Potential of polysaccharides for food packaging applications. Part 1/2 : An experimental review of the functional properties of polysaccharide coatings

• Published in: Food hydrocolloids 2023-11, Vol.144, p.108955, Article 108955
• Main Authors: Ureña, María, Phùng, Thị Thanh-Trúc, Gerometta, Massimiliano, de Siqueira Oliveira, Luciana, Chanut, Julie, Domenek, Sandra, Dole, Patrice, Roudaut, Gaelle, Lagorce, Aurélie, Karbowiak, Thomas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Biopolymer film; Coatings; Life Sciences; Multilayer packaging; Paper-based packaging; Polysaccharides; Toxicology; Toxicology and food chain
• ISSN: 0268-005X; 1873-7137
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.108955

Environmental issues related to the use of plastic packaging have sparked a growing interest in the development of more sustainable solutions. Biopolymers, used alone or in combination with other materials, have been considered a potential alternative to conventional fossil-based plastics. Hence, this study aimed at unraveling the potentiality offered by polysaccharides for food packaging applications. To that purpose, an extended characterization of the barrier (to oxygen and water vapor), mechanical and optical properties (transparency and UV-blocking ability) of nine different polysaccharide films (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, low-methoxyl pectin, cationic starch, sodium alginate, kappa-carrageenan, chitosan, and pullulan) was performed to provide a broad overview of their main physicochemical properties under standardized conditions. In addition, the properties of the film-forming solutions, such as viscosity and surface tension, were also evaluated. All polysaccharides obviously presented low water vapor barrier performance due to their hydrophilic nature (water vapor permeance from 10−6 to 10−8 mol.m-2.s-1.Pa-1). Among all the polysaccharides studied, chitosan, low-methoxyl pectic, kappa-carrageenan, pullulan, cationic starch and sodium alginate, displayed medium to very high oxygen barrier performance in semi-dry (50% RH) and humid (80% RH) conditions (oxygen permeance from 10−13 to 10−15 mol.m-2.s-1.Pa-1), contrarily to cellulose derivatives which showed the poorest performance (oxygen permeance >10−12 mol.m-2.s-1.Pa-1). This opens on interesting perspectives for the use of polysaccharides as coating materials for high oxygen barrier packaging. [Display omitted] •The functional properties of 9 different polysaccharide films from different sources were investigated.•Alginate films showed the best oxygen barrier performance.•Cellulose derivatives films presented poor oxygen barrier performance.•Hydroxypropyl cellulose, chitosan and sodium alginate solutions displayed favorable wetting of paper surface.•The barrier properties of all polysaccharides studied were modified by the relative humidity conditions.