title: Transparent bionanocomposite films based on chitosan and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers with enhanced mechanical and barrier properties.
abstract: The development of biobased active films for use in food packaging is increasing due to low cost, environmental appeal, renewability and availability. The objective of this research was to develop an effective and complete green approach for the production of bionanocomposite films with enhanced mechanical and barrier properties. This was accomplished by incorporating TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical) into a chitosan matrix. An aqueous suspension of chitosan (100-75wt%), sorbitol (25wt%) and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TEMPO-CNFs, 0-25wt%) were cast in an oven at 40°C for 2-4days. Films were preconditioned at 25°C and 50% RH for characterization. The surface morphology of the films was revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The thermal properties and crystal structure of the films were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTG) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Incorporation of TEMPO-CNFs enhanced the mechanical strength of the films due to the high aspect ratio (3-20nm width, and 10-100nm length) of TEMPO-CNFs and strong interactions with the chitosan matrix. Oxygen and water vapor transmission rates for films that are prepared with chitosan and TEMPO-CNFs (15-25wt%) were significantly reduced. Furthermore, these bionanocomposite films had good thermal stability. Use of TEMPO-CNFs in this method makes it possible to produce bionanocomposite films that are flexible, transparent, and thus have potential in food packaging applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, Mississippi State University, Box 9820, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
authors.forename: Bhawna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.affiliation: Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, Mississippi State University, Box 9820, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Electronic address: e.hassan@msstate.edu.
authors.forename: El Barbary
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Box 9805, MS 39567, USA.
authors.forename: M Wes
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Schilling
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Box 9805, MS 39567, USA; Department of Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion and Coastal Research & Extension Center, Mississippi State University, 3411 Frederic St., Pascagoula, MS 39567, USA.
authors.forename: Barakat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized / Q000737:chemistry*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D055620:Optical Phenomena
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized; D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides; D048271:Chitosan; C003959:TEMPO
keywords: Cellulose nanofibers; Chitosan; Mechanical properties; Oxygen permeability; TEMPO-mediated oxidation