Influence of Functional Bio-Based Coatings Including Chitin Nanofibrils or Polyphenols on Mechanical Properties of Paper Tissues

Abstract

The paper tissue industry is a constantly evolving sector that supplies markets that require products with different specific properties. In order to meet the demand of functional properties, ensuring a green approach at the same time, research on bio-coatings has been very active in recent decades. The attention dedicated to research on functional properties has not been given to the study of the morphological and mechanical properties of the final products. This paper studied the effect of two representative bio-based coatings on paper tissue. Coatings based on chitin nanofibrils or polyphenols were sprayed on paper tissues to provide them, respectively, with antibacterial and antioxidant activity. The chemical structure of the obtained samples was preliminarily compared by ATR-FTIR before and after their application. Coatings were applied on paper tissues and, after drying, their homogeneity was investigated by ATR-FTIR on different surface areas. Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties were found for chitin nanofibrils- and polyphenols-treated paper tissues, respectively. The mechanical properties of treated and untreated paper tissues were studied, considering as a reference the same tissue paper sample treated only with water. Different mechanical tests were performed on tissues, including penetration, tensile, and tearing tests in two perpendicular directions, to consider the anisotropy of the produced tissues for industrial applications. The morphology of uncoated and coated paper tissues was analysed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. Results from mechanical properties evidenced a correlation between morphological and mechanical changes. The addition of polyphenols resulted in a reduction in mechanical resistance, while the addition of chitin enhanced this property. This study evidenced the different effects produced by two novel coatings on paper tissues for personal care in terms of properties and structure.

From Food Waste to Functional Biopolymers: Characterization of Chitin and Chitosan Produced from Prepupae of Black Soldier Fly Reared with Different Food Waste-Based Diets

“…The elevated level of acetylation (>50%) in chitin delimits its use in applications requiring chitin to exist in nanofibril form due to its poor solubility. Therefore, if the rearing of this insect is aimed at obtaining chitin nanofibrils [6,[24][25][26], the vegetable diet seems to be the worst solution because it results in the chitin with the lowest acetylation degree. Thus, it is the one that can be better solubilized in an acid solution.…”

“…They form stable suspensions in slightly acidic water solutions. Moreover, their application, as the one of chitosan, enhanced barrier properties of biopolymer substrates [23], suggesting applications in the sector of bionanocomposites for the packaging [22,24] and personal care sector [25,26]. The control of the deacetylation reaction and the final acetylation degree is, thus, pivotal for modulating the macromolecular structure and morphology of the final product.…”

Active Ingredients and Carriers in Nutritional Eco-Cosmetics

“…An example of nutritional eco-cosmetic application is given by the electrospun tissue based on pullulan loaded by dry powder impregnation with CN-NL complexes containing glycyrrethinic acid (from liquorice), produced to obtain an innovative and effective beauty mask by Teno et al [177]. Compression moulded beauty masks releasing starch in water [178][179][180][181][182][183][184][185][186][187][188][189] modified on the surface with CN-NL, CN and CN-NL containing Vitamine E [180] were also prepared and studied as biopolymeric substrates for developing new nutritional cosmetics. Moreover, CN from shrimps exoscheletons and polyphenols from watermelon peels were simply deposited, by formulating a liquid coating, on cellulose tissues for personal care applications [181].…”

“…Compression moulded beauty masks releasing starch in water [178][179][180][181][182][183][184][185][186][187][188][189] modified on the surface with CN-NL, CN and CN-NL containing Vitamine E [180] were also prepared and studied as biopolymeric substrates for developing new nutritional cosmetics. Moreover, CN from shrimps exoscheletons and polyphenols from watermelon peels were simply deposited, by formulating a liquid coating, on cellulose tissues for personal care applications [181]. Their permanence onto cellulose is granted by hydrogen bonds due to the similar chemical structures of molecules and substrates, bearing a high concentration of -OH groups.…”

Antimicrobial and Gas Barrier Crustaceans and Fungal Chitin-Based Coatings on Biodegradable Bioplastic Films

“…The application of chitin nanofibrils (CN), representing the crystalline part of chitin, or chitosan onto cellulosic paperboards resulted in significant improvement of fresh-food shelf-life packed in coated paperboard with respect to an untreated one [ 16 ]. Moreover, chitin nanofibrils were also applied to cellulosic tissues by wet coating [ 17 ] or by electrospray [ 18 ], showing antimicrobial properties.…”