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Nanostructuring and Microstructuring of Materials from a Single Agropolymer for Sustainable MAP Preservation of Fresh Food
Author(s) -
Cag Thibaut,
Guillaume Carole,
Guillard Valérie,
Gontard Nathalie
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
packaging technology and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.365
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1099-1522
pISSN - 0894-3214
DOI - 10.1002/pts.1973
Subject(s) - modified atmosphere , microscale chemistry , materials science , food packaging , composite material , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , mechanical engineering , mathematics , shelf life , engineering , mathematics education
The main objective of the present work was to determine whether a single agropolymer [wheat gluten (WG)] could fit the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) requirements of a range of six different fresh produce in key terms of oxygen permeation (Pe O2 ) and CO 2 /O 2 permselectivity (S) values. The required properties for optimal packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables were first evaluated using the Tailorpack MAP modelling software (UMR IATE, Montpellier, France) with packaging dimensions and respiratory and optimal atmosphere data as input parameters. Then, the modelled values obtained were compared with the properties of a range of WG composite films: monolayer self‐supported or multilayer at microscale or nanoscale, cast or thermoplasticised, with different formulations (percentage of plasticisers or nanofillers). The experimental gas transfer properties that could be covered by these materials ranged from 0.05 × 10 −10 to 2.00 × 10 −10 mol/m 2 s Pa for Pe O2 and up to 18.0 for S. These ranges are much larger than conventional plastics that exhibit Pe O2 from 0.10 × 10 −10 to 0.20 × 10 −10 mol/m 2 s Pa and S up to 4.5. It was demonstrated from a food‐requirements‐driven (Tailorpack modelling) and a multiscale film structuring (WG‐based composites) approaches, that transfer properties of WG‐based films would fit the requirements of the six selected fruits and vegetables better than conventional plastics. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.