Evaluation of the properties and antibacterial activity of microchitosan film impregnated with Shirazi thyme () and garlic () essential oils.

Background: Recent research has shown that chitosan has good moisture-absorbing properties at the micro and nanoscale, and seems to be a good candidate for the production of biodegradable moisture-absorbing films.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the properties and antibacterial activity of starch-based microchitosan (MCH) films impregnated with two essential oils (EOs).

Methods: MCH films with varying thicknesses were made from cornstarch (6%), microchitosan (1%), glycerol (2.

The effect of packaging and storage time on quality of clustered fresh pistachio.

Pistachio is one of the valuable, very nutritious, and high-energy fruits that is mainly dried and used as a snack due to problems with storage. Therefore, to investigate on how to extend clustered fresh pistachios' shelf-life, the effects of various packaging and storage conditions on the pistachios are presented in this study. Thus, clustered in-hull fresh pistachios were packaged in: (a) Polyethylene film, 45 µm in thickness; (b) polypropylene/polyethylene/polyamide/polyethylene/aluminum foil multilayer film, 90 µm in thickness; (c) both films with alcoholic paper; in air, and under two gas mixtures of 88%N + 10%CO + 2%O and 83%N + 15%CO + 2%O .

Optimization of biodegradable paper cup packaging coated with whey protein isolate and rice bran wax as potential popcorn package.

Biodegradable paper cups coated with rice bran wax and whey protein isolate were designed to package popcorn. Coatings with different concentrations of whey protein isolate (5.5, 7.

Biodegradable zein film composites reinforced with chitosan nanoparticles and cinnamon essential oil: Physical, mechanical, structural and antimicrobial attributes.

Natural bio-based zein films were prepared by incorporating cinnamon essential oil (CEO) and chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) at 2% and 4% (w/w) amounts, respectively, in order to provide mechanical and antimicrobial functionalities. The physical, mechanical, structural and antibacterial properties of the enriched zein films were also scrutinized. The results showed that the combination of CEO-CNPs significantly improves the tensile strength and decreases the elongation of zein film composite.

The effect of polyethylene glycol on the characteristics of kenaf cellulose/low-density polyethylene biocomposites.

Toward the development of biocomposites for packaging applications, the possibility of using kenaf cellulose (KC) was investigated in the production of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/KC/polyethylene glycol (PEG) biocomposites. First, cellulose was extracted from the cell walls of kenaf-bast fibers. Then, different weights of LDPE, KC, and PEG were blended, and the effects of varying the concentrations of KC and PEG on the synthesis process were evaluated, and the resulting composites were characterized with respect to their mechanical, thermal, biodegradability and water-absorption properties.