Recent Advances in the Development of Smart and Active Biodegradable Packaging Materials

Interest in the development of smart and active biodegradable packaging materials is increasing as food manufacturers try to improve the sustainability and environmental impact of their products, while still maintaining their quality and safety. Active packaging materials contain components that enhance their functionality, such as antimicrobials, antioxidants, light blockers, or oxygen barriers. Smart packaging materials contain sensing components that provide an indication of changes in food attributes, such as alterations in their quality, maturity, or safety. For instance, a smart sensor may give a measurable color change in response to a deterioration in food quality. This article reviews recent advances in the development of active and smart biodegradable packaging materials in the food industry. Moreover, studies on the application of these packaging materials to monitor the freshness and safety of food products are reviewed, including dairy, meat, fish, fruit and vegetable products. Finally, the potential challenges associated with the application of these eco-friendly packaging materials in the food industry are discussed, as well as potential future directions.

Web Based Decision Support System yo Determine yhe Appropriate Packaging of Ethnic and Traditional Indonesian Foods

Culinary efforts, especially ethnic and traditional snacks attract many people to Indonesia. Maintaining the quality of snacks for consumers requires a good packaging technique. Food packaging consists of a wide variety of packaging options that match the characteristics of each snack; this is no easy task. Decision support systems can help to facilitate decisions made regarding selection of the right packaging. This paper focuses on identifying snacks, types of packaging and active packaging parameters to build a decision support system in order to determine appropriate packaging. Types of packaging are determined using fuzzy Sugeno 4 parameters: fat, water activity, shelf-life and price. Active packaging of the snacks is done using the if-else rule with parameterised types of packaging, preservatives, oxygen barriers and water vapour barriers. The end result of this research is a web-based decision support system, which recommends types of packaging and active packaging for snacks.

Interfacial interaction exploration and oxygen barrier potential of polyethylene/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol)/clay hybrid nanocomposites

Hybrid nanocomposites based on high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/poly (ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH)/clay were prepared and fully characterized. Morphological (WAXS and TEM), calorimetric (DSC), and dynamic mechanical thermal (DMTA) analyses were applied to investigate potential of nanocomposites as barrier against oxygen. Co-existence of ingredients of different nature, i.e. HDPE (general-purpose non-polar component), EVOH (engineering polar component with excellent barrier properties), nanoclay (planar one-dimensional mineral barrier nanofiller), and maleated HDPE (PE-g-MA) as coupling agent, brings about serious intricacies in view of interaction between existing phases. Conceptual/experimental analysis was performed to explore the interdependence between microstructure and oxygen barrierity of HDPE/EVOH/clay nanocomposites through the lens of interaction state in the system. Morphological measurements confirmed formation of an intercalated nanostructure, while investigations on complex viscosity, storage modulus, permeability, thermo-mechanical properties, and nanoclay interlayer galleries were all indicative of dependence of nanocomposites’ properties on molecular interactions. The performance of nanocomposite sheets as oxygen barriers was mechanistically explained.

Graphenic Nanocomposite Barrier Films

ABSTRACTThe use of modern graphenic materials for improving oxygen barriers in food packaging and anti-corrosion barriers in coatings is explored by compounding and casting graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) with polyethylene (PE) and epoxy (EP). The GNP / PE films show comparable oxygen transmission rates to the neat PE films, indicating that further processing will be necessary to realize the desired enhancements. Early corrosion tests indicate that the GNP / EP coatings are providing more protection than the neat EP coatings on steel. Experiments to expand on these results are underway.