ETHYLENE SCAVENGING ACTIVE NANOCOMPOSITE FILMS BASED ON CORN STARCH-GUM ARABIC WITH SEPIOLITE CLAY FOR FRESH PRODUCE PACKAGING

Abstract

Present study explores the development of ethylene scavenging active food packaging films based on corn starch (CS) gum arabic (GA) nanocomposite incorporated with different sepiolite clay(SP) concentrations (0, 3, 5, 10 and 20% w/w) via the solvent casting method. The effects of sepiolite clay on the prepared films were investigated by the optical, chemical, morphology, mechanical, thermal, crystallinity, barrier properties and ethylene scavenging capacity. The scanning electron microscope photographs showed that SP particles evenly distributed in the CS/GA film matrix. The X–Ray diffraction displayed that crystallinity of in the CS/GA/SP films increased with increasing concentration of SP. The addition of SP improved tensile strength (1.65±0.39 to 3.60±0.27 MPa) and elongation at break (8.68±1.00 to 11.43±0.33%) and water vapor permeability of the prepared CS/GA/SP films. The thermal stability of the CS/GA/SP films was also improved with the addition of sepiolite clay upto 20%. The films containing SP at the concentration of 20% showed the highest ethylene scavenging activity (13.8 µL/25 cm2). Results highlight the prospective and capable nature of SP incorporated CS/GA films as possible substitute for active/functional packaging films for ethylene sensitive produce. The active CS/GA/SP films showed great potential as environmentally friendly active packaging materials for fresh produce packaging.