Pilot-Scale Processing and Functional Properties of Antifungal EVOH-Based Films Containing Methyl Anthranilate Intended for Food Packaging Applications

Abstract

Antimicrobial packaging has emerged as an efficient technology to improve the stability of food products. In this study, new formulations based on ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer were developed by incorporating the volatile methyl anthranilate (MA) at different concentrations as antifungal compound to obtain active films for food packaging. To this end, a twin-screw extruder with a specifically designed screw configuration was employed to produce films at pilot scale. The quantification analyses of MA in the films showed a high retention capacity. Then, the morphological, optical, thermal, mechanical and water vapour barrier performance, as well as the antifungal activity in vitro of the active films, were evaluated. The presence of MA did not affect the transparency or the thermal stability of EVOH-based films, but decreased the glass transition temperature of the copolymer, indicating a plasticizing effect, which was confirmed by an increase in the elongation at break values of the films. Because of the additive-induced plasticization over EVOH, the water vapour permeability slightly increased at 33% and 75% relative humidity values. Finally, the evaluation of the antifungal activity in vitro of the active films containing methyl anthranilate showed a great effectiveness against P. expansum and B. cinerea, demonstrating the potential applicability of the developed films for active food packaging.

Innovative Systems for the Delivery of Naturally Occurring Antimicrobial Volatiles in Active Food-Packaging Technologies for Fresh and Minimally Processed Produce: Stimuli-Responsive Materials

“…Furthermore, introducing the volatile compound in the final stages of the compounding process, as a preventive measure against evaporation, can result in uneven distribution within the polymer matrix [ 19 ]. There are numerous studies that have investigated the addition of essential oils using this technique to inhibit antimicrobial activity [ 61 ]. For example, bakery products were packaged on thermoformed trays of PLA obtained through cast sheet extrusion containing carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde, and mold spoilage was delayed for 2 days in trays with 8% ( w / w ) of cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol, compared to the control [ 62 ].…”

ZIF-8 encapsulation improves the antifungal activity of benzaldehyde and methyl anthranilate in films

“…A comparison of these loading values with other porous frameworks is presented in Table 1, revealing the high payload obtained in both ZIF-8-based composites. In view of these values and considering the inhibitory concentrations required for antifungal activity in essential oils, 33,34 it can be postulated that the loaded biomolecule contents obtained may be appropriate for fungicidal applications in both cases.…”

Structure and catalytic performance relationship of ionic liquids as recyclable alcoholysis catalysts for green preparation of ethylene‐vinyl alcohol copolymer

“…Ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymers are an important category of barrier materials that have been used in many applications such as packaging of food, cosmetics, and fuel tanks owing to their excellent barrier properties, nontoxicity, good chemical resistance, thermal stability, and processability. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Recently, the significant growth of green packing demand as well as their great potential for innovation fields including battery separator, 9,10 protein separation, 11,12 and drug release 13,14 have led to a resurgence of interest of these materials in both academia and industry. The current industrial production involves radical copolymerization of ethylene and vinyl acetate to give the precursor ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, which is subjected to alcoholysis with methanol to afford EVOH.…”