Development and characterization of edible films from mixtures of κ-carrageenan, ι-carrageenan, and alginate

• Published in: Food hydrocolloids 2015-05, Vol.47, p.140-145
• Main Authors: Paula, Gabriela A., Benevides, Norma M.B., Cunha, Arcelina P., de Oliveira, Ana Vitória, Pinto, Alaídes M.B., Morais, João Paulo S., Azeredo, Henriette M.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Biopolymers; Food packaging; Polysaccharides
• ISSN: 0268-005X; 1873-7137
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2015.01.004

Different proportions of κ-carrageenan, ι-carrageenan and alginate have been used to prepare glycerol-plasticized edible films, according to a simplex-centroid mixture design. κ-carrageenan was the component which most improved the moisture barrier and overall tensile properties (except elongation), while ι-carrageenan was the component which most impaired those properties. Alginate was the component which most favored film uniformity (as observed by SEM images) and transparency, while ι-carrageenan presented a high density of clusters and, accordingly, the highest effect on opacity. Aggregates in ι-carrageenan probably resulted from an early gelation induced either by the eventual presence of salt contaminants or by cooling the film dispersions to temperatures below 45 °C (coil-helix transition temperature of ι-carrageenan) upon casting. Those aggregates resulted in impaired physical (tensile, barrier, and optical) properties of films containing ι-carrageenan. [Display omitted] •Films were prepared from κ-carrageenan, ι-carrageenan and alginate.•κ-carrageenan was the component which most improved barrier and tensile properties.•ι-carrageenan was the component which most impaired such properties.•Alginate based films presented the highest uniformity and transparency.•ι-carrageenan-containing films presented aggregates and high opacity.