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Biopolymer films have an increasing share in the packaging material sector due to a number of advantages: availability, cheapness, easy processing, degradability, etc. On the other hand, numerous methods have been developed to optimize their unfavorable properties (weaker mechanical characteristics, hydrophilicity, etc.). This paper examines the influence of the synthesis method on starch-gelatin films properties. The starch-gelatin film was synthesized in a ratio 1:1 as a composite film (C). The second sample was obtained by gelatin film lamination on starch film (L). Plain starch film was used as a control (0). Mechanical, structural and physico-chemical properties of importance for the application of packaging materials were tested on the obtained samples. All the obtained biopolymer films were transparent and easy to handle. FTIR spectroscopy identified all characteristic groups and bonds formed in composite and laminated films. The results showed a significant contribution of gelatin in the developed biopolymer films compared to the control sample. Gelatin incorporated as a film component or as a separate layer improved mechanical properties and water solubility. Slight differences were observed between composite and laminated films because the effect of the method of added gelatin is minimal compared to the sample without the addition of gelatin.

There are many biodegradable and recyclable packaging materials available, alternatives for plastics: paper and cardboard; biodegradable polyethene (degradable due to additives incorporated during production, whose role is to lead to the polyethylene breakdown into CO2, H2O, biomass and minerals when in landfill) and biodegradable plastic (made from renewable biomass-biopolymers in a relatively energy-efficient process). The decomposition routes of degradable materials are reflected in the degradation for which realization a physico-chemical stimulus is required and biodegradation for which microorganisms are responsible. The global biodegradable plastic market was valued at $1.6 billion in 2019 and it is expected to reach $4.2 billion by 2027. The largest segment by application of biodegradable materials is in packaging with a market share of more than 60%. Some examples of degradable packaging existing on the market will be presented in the paper.

Among many important requirements for packaging materials, environmental friendliness is a property that has become necessary for any material that needs to be competitive in the market. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is an analytical instrument that provides a framework for analyzing the impact of products and services on the environment, i.e. provides an understanding and the possibility of comparing different products. LCA studies the use of resources and the consequent emissions of pollutants on the environment during the entire life of a product from raw materials exploitation, through production, use and treatment at the end of the life cycle - recycling and final disposal. This paper will provide an overview of the LCA results of various commercial polymer packaging materials, as well as the results of LCAs of biopolymer materials. Although LCA faces the problem of data heterogeneity, since some studies focused on individual segments of the analysis, while some related to all aspects of the process, as well with the problem of interpreting heterogeneous results, because the output parameters were arbitrarily selected by the researcher, still it could be concluded that the available LCA studies and environmental assessments support further development of biobased polymers. When comparing biopolymer materials with commercial synthetic polymers, they have advantages - lower consumption of fossil fuels and lower emission rate of greenhouse gases from the whole life cycle.

This work aimed to determine the influence of biopolymer coatings based on pumpkin oil cake, with and without the addition of Mentha piperita essential oil, on the quality and shelf-life of the Afus Ali variety of grapes, stored at room temperature and in the refrigerator. Furthermore, a 10% (w/w) aqueous solution of composite pumpkin oil cake (PuOC) with the addition of 30% glycerol was prepared at 60 °C and pH 10. The active biopolymer coating was prepared similarly by adding 1% (v/v) Mentha piperita essential oil. The quality of packed grapes was tested by determining the dry matter content, total sugar content, total acidity, alcohol content, total phenolic compounds content, and total flavonoid content, as well as by determining the antioxidant activity, through the application of the DPPH, FRAP and ABTS tests. Additionally, microbiological parameters were investigated: total aerobic microbial count, yeasts, and molds. The obtained results proved that in all tested samples, over a certain period of time, the content of dry matter, content of phenolic and flavonoids substances and sugar content decreased as a consequence of the spoilage of grapes, that is, the consumption of sugar for the production of alcohol, which consequently leads to the total acidity increasing. The application of lower storage temperatures and active coating (with Mentha piperita essential oil) had a positive effect on all inevitable reactions. Grapes’ antioxidant potential may be enhanced or maintained by applying PuOC coating with or without Mentha piperita essential oil, which is best observed in the case of the DPPH test. The uncoated sample stored at room temperature had the largest decrease in DPPH values during storage, with changes ranging from 2.119 mg/g to 1.471 μmol mg/g. The samples, coated with PuOC and PuOC with the addition of essential oil, had uniform DPPH values throughout the entire storage period. Additionally, regarding phenolic content, at the end of storage period the highest phenolic content was observed in samples with active coating stored at room temperature (734.746 ± 2.462) and at refrigerator temperature (680.827 ± 0.448) compared with untreated samples and with samples with plain PuOC coating. The presence of active essential oil in the applied coating significantly affected the microbiological profile of grapes during the storage period. Besides the positive impact of the applied lower storage temperature, the effectiveness of the applied active packaging is even greater (microbiological results were in the order of PuOC+essential oil < PuOC < Control). The developed artificial neural networks were found to be adequate for modeling the microbiological profile, antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoid content.

Biopolymer-based materials present good alternatives for synthetic materials. However, their high water sensitivity may limit their usage for food products packaging. Addition of hydrophobic components into the material formulation could improve this property. In this work 3, 4 and 5 % (v/v) of Satureja montana or Ocimum basilicum essential oil was incorporated into biopolymer films based on pumpkin oil cake. The obtained materials were analyzed regarding mechanical, physicochemical, barrier and structural properties. Incorporation of the essential oils increased the thickness of the pumpkin oil cake film. Significant reductions in moisture sensitivity, related to physicochemical properties and water vapor transmission rate (almost for 30 %), were observed (p < 0.05). Improvement of light barrier properties was also observed so that the visible light transmission was decreased for around 50 % while the UV light transmission was lower than 1 %. The obtained FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of added essential oils in pumpkin oil cake films, as well as their influence on the reduction in the film surface hydrophilicity. However, mechanical properties, tensile strength and elongation at break, decreased significantly (p < 0.05). These results suggest that incorporation of Satureja montana or Ocimum basilicum essential oil improved barrier properties of pumpkin oil cake-based films and reduced the film affinity toward water.

In this work, pumpkin seed oil cake that remains after process of cold pressed oil extraction, was used for the production of composite biopolymer based packaging films. During the production of films, four degrees of filtration were applied. The obtained composite biopolymer films were analyzed for antioxidant activity using three different antioxidant activity assays: the ability to capture free radicals, including •DPPH radical and hydroxyl radical, •OH, as well as reduction power assay of the analyzed films. By comparing the antioxidant activity of the films obtained with different degrees of filtration, it can be concluded that the films obtained by finer filtration (smaller diameter of the filter pore) exhibit greater ability to capture •DPPH radicals, as well as higher reducing power, while the ability to capture hydroxyl radicals showed different trend. Films obtained from the coarser filtered fractions (higher diameter of the filtrate medium) showed greater •OH scavenging ability.

Lipid oxidation in fatty food products presents serious challenge, significantly limiting their shelf-life. One of the possible approaches to deal with it is use of high-barrier or active packaging. Oxidation affects the formation of potentially toxic aldehydes through the degradation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, reducing the nutritive value of food, and leads to significant changes in sensory properties. For fatty food products packing, biopolymer packaging materials may provide good alternative to plastic, due to competitive barrier properties to gases, their natural origin and biodegradability. In this paper, composite pumpkin oil cake (PuOC) and duplex pumpkin oil cake/maize zein films (PuOC/MZ) were prepared. Potential protective effects PuOC-based pouches were tested for packing fatty food products, and flaxseed oil was used as a model food system. Results showed that PuOC-based films ensure good oxidative stability and less satisfactory sensory quality of oil, without significance changes in oil composition.

The purpose of this paper is the synthesis and characterization of biodegradable composite films based on whole sunflower oil cake, as well as the effect of process parameters (pH and temperature)on the film properties obtained. Films were synthesized at different temperatures (room temperature, 60 °C and 90 °C) and pH values (10 and 12). The film samples obtained were characterized by the mechanical, barrier and physicochemical properties determination. The experimental results showed that the tensile strength values increased with temperature and pH value increments, whereas the sample with the highest elongation at break value was 60 °C/pH12. The water vapour permeability values were uniform (8.62 g/m2h - 11.63 g/m2h), and lower values were recorded in samples synthesized at higher temperatures. The results obtained relative to light transmission were uniform, and the maximum transmission value was reached at 800 nm (24.1- 35.7 %). The values obtained for swelling and solubility parameters are characteristic of the nature of biopolymer films.

In this paper, the application of a biopolymer coating based on chitosan was tested. The optimized coating was formed as a two-layer coating, wherein the first layer (which is in contact with the product) was formed of chitosan with emulsified caraway essential oil as an active component, whereas the second layer was formed of chitosan with the addition of beeswax to optimize the moisture barrier of the coating. As a substrate, the traditional dry fermented sausage Petrovská klobása was selected. The coating was applied to the sausage after drying. During two months of storage under controlled conditions, the influence of the coating on the loss of moisture, the oxidative stability and the sensory characteristic of aroma of the control sausage (without the coating) and sausage with the coating was monitored. The results obtained indicate a significant contribution of the applied dual layer chitosan-based coating to the preservation of the sausage quality parameters analyzed.

After oil production from oilseeds, valuable by-products (cake/meal) remain, which could be valorized as a raw material for animal feed, biofuel production, and extraction of valuable components (proteins, polysaccharides, phenols, etc.). Considering the composition of oil industry by-products, regarding the high content of proteins and polysaccharides, these materials present a promising substrate for eco-friendly biopolymer packaging materials production. Biopolymer films production from almost all oil industry by-products, cakes, meals, protein isolates, and concentrates has been investigated. In addition to globally present oilseeds (soybean, sunflower, and rapeseed), there are locally used oilseeds, like pumpkin seed, peanut, sesame, and others, whose by-products have been evaluated as raw materials for green packaging material production. In this chapter, different oil industry by-products utilized (as well as products derived from them) for packaging materials production will be reviewed. Recent trends in production, characterization, and potential applications of biopolymer materials obtained from oil industry by-products will be displayed.

The objective of this study was to examine influence of glycerol and guar-xanthan in different concentrations on bi-layer film based on pumpkin oil cake (PuOC) and corn zein, and to find optimal concentrations of these additives which result in film with optimal mechanical and barrier characteristics. Different concentrations of glycerol (30%, 40%, and 50%) as plasticizer and guar-xanthan (0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5%) as a stabilizer were added in PuOC layer, while zein layer stayed unchanged in all film compositions. Obtained results showed that the optimal mechanical properties had film with the lowest concentration of glycerol (30%) and the highest concentration of guar-xanthan (0.5%). Films showed poor barrier for water vapour, typical for biopolymer-based films. However, all tested films were very good barrier to O2 (transmission rate lower than 50 ml/m2/day at 1 bar). On the other hand, with increase of concentration of added substances, transmission rate of CO2 increased.

Biopolymer films can be used as packaging materials in the food industry, when they contribute to a better mechanical integrity of packaged foods and act as barrier to various environmental agents. The greatest disadvantage regarding biopolymer films application are poor barrier characteristic, which is a consequence of their high hydrophilicity; their mechanical and physico-chemical properties are considered to be a moderate disadvantage. This paper presents the effects of chemical modifications, such as the addition of hydrophobic components (essential oils), to the properties of biopolymer films. Except that the addition of essential oils significantly affects the mechanical, barrier and physico-chemical properties of biopolymer films, in this way, biopolymer films become active and exhibit antimicrobial and antioxidant action. Changes in the mechanical and barrier properties of various biopolymer films have been observed in particular, with and without the addition of oil in different concentrations.

Active films based on pumpkin oil cake, with 1 % and 2 % of winter savory and basil essential oil, were synthesized in the paper, and the antioxidant activity of the films obtained was subsequently examined. A biopolymer film based on pumpkin oil cake without the addition of essential oils was used as a control. The following methods were used for determining the antioxidant activity of the films: the DPPH radical scavenging activity, the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and the reducing power assay. The control film showed some antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity = 61 %, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity = 33 %, reducing power = 0.534). However, the addition of essential oils increased the antioxidant activity of the films, especially their reducing power, where as the film with 2 % of winter savory essential oil exhibited the highest activity. A slight increase in the DPPH radical and the hydroxyl radical scavenging activities was also observed with the incorporation of essential oils into the experimental films.

Present study investigated structure of starch based edible films with essential oil addition. Films were obtained from water solutions containing gelatinized modified starch, polyol, guar-xantan gum modified mixture and essential oil by casting it on a Petri dish and evaporating at room temperature for 72h. Both, glycerol and guar-xantan modified mixture, had role to improve film flexibility and enable better film folding and handling. Two sample groups were obtained: starch based edible films with black cumin oil addition and starch based edible films with black pepper oil addition. Both essential oils were added in three different concentrations. Starch based edible film without essential oil addition was used as blank shot. Structural properties were determined by analyzing spectra obtained by FT-IR Spectrometer in the spectral range of 4000–400 cm−1 with a 4.0 cm−1 resolution. Software Omnic 8.1. and TQ Analyst were used to operate the FTIR spectrometer, collect and present all the data. Results pointed to quantitative law dependency between added amount of essential oils and spectra absorption values for both sample groups and FTIR spectra were used to calculate coefficient of correlation.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the simultaneous effect of glycerol (30%, 40%, 50%) and guar-xanthan gum addition (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%) effect on starch based edible film mechanical and barrier properties. According to Response Surface Methodology, the most influential parameter in the second order polynomial models calculation was the percentage of glycerol, while the linear term of guar-xanthan content was important only for second order polynomial model calculation for tensile strength and water vapor permeability. According to Principal Component Analysis, samples grouping along the first component are primarily due to the content of glycerol, which is also confirmed by ANOVA analysis. According Cluster Analysis, two separate clusters are observed on the dendrogram, which includes the right (with the increased value of tensile strength) and the left cluster (with the increased value of elongation break and water vapor permeability). The observed distance the two clusters is considerable (approx. 80). [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR-31055: Osmotic dehydration of food - energy and environmental aspects of sustainable production]

Caraway essential oil and beeswax were added to chitosan in an attempt to design natural, biodegradable, bioactive (antioxidant and antimicrobial) packaging film with good barrier properties toward water vapor, as well as air oxygen. Results suggest that beeswax addition negatively affected mechanical properties and oxygen permeability (increased from 6.54 ± 3.94 cm3/(m224hbar) to 1903.17 ± 94.87 cm3/(m224hbar)), but lowered chitosan film sensitivity to ambient humidity, swelling in different pH, water solubility and water vapor transmission rate (decreased from 210.08 ± 7.76 g/m2 d to 32.48 ± 6.79 g/m2 d). Structural changes were only detected (using FTIR spectrometer) when beeswax was added to the film. Antioxidant activity of chitosan film was detected (28.96%, after 24 h) and it was significantly (p

The objective of the study was to evaluate the meat quality of the Serbian autochthonous White Mangalica pure bred pig and its crossbreed with Duroc. A total of 24 pigs [White Mangalica – WM, n = 12, and (Duroc × White Mangalica) × White Mangalica) – (DWM)WM, n = 12)] were slaughtered on average 638 and 509 d of age, respectively. Colour and marbling score, and all physical (pH, instrumental colour and water holding capacity) and chemical (proximate and mineral composition and fatty acids profile) analyses were performed on M. longissimus lumborum. Pork from WM had higher marbling score and intramuscular fat content and was redder in colour than from (DWM)WM; while opposite was determined for moisture content. In intramuscular fat, WM had higher content of oleic acid as well as total monounsaturated fatty acids than (DWM)WM, while (DWM)WM had higher linoleic and arachidonic acids as well as total polyunsaturated fatty acids content. Inclusion of 25% Duroc gave pork with lower content of iron, copper and manganese. In summary, irrespective of differences in some particular traits White Mangalica crossbreds can represent a good alternative to pure White Mangalica without worsening the meat quality.

In order to increase sustainability in the food industry, while maintaining product quality, the use of biopolymer packaging materials presents an attractive, ecofriendly alternative to synthetic polymers due to availability, low cost, and renewable raw materials and agroindustrial waste (biomass) usage. Materials used for biopolymer preparation are polysaccharides, proteins, or lipids, based on the compositional units. In order to improve biopolymer material properties, they can be laminated or formed as composites. In addition, biopolymer materials can be edible and/or active with strong antioxidant and/or antimicrobial properties. Numerous studies have been conducted with the aim of widening successful implementation of biopolymer packaging for a range of food products. It is very important to be familiar with properties of biopolymer packaging materials prior to application, as well as to produce biobased materials in terms of specificity of the product intended to be packed. The aim of this chapter is to review the possibility of biopolymer packaging material application for packing dairy, meat, fruits, and vegetable products.

Collagen casings are commercially used in sausage production. In this paper, collagen film that is used for sausage casings was laminated with chitosan film to produce barrier casing film. Chitosan coating was prepared by dissolving chitosan powder in 1% acetic acid. After dissolving chitosan, caraway essential oil, wetting agent Tween 20 and different amounts of beeswax, from 0 to 25 g were added to the solution. The solution was coated on collagen film surface in three layers, using a sponge brush to make laminated films. Films were air dried at temperature t = 23 °C ± 2 °C. Uncoated collagen film was used as reference. Film thickness, water vapor barrier properties and FTIR spectra were determined. With growing amount of beeswax added to the chitosan layer, film thickness grew from 112 µm for laminated film with 5 g of beeswax to 225 µm for film with 25 g of beeswax, compared to 83 µm for collagen film. Water vapor barrier properties improved with growing amount of beeswax in chitosan layer, ranging from 130.71 g/m224h for laminated film with added 5 g of beeswax to 66.96 g/m224h for the film with 25 g of beeswax, compared to 290.64 g/m224h for collagen film. Addition of beeswax showed great potential in lowering water vapor permeability of laminated collagen-chitosan film. FTIR spectra could be used to determine quantitative law dependency between added amount of beeswax and spectra absorption values,as well as to prove compactness of chitosan-beeswax layer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate bioactivity of chitosan film with incorporated caraway essential oil by measuring antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the potential interaction of functional groups of chitosan film and incorporated caraway essential oil. New detected peaks and main shifts in the peaks of chitosan spectra are attributed mainly to presence of s-(+)-carvone and limonene, the main components of caraway essential oil. The antioxidant activity of chitosan film was analyzed by DPPH method. Chitosan film without incorporated caraway essential oil showed the lowest scavenging ability (29.95%, after 24 h). The addition of different concentrations of caraway essential oil into chitosan film significantly enhanced antioxidant activity of pure chitosan film, reaching the maximum of 95%. ASTM E 2149 - 01 method was performed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of chitosan films. The reduction of bacteria cell number in contact with examined films was tested on Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium. The most sensitive bacteria was Staphylococcus aureus and the most resistant bacteria was Salmonella Typhimurium for all tested films. These results suggested that incorporation of caraway essential oil into chitosan film significantly improved its antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The film showed a great potential to be used as an active packaging material.

In order to extend product shelf life while preserving the quality scientific attention focused to biopolymers research that are base for edible films and coatings production. Another major advantage of this kind of food packaging is their eco-friendly status because biopolymers do not cause environmental problems as packaging materials derived from non-renewable energy sources do. Objective of this work was to review recently studied edible films and coatings - their sources, properties and possible application. As sources for edible biopolymers were highlighted polysaccharides, proteins and lipids. The most characteristic subgroups from each large group of compounds were selected and described regarding possible physical and mechanical protection; migration, permeation, and barrier functions. The most important biopolymers characteristic is possibility to act as active substance carriers and to provide controlled release. In order to achieve active packaging functions emulsifiers, antioxidants and antimicrobial agents can also be incorporated into film-forming solutions in order to protect food products from oxidation and microbial spoilage, resulting in quality improvement and enhanced safety. The specific application where edible films and coatings have potential to replace some traditional polymer packaging are explained. It can be concluded that edible films and coatings must be chosen for food packaging purpose according to specific applications, the types of food products, and the major mechanisms of quality deterioration.

Effects of endpoint temperatures of 51, 61, 71, 81 and 91C on mineral contents (mg/100 g WW, wet weight) of pork loin (longissimus thoracis et lumborum, n = 12) were investigated. Pork was cooked in water bath set to 100C. In both raw and cooked samples, phosphorus was determined by the standard spectrophotometric method while metals (potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, copper and manganese) were determined by the flame atomic absorption spectrometry after mineralization by dry ashing. All cooking treatments led to significantly increased mineral contents, except for potassium and sodium, compared to raw meat. As endpoint temperature was increased, mineral contents increased, reaching numerically or significantly highest contents at: 61C for sodium and magnesium; 71C for phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper and manganese; and 81C for iron, after which mineral contents decreased. Practical Applications During cooking, the meat undergoes changes in its physical properties and chemical composition. Cooking temperature and especially endpoint internal temperature affect mineral contents of cooked pork. Thus, it is important to know the extent of mineral losses occurring during different boiling treatments. Data in the most food composition tables are based on mineral contents of raw meat. The results provide update and improve regularly nutrient compositional data of meat.

In this paper, the changes of texture characteristics of Petrovská klobása, a traditional dry-cured sausage, were analysed during 150 days of storage. Sausages were produced in the traditional manner, but underwent drying and ripening processes in industrial conditions. Chitosan was used to coat experimental sausages after the drying process was considered finished. Changes in moisture content were measured during the storage period, but the differences between control and chitosan coated sausages were not significant (P>0.05). Changes in moisture content influenced progressive increases in hardness and chewiness of both groups of sausages. The differences in texture characteristics between the different sausage groups were not significant for the entire storage period. Chitosan coating had no positive influence on preventing texture changes in Petrovská klobása during storage.

The effects of pig breed (Large White and Landrace) in combination with muscle type ( M. semimembranosus and M. longissimus dorsi ) on T 45min , T 24h , pH 45min , pH 24h , colour (CIE L*a*b* values), water-holding capacity (filter paper press method: ratio of the area of pressed meat film – M and the wet area on the filter paper – T; M/T value) and moisture, protein, total fat and total ash content were investigated. Interaction effect between breed and muscle was not found ( p >0.05) for any parameter. The T 45min , T 24h , pH 45min , and M/T value were influenced by the muscle, whereas T 24h was also influenced by the breed. The pH 45min was higher ( p

In this paper, influence of increasing concentrations of beeswax on the antimicrobial activity of chitosan-caraway essential oil biofilm was investigated. Selected microorganisms for the test were Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes. Reduction of S. Typhimurium and L. monocythogenes viable counts in bacterial suspension in the presence of chitosan films with or without added beeswax amounted over 80 % after 24 h contact time, and over 95 % after 3 h of contact time, respectively and influence of added beeswax on growth reduction was not detected. However, when number of S. Typhimurium viable cells was analyzed (log CFU/ml), it was shown that addition of beeswax led to increased activity of films, especially for the films with 36 kg/m3 and 54 kg/m3of beeswax. When films were transferred, after 24 h in bacterial suspension, onto Petri dishes with nutrient agar and incubated for 24 h on 37°C, results also showed beeswax contribution to growth inhibition of S. Typhimurium.