Biopolymeric packaging films modified by plasma etching: A strategy to verify food security by the determination of NIAS and IAS

• Grant number: 24/09858-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Sandra Andrea Cruz
• Grantee: Jéssica Fernanda Pereira
• Supervisor: Cristina Nerin
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/00151-0 - Multifunctional natural polymers films and plasma-modified silver-based semiconductors: a strategy for the production of biocide materials with controlled permeability, BP.PD

Abstract

The population search for products of natural origin has increased every day, which ended up helping the increase in research involving the use of natural polymers. An example of this is the concern with the type of material used in the production of food packaging to be able to meet consumer demand for products with superior qualities, more safety, and with longer shelf life. Based on this, the present work has as a general objective the production of food packaging films using natural polymers that are abundant and also low cost, such as gelatin, xanthan gum, and cellulose. To improve the processability and elasticity properties of these materials, two different plasticizers, glycerol, and limonene will be employed. Additionally, the films will be modified in one face by oxygen plasma etching, producing a material with different physical-chemical characteristic in each face. Besides that, the plasma treatment can lead to the creation of crosslinking reactions between the polymers, which can improve the barrier properties of the material.Finally, no-intentionally added substances (NIAS) and intentionally added substances (IAS) will be determined and quantified through specific analytical techniques aiming to achieve the requirements established for food safety. This project approaches the execution of an internship in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Zaragoza, Spain. The results that can be obtained with this project can contribute significant data to understand the NIAS and IAS that can originate from the use of biopolymers, different plasticizers, and the etching plasma treatment in the production of food packaging material, which is of extremely importance to meet the requirements of food safety established.