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Effect of Essential Oils in the Properties of Cellulosic Active Packaging
Author(s) -
Espitia Paula J.P.,
Soares Nilda De F.F.,
Botti Laura C.M.,
Silva Washington A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200900124
Subject(s) - elongation , emulsion , cellulosic ethanol , materials science , active packaging , composite material , microstructure , water vapor , active ingredient , chemical engineering , cellulose , food packaging , organic chemistry , chemistry , food science , ultimate tensile strength , engineering , bioinformatics , biology
The use of essential oils (EO) as antifungal agents is an alternative to synthetic fungicides. In the present work, active packaging in the form of cellulosic films and paper coated with a cellulosic emulsion incorporated with 20% cinnamon, oregano or lemongrass EO was developed. The mechanical properties (maximum load‐at‐break and elongation at break), the water‐vapor‐barrier properties and the microscopic characterization of the packaging materials were evaluated. The EO added to the packages significantly affected the maximum load at break of the active films and their elongation at break. The EO incorporated in the films and coated paper did not affect the water‐vapor barrier. However, this parameter was significantly modified when the uncoated paper and coated paper with and without EO were evaluated. The incorporation of EO altered the microstructures of the active films and coated paper.