Effect of film type and temperature on diffusion properties of biodegradable composite films

• Grant number: 13/12546-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Principal Investigator: José Francisco Lopes Filho
• Grantee: Carolina Pena Serna
• Supervisor: Frank Welle
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/08107-3 - Development of zein-based biodegradable films, characterization of the functional and structural properties and evaluation of the use as coatings in the conservation of the physicochemical characteristics of Minas padrão cheese, BP.DR

Abstract

Non-biodegradable materials (e.g. plastics) are frequently used for food packaging increasing waste accumulation and intensifying environmental pollution. Nowadays, with the world's environmental concern, different kind of biodegradable packaging, such as biodegradable films have been developed (Bourtoom, 2008; Ghanbarzadeh et al., 2006; Pérez et al., 2009). Two biodegradable composite films, zein-oleic acid (Z-AO) and zein-oleic acid-xanthan gum (Z-AO-GX), were developed in the doctoral project funded by FAPESP (process nº 2011/08107-3). Both films have displayed better barrier properties than other biodegradable films reported in the literature. Nonetheless, further analyses to assess migration properties are required in order to prove film safety and its capacity to release active substances. Hence, the aim of this project is to evaluate migration processes between Z-AO and Z-AO-GX films and some food simulants and foodstuffs and thereby, to determine Z-AO and Z-AO-GX diffusion properties. (AU)