title: Development of chitosan/montmorillonite nanocomposites with encapsulated α-tocopherol.
abstract: Nanocomposites of chitosan (CS) were developed and characterized in a full factorial design with varying levels of montmorillonite (MMTNa) and encapsulated tocopherol (toc-encap). The structural properties (XRD, FTIR), morphology (TEM), hygroscopic properties (water vapour permeability, hydrophobicity, sorption isotherms) and optical properties (haze, CIELab parameters) of the resulting materials were evaluated. Toc-encap contents up to 10% influenced the intercalation of MMTNa in the CS matrix, resulting in films with reduced water vapour permeability (3.48×10(-11)(g/msPa)), increased hydrophobicity (ΔGHydroph |7.93-59.54|mJm(-2)) and lower equilibrium moisture content (EMC), thus showing potential for active food packaging materials. At levels above 10%, toc-encap agglomerates occurred, which deteriorated the properties of the resulting films, as shown with the TEM. As the toc-encap content increased, the films became slightly more yellow, more irregular and less transparent, with a higher haze index.
authors.affiliation: Food Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, 37200-000 Lavras, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: maralivileladias@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marali Vilela
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Food Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, 37200-000 Lavras, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Machado Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Food Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, 37200-000 Lavras, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Soraia Vilela
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Department, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nilda de Fátima Ferreira
authors.initials: Nde F
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Campus de Rio Paranaíba, Federal University of Viçosa, 38810-000 Rio Paranaíba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Regiane Victória
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: de Barros Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, 37200-000 Lavras, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: João José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Department, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eber Antonio Alves
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000379:methods*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D048271:Chitosan; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol
keywords: Moisture resistance; Morphological properties; Packaging; Structural properties