensed. The dimensions of the adapter are 20.00 (L) x 12.50 (W) x 37.24 (H) mm and the mass is approximately 1.5 g. The design is compatible with at least three types of packaging commonly used for commercially available rehydratable foods: kraft paper and polymer laminate (KP), polymer aluminum laminate (PA), and compostable polymer laminate (CP). Based on these three packages, we present a table of commercial items that could be available to astronauts if the adapter were to be used. To validate the adapter's use in the space environment, we also present data on the structural properties against loads experienced during launch and re-entry, as well as two functionality tests to determine piercing and rehydration effectiveness. The results show that the prototype of the adapter meets structural specifications for spaceflight and can effectively pierce KP and PA materials with minimal tear propagation. The rehydration test with KP showed that the adapter can effectively rehydrate a typical dehydrated food package. In summary, the adapter is an effective method to increase menu diversity while simultaneously eliminating costs associated with space food preparation and re-packaging. • A new proof-of-concept adapter for food and beverage rehydration in space was demonstrated. • Adapters can be made compatible with U.S. galley equipment on the ISS. • Enabling commercial food on the ISS could significantly reduce costs of human spaceflight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we designed paper sheets coated with chitosan, bacterial cellulose (nanofibers), and ZnO with boosted antibacterial and mechanical activity. We investigated the compositions, with ZnO exhibiting two different sizes/shapes: (1) rods and (2) irregular sphere-like particles. The proposed processing of bacterial cellulose resulted in the formation of nanofibers. Antimicrobial behavior was tested using E. coli ATCC® 25922™ following the ASTM E2149-13a standard. The mechanical properties of the paper sheets were measured by comparing tearing resistance, tensile strength, and bursting strength according to the ISO 5270 standard. The results showed an increased antibacterial response (assigned to the combination of chitosan and ZnO, independent of its shape and size) and boosted mechanical properties. Therefore, the proposed composition is an interesting multifunctional mixture for coatings in food packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an organic circular economy, biodegradable materials can be used as food packaging, and at end-of-life their carbon atoms can be recovered for soil enrichment after composting, so that new food or materials can be produced. Packaging functionality, such as mechanical, gas barrier, and heat-seal performance, of emerging biodegradable packaging, with a laminated, coated, monomaterial, and/or blended structure, is not yet well known in the food industry. This lack of knowledge, in addition to end-of-life concerns, high cost, and production limits is one of the main bottlenecks for broad implementation in the food industry. This study determines application areas of 10 films with a pragmatic approach based on an experimental broad characterization of packaging functionality. As a conclusion, the potential application of these materials is discussed with respect to industrial settings and food and consumer requirements, to support the implementation of commercially available, biodegradable, and, more specifically, compostable, materials for the identified food applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the impact of regulatory policy on the development of sustainable flexible packaging in the food manufacturing industry. Although sustainable packaging is not new on the market, its development still poses various challenges for raw material producers, flexible packaging printers, food manufacturers, and other stakeholders. The study highlights the issues related to the development of sustainable flexible food packaging, the concept of sustainable packaging, and the regulatory policies of the European Union and Lithuania on sustainable flexible packaging. An empirical study was carried out to determine the impact of regulatory policy on the intention of food producers to develop and invest in sustainable flexible packaging. A qualitative research method - semi-structured interviews - was used. The results of the empirical study show that regulatory policy has an impact on the food industry's ambition to develop sustainable flexible packaging, although the effect can be twofold – it can either encourage compliance with the regulatory framework defined by the legislation or burden companies with excessive requirements. In this research, respondents also identified other components that affect the development of sustainable flexible packaging in the food manufacturing industry: consumers and other stakeholders, marketing. The level of environmental awareness was also highlighted as an important factor in the analysis of the empirical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the use of biopolymers as food packaging materials due to their important characteristics and properties. These include non-toxicity, ease of availability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, indicating their potential as an alternative to conventional plastic packaging that has long been under environmental scrutiny. Given the current focus on sustainable development, it is imperative to develop studies on biopolymers as eco-friendly and sustainable food packaging materials. Therefore, the aim of this review is to explore trends and characteristics of biopolymer-based biodegradable films for food packaging, analyze the contribution of various journals and cooperation between countries, highlight the most influential authors and articles, and provide an overview of the social, environmental, and economic aspects of biodegradable films for food packaging. To achieve this goal, a bibliometric analysis and systematic review based on the PRISMA method were conducted. Relevant articles were carefully selected from the Scopus database. A bibliometric analysis was also conducted to discuss holistically, comprehensively, and objectively biodegradable films for food packaging. An increasing interest was found in this study, especially in the last 3 years with Brazil and China leading the number of papers on biodegradable films for food packaging, which were responsible for 20.4% and 12.5% of the published papers, respectively. The results of the keyword analysis based on the period revealed that the addition of bioactive compounds into packaging films is very promising because it can increase the quality and safety of packaged food. These results reveal that biodegradable films demonstrate a positive and promising trend as food packaging materials that are environmentally friendly and promote sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the environmental concerns, the utilisation of hemicelluloses in food packaging has become a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers and an important method for the efficient utilisation of biomass resources. After cellulose, hemicellulose is a second component of agricultural and forestry biomass that is being taken advantage of given its abundant source, biodegradability, nontoxicity and good biocompatibility. However, due to its special molecular structure and physical and chemical characteristics, the mechanical and barrier properties of hemicellulose films and coatings are not sufficient for food packaging applications and modification for performance enhancement is needed. Even though there are many studies on improving the hydrophobic properties of hemicelluloses, most do not meet environmental requirements and the chemical modification of these biopolymers is still a challenge. The present review examines emerging and green alternatives to acetylation for xylan hemicellulose in order to improve its performance, especially when it is used as biopolymer in paper coatings or films for food packaging. Ionic liquids (ILs) and enzymatic modification are environmentally friendly methods used to obtain xylan derivatives with improved thermal and mechanical properties as well as hydrophobic performances that are very important for food packaging materials. Once these novel and green methodologies of hemicellulose modifications become well understood and with validated results, their production on an industrial scale could be implemented. This paper will extend the area of hemicellulose applications and lead to the implementation of a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based products that will decrease the environmental impact of packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic is a fossil-based synthetic polymer that has become an essential material in our daily life. Plastic pollution resulting from the accumulation of plastic objects has become problematic for our environment. Bioplastic can be a biodegradable environmentally friendly alternative for the synthetic plastic. In this paper, bioplastics based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/gellan gum (GG) blend have been produced in three different compositions and their chemical structure, mechanical, morphological and thermal properties have been studied. Glycerol has been used as a plasticizer. To add extra features to the PVA/GG bioplastic, Psidium guajava (guava) leaves, GL, and chickpea, CP, extracts have been added to the PVA/GG (30/70) blend. Water and aqueous ethanol have been used in the extraction of GL and CP, respectively. The addition of the plant's extracts enhanced the tensile properties of the PVA/GG bioplastic. Weathering acceleration tests have been carried out to examine the degradation of the prepared bioplastics. Cytotoxicity studies revealed that the prepared bioplastic is safe to be used in food packaging applications. Water and oxygen permeability for the new PVA/GG bioplastic have also been studied. The addition of the plant extracts (GL and CP extracts) increased the oxygen and water permeability to different extents. Bioplastic life cycle assessment (LCA) and CO2 emissions in comparison to fossil-based plastic have been investigated. From all the results, PVA/GG based bioplastic proved to be a degradable, safe and effective alternative for fossil-based plastics in food packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural polymers has increased due to concern about environmental pollution caused by plastics and emerging pollutants from fossil fuels. In this context, polysaccharides from macroalgae and microalgae arise as natural and abundant resources for various biological, biomedical, and food applications. Different nanomaterials are produced from these polysaccharides to act as effective carriers in the food and pharmaceutical industry: drug and nutrient carriers, active compound encapsulation, and delivery of therapeutic agents to tumor tissues. Polysaccharides-based nanomaterials applied as functional ingredients incorporated into foods can improve texture properties and decrease the caloric density of food products. These nanostructures also present the potential for developing food packaging with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In addition, polysaccharides-based nanomaterials are biocompatible, biodegradable, and safe for medical practices to prevent and manage various chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. In this sense, this review article addresses the use of algal polysaccharides for manufacturing nanomaterials and their potential applications in food and biomedical areas. In addition, the paper discusses the general aspects of algae as a source of polysaccharides, the nanomaterials produced from these polymers, as well as recent studies and the potential use of algal polysaccharides for industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control of food spoilage is a critical concern in the current world scenario, not only to ensure the quality and safety of food but also to avoid the generation of food waste. This paper evaluates a dual-sensor strategy using six different pH indicators stamped on cardboard for the detection of spoilage in three different foods: beef, salmon, and strawberries. After function validation and formulation optimizations in the laboratory, the halochromic sensors methyl orange and bromocresol purple 2% (w/v) were stamped on cardboard and, in contact with the previously mentioned foods, were able to produce an easily perceptible signal for spoilage by changing color. Additionally, when it comes to mechanical characterization the inks showed high abrasion (>100 cycles) and adhesion resistance (>91%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease is a contagious respiratory ailment that has spread significantly around the world. Most cases of COVID-19 are spread from person to person by coming into contact with respiratory droplets that are released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In this manuscript, we have highlighted the possible transmission of COVID-19 through food, water, air and paper. In the case of food, we have extensively covered the transmission of COVID-19 through meat, frozen foods, food packaging and food market along with the incidences worldwide. In the nextsection, we have highlighted the different components of air which are responsible for the transmission and also covered its relation with PM 2.5 incidence. The SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from sewage water/wastewater of various countries namely the United States, India, Australia, Netherlands and France signifying that wastewater can be a mode of virus transmission. The paper circulation by the infected COVID-19 patients can also be a virus conveyance route. It can be concluded that SARS-CoV-2 can therefore be transmitted indirectly through food via the workers involved in food packing or food marts. By following general safety precautions (wearing masks, using hand sanitisers, cleaning and disinfecting contact surfaces, and avoiding close contact), heating and using chemicals like ethanol (67-71%), sodium hypochlorite (0.1%) and hydrogen peroxide (0.5%) on environmental surfaces, along with vaccination, it is possible to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochromic inks, also known as color changing inks, are becoming increasingly important for various applications that range from smart packaging, product labels, security printing, and anti-counterfeit inks to applications such as temperature-sensitive plastics and inks printed onto ceramic mugs, promotional items, and toys. These inks are also gaining more attention as part of textile decorations and can also be found in some artistic works obtained with thermochromic paints, due to their ability to change color when exposed to heat. Thermochromic inks, however, are known to be sensitive materials to the influence of UV radiation, heat fluctuations, and various chemical agents. Given the fact that prints can be found in different environmental conditions during their lifetime, in this work, thermochromic prints were exposed to the action of UV radiation and the influence of different chemical agents in order to simulate different environmental parameters. Hence, two thermochromic inks with different activation temperatures (one being cold and the other being body-heat activated), printed on two food packaging label papers that differ in their surface properties were chosen to be tested. Assessment of their resistance to specific chemical agents was performed according to the procedure described in the ISO 2836:2021 standard. Moreover, the prints were exposed to artificial aging to determine their durability when exposed to UV radiation. All tested thermochromic prints showed low resistance to liquid chemical agents as the color difference values were unacceptable in all cases. It was observed that the stability of thermochromic prints to different chemicals decreases with decreasing solvent polarity. Based on the results obtained after UV radiation, its influence in terms of color degradation is visible on both tested paper substrates, but more significant degradation was observed on the ultra-smooth label paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper packaging materials are widely used as sustainable green materials in food packaging. The production or processing of paper materials is conducted in an environment that contains organic chlorides; therefore, potential food safety issues exist. In this study, the adsorption behavior of organic chlorides on paper materials was investigated. Chloropropanol, which has been extensively studied in the field of food safety, was employed as the research object. We studied the adsorption mechanism of chloropropanol on a crystalline nanocellulose (CNC) model. The results demonstrated that physical adsorption was the prevailing process, and the intermolecular hydrogen bonds acted as the driving force for adsorption. The adsorption effect assumed greatest significance under neutral and weakly alkaline conditions. A good linear relationship between the amount of chloropropanol adsorbed and the amount of CNC used was discovered. Thus, the findings of this study are crucial in monitoring the safety of products in systems containing chloropropanol and other chlorinated organic substances. This is particularly critical in the production of food-grade paper packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the strengthening of the public awareness of food safety and environmental protection, functional food packaging materials have received widespread attention. Nanofibers are considered as promising packaging materials due to their unique one-dimensional structure (high aspect ratio, large specific surface area) and functional advantages. Electrospinning, as a commonly used simple and efficient method for preparing nanofibers, can obtain nanofibers with different structures such as aligned, core-shell, and porous structures by modifying the devices and adjusting the process parameters. The selection of raw materials and structural design of nanofibers can endow food packaging with different functions, including antimicrobial activity, antioxidation, ultraviolet protection, and response to pH. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the application of electrospun nanofibers in functional food packaging. Advances in electrospinning technology and electrospun materials used for food packaging are introduced. Moreover, the progress and development prospects of electrospun nanofibers in functional food packaging are highlighted. Meanwhile, the application of functional packaging based on nanofibers in different foods is discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilm formation can lead to problems in healthcare, water distribution systems, food processing and packaging, industrial manufacturing, marine industries, and sanitation. These microbial communities can proliferate on biotic or abiotic surfaces, and are responsible for human disease and decreasing production efficiency and service equipment life in many industrial fields. The formation of biofilm starts with the attachment of bacteria to the surface, followed by bacterial proliferation and maturation of the microbial community. After forming a biofilm, bacteria not resistant to antimicrobial agents in their planktonic forms can turn resistant. The antibiotic resistance of bacterial biofilm, and the association of biofilms in generating infectious diseases in humans, highlight the need for designing novel and successful antibacterial, anti-biofilm, or anti-infection materials. This paper aims to review the mechanism of biofilm formation, the impact on different industries, the interaction mechanism of nanoparticles with bacteria, and strategies to design anti-biofilm materials. Examples of designing anti-infection bio-implants, coatings, medical devices, wound dressings, and sutures are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets up a new route for producing non-covalently crosslinked bio-composites by blending poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) of microbial origin and chitosan (CH) through poly-electrolyte complexation under specific experimental conditions. CH and two different molecular weight γ-PGA fractions have been blended at different mass ratios (1/9, 2/8 and 3/7) under acidic pH. The developed materials seemed to behave like moldable hydrogels with a soft rubbery consistency. However, after dehydration, they became exceedingly hard, glass-like materials completely insoluble in water and organic solvents. The native biopolymers and their blends underwent comprehensive structural, physicochemical, and thermal analyses. The study confirmed strong physical interactions between polysaccharide and polyamide chains, facilitated by electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding. The materials exhibited both crystalline and amorphous structures and demonstrated good thermal stability and degradability. Described as thermoplastic and saloplastic, these bio-composites offer vast opportunities in the realm of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs). This unique combination of properties allowed the bio-composites to function as glass-like materials, making them highly versatile for potential applications in various fields. They hold potential for use in regenerative medicine, biomedical devices, food packaging, and 3D printing. Their environmentally friendly properties make them attractive candidates for sustainable material development in various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper, nanocellulose, and other polysaccharide-based materials can be excellent candidates for food packaging barrier layers, except that they tend to be vulnerable to moisture. This article reviews published research describing various chemical treatments having the potential to render hydrophobic character to such layers. Emphasis is placed on systems in which hydrophobic monomers are used to treat either particles or sheets comprised largely of polysaccharides. A goal of this review is to identify combinations of materials and procedures having promise for scale-up to industrial production, while providing effective resistance to moisture. The idea is to protect the underlying polysaccharide-based barrier layers such that they can continue to impede the transfer of such permeants as oxygen, greases, flavor compounds, and water vapor. A further goal is to minimize any adverse environmental impacts associated with the treatments. Based on the research articles considered in this review, promising hydrophobic treatments can be achieved involving silanes, ester formation, other covalent interactions, plasma treatments, and to some extent by various treatments that do not require formation of covalent bonds. The article is designed such that readers can skip ahead to items of particular interest to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]