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- Title
Enhancing the Tearability and Barrier Properties of Cellulose Acetate Bioplastic Film with Polyethylene Glycol 1450 as an LDPE Replacement for Food Packaging.
- Authors
Siew, Zhi Zhou; Chan, Eric Wei Chiang; Wong, Chen Wai
- Abstract
Cellulose acetate (CA) is a sustainable alternative to low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is a major source of plastic waste. However, the barrier properties and mechanical strength of CA may limit its application as single-use food plastic packaging. This study aims to overcome these limitations by incorporating polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1450 ranging from 10 to 50% w/w. PEG 1450 improved water vapor barrier but increased moisture content, though both values remained similar up to 50% w/w PEG 1450. CA bioplastic films showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) UV–Vis absorbances at 40% w/w PEG 1450, suggesting that a high concentration of PEG 1450 can prevent lipid oxidation but also increase opacity as reflected on the physical appearance. The reduced transparency was caused by aggregation and physical exclusion of PEG 1450 from the CA matrix which was observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Meanwhile, PEG 1450 was miscible and compatible with CA at low concentration. In terms of mechanical properties, inclusion of PEG 1450 at 10 and 20% w/w improved the tearability of CA bioplastic films. In short, the incorporation of PEG 1450 improved barriers against UV and water vapor and tearability, making it superior to commercial LDPE plastic in some respects but lacking in others. Nonetheless, its advantages make it suitable for producing single-use food packaging, hence potentially replacing LDPE.
- Subjects
CELLULOSE acetate; POLYETHYLENE glycol; FOOD packaging; POLYETHYLENE films; SINGLE-use plastics
- Publication
Food & Bioprocess Technology, 2024, Vol 17, Issue 8, p2265
- ISSN
1935-5130
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11947-023-03255-2