DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF POLYLACTIDE BASED NANOFIBROUS pH INDICATOR

Abstract

In this study, a colorimetric pH indicator was developed using nanofibrous mats of polylactide (PLA) including turmeric, a natural dye. Firstly, nanofibrous mats were produced by dissolving PLA at different concentrations in chloroform (CHL)/dimethylformamide (DMF) at various volume ratios, and morphological analysis was performed. Subsequently, turmeric was added at a concentration of 2% wt. to the polymer solution having a PLA concentration of 10% in 75/25 CHL/DMF, and nanofibrous pH indicators were produced. Then, pH indicators containing turmeric were immersed into pH buffer solutions (pH 1, 4, 7 and 10), and color variations were measured using a spectrophotometer. It was foreseen that the produced pH indicators have the potential to be used in intelligent food packaging applications.