Electrospun Oxygen Scavenging Films of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Containing Palladium Nanoparticles for Active Packaging Applications

The main fields of operation for Metallurgical and Materials Engineering are production of engineering materials, defining and improving their features, as well as developing new materials to meet the expectations at every aspect of life and the users from these aspects. Founded in 2004 and graduated its 10th-semester alumni in 2018, our Department also obtained MÜDEK accreditation in the latter year. Offering the opportunity to hold an internationally valid diploma through the accreditation in question, our Department has highly qualified and experienced Academic Staff. Many of the courses offered at our Department are supported with various practice sessions, and internship studies in summer. This way, we help our students become better-equipped engineers for their future professional lives. With the Cooperative Education curriculum that entered into effect in 2019, students may volunteer to work at contracted companies for a period of six months with no extensions to their period of study.

Abstract

This paper reports on the development and characterization of oxygen scavenging films made of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) containing palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) prepared by electrospinning followed by annealing treatment at 160 degrees C. The PdNPs were modified with the intention to optimize their dispersion and distribution in PHB by means of two different surfactants permitted for food contact applications, i.e., hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). Analysis of the morphology and characterization of the chemical, thermal, mechanical, and water and limonene vapor barrier properties and the oxygen scavenging capacity of the various PHB materials were carried out. From the results, it was seen that a better dispersion and distribution was obtained using CTAB as the dispersing aid. As a result, the PHB/PdNP nanocomposites containing CTAB provided also the best oxygen scavenging performance. These films offer a significant potential as new active coating or interlayer systems for application in the design of novel active food packaging structures.

Description

Correa, Adriane Cherpinski/0000-0002-3445-6618; Torres-Giner, Sergio/0000-0001-9071-9542; Turkoglu Sasmazel, Hilal/0000-0002-0254-4541; LAGARON, Jose/0000-0002-0502-359X