Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Agriculture, Savadkooh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Savadkooh, Iran
2 Dep. of Agriculture, Savadkooh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Savadkooh, Iran
3 Department of Chemistry, Savadkooh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Savadkooh, Iran
4 Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
To improve the mechanical, physical and biological properties of bio-polymeric films, the fabrication of composite films has been considered by mixing different polymers, fillers and additives. The present study was carried out to survey the physical, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of active composite film in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments, including two-component polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan film, three-component polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/montmorillonite film, three-component film incorporated thyme (2%) and garlic (2%) extract alone or in combination with each other. The findings showed that adding nano-montmorillonite to the two-component film resulted in three-component composite films with improved mechanical and physical properties. At the same time, the fabrication of a three-component active composite film by adding plant extracts, especially when they are used together in the composition of the film, in addition to improved mechanical and physical properties, reinforced the antimicrobial properties of the film. The three-component active composite film containing thyme and garlic extract has the highest thickness (0.18 mm), favourable tensile strength, elongation at break, solubility, and water absorption capacity, leading to the lowest water vapour permeability (3.65 gmm/m2hPa), and the maximum diameter of the inhibitory zone against S. aureus (23.33 mm) and E. coli (18.46 mm). Therefore, this active three-component composite film, having favourable physical, mechanical and antimicrobial properties, can be used as a biodegradable packaging material in the food industry.
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