Preparation and Characterization of Carboxymethyl Cellulose Films with Embedded Essential Oils

Abstract

There is current interest in using biobased materials to produce food packaging that can increase the shelf-lives of fruits and vegetables and minimize food spoilage in supermarkets and at the same time not generating plastic waste that causes long-term disposal problems. A good candidate for such materials is the polysaccharide, such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), which is edible and biodegradable. In this work films were produced from two CMC materials with different degrees of substitution (DS) that encapsulated four different essential oils (eugenol, rosemary oil, coriander oil, and nutmeg oil) that are known to have beneficial properties for food applications. The mechanical properties, opacity, and water vapor permeation were evaluated. In general, the essential oil-embedded CMC with the two DS values behaved rather differently. In particular, the essential oil-embedded CMC with 0.7 DS degree of substitution gave stronger and more flexible films and may be more suited for use in food packaging.

Self-Compounded Nanocomposites: toward Multifunctional Membranes with Superior Mechanical, Gas/Oil Barrier, UV-Shielding, and Photothermal Conversion Properties

“…Self-compounded CCi nanocomposite membranes showed comparable or superior mechanical properties with high tensile strength and Youngʼs moduli (Figure d), compared with reported materials fabricated from common synthetic polymers including PE, PP, PTFE, ABS, thermoplastic PU, and ionomers; other cellulose derivatives, such as cellulose fatty acid esters, cellulose acetate, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose; ,,− , and composites, such as epoxy/coconut shell particles, regenerated cellulose/graphite oxides, PP/hemp fibers, and epoxy/core shell rubber. ,,, These exceptional mechanical properties of CCi membranes should be ascribed to the unique self-compounded nanocomposite structures. All self-compounded nanocomposite membranes were compact in structure with CCi-NPs firmly embedded in a continuous CCi matrix or fused with adjacent NPs, which indicated the perfect compatibility of the two phases in self-compounded nanocomposite membranes in comparison to conventional nanocomposites with at least two chemical constituents.…”

“…(e) Tensile strength and Youngʼs moduli of self-compounded CCi 0.6 , CCi 1.0 , and CCi 2.0 nanocomposite membranes, in comparison with a few common synthetic polymers, cellulose derivatives, and composites. Ionomers, epoxy/C–P: epoxy/coconut shell particles, PTFE: polytetrafluoroethylene, MC: methyl cellulose, CE: cellulose fatty acid esters, HPC: hydroxypropyl cellulose, PE: polyethylene, HPMC: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, PP: polypropylene, PP/hemp-F: polypropylene/hemp fibers, PU: polyurethane, RC/GO: regenerated cellulose/graphite oxide, CA: cellulose acetate, − CAP: cellulose acetate propionate, , CMC: carboxymethyl cellulose, , ABS: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, Epoxy/CSR: epoxy/core–shell rubber, CAB: cellulose acetate butyrate, and EC: ethyl cellulose…”

Real-Time Visualization of Cellulase Activity by Microorganisms on Surface

“…However, the roughness formed by the cellulase enzyme is more dispersed upon the surface ( Figure 6 B). SEM visualization of various CMC films was performed in the past, especially in the context of edible and anti-microbial film, which are incorporated with nanoparticles or essential oils for that purpose [ 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ]. Hence, SEM images of pure CMC films are scarce, yet the few found resemble the films we observe, and slight changes can be attributed to the acridine orange added to the films here.…”

Developing a method for real-time visualization of cellulase activity

“…The roughness formed by the cellulase enzyme, however, is more dispersed upon the surface ( Figure 6B). SEM visualization of various CMC films was performed in the past, especially in the context of edible and anti-microbial film, which are incorporated with nano-particles or essential oils for that purpose [66][67][68][69] . Hence, SEM images of pure CMC films are scarce, yet the few found resemble the films we observe and slight changes can be attributed to the acridine orange added to our films.…”