Pullulan-Chitosan Coatings Onto Polyethylene Foils for the Development of Active Packaging Material

Abstract

Polyethylene (PE) material in the form of foils as conventional packaging material was functionalised with polysaccharide pullulan and an additional layer of chitosan macromolecular solution. In this study, the best concentration of pullulan (10%, 20% or 30%) was determined with the objective of improving the barrier properties of conventional PE food packaging material. As additional layer, a chitosan macromolecular solution was adsorbed to the material in order to endow it with antimicrobial activity. In this way, a functional composite material was developed, which can find potential application as active packaging, to offer prolonged shelf-life to packaged food. The functionalized PE material was analysed from the physico-chemical point of view (gravimetric analysis, goniometry, FTIR spectroscopy, standard test for oxygen permeability, SEM analysis). Moreover, antimicrobial testing of the foils was done and the desorption of both polysaccharides from the PE surface was evaluated. The latter properties are essential when evaluating the practical value of active packaging.