A Talc- and Kaolin-Enriched Acetylated Starch Biocoating: An Alternative to Single-Use Plastic for the Food Industry
The increasing production of plastics, driven by modern societal development, has resulted in a significant rise in plastic waste, which poses serious environmental concerns due to its lengthy degradation times. The growing issue of single-use plastics (SUPs), such as packaging for food items and di...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Polysaccharides |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4176/5/4/42 |
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| author | Antonio Veloso-Fernández José Manuel Laza Leyre Pérez-Álvarez José Luis Vilas-Vilela |
| author_facet | Antonio Veloso-Fernández José Manuel Laza Leyre Pérez-Álvarez José Luis Vilas-Vilela |
| author_sort | Antonio Veloso-Fernández |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing production of plastics, driven by modern societal development, has resulted in a significant rise in plastic waste, which poses serious environmental concerns due to its lengthy degradation times. The growing issue of single-use plastics (SUPs), such as packaging for food items and disposable utensils, has led to their reduction and potential future prohibition in the European Union. Cellulose, a natural biopolymer sourced from nature, has been proposed as a viable alternative to SUPs because it degrades without toxicity. However, its limited barrier properties against water and grease have restricted its effectiveness as a substitute. This study focuses on developing an environmentally friendly alternative to SUPs by combining cellulose with acetylated starch and incorporating inorganic fillers like kaolin and talc. These fillers enhance the material’s barrier properties and reduce production costs. The results indicate that the addition of kaolin significantly lowers moisture absorption and water vapor permeability, while a mixture of kaolin and talc provides superior grease resistance. Additionally, incorporating D-sorbitol as a plasticizer improves the mechanical properties of the coated sheets, preventing cracking and enhancing strength. Overall, these coatings offer a promising alternative for packaging applications, such as for sugar, candies, or chocolate. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f712b6d11eb4f33be5a0906fe74a4f4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2673-4176 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polysaccharides |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f712b6d11eb4f33be5a0906fe74a4f42025-08-20T02:43:20ZengMDPI AGPolysaccharides2673-41762024-11-015465667110.3390/polysaccharides5040042A Talc- and Kaolin-Enriched Acetylated Starch Biocoating: An Alternative to Single-Use Plastic for the Food IndustryAntonio Veloso-Fernández0José Manuel Laza1Leyre Pérez-Álvarez2José Luis Vilas-Vilela3Grupo de Química Macromolecular (LABQUIMAC), Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, SpainGrupo de Química Macromolecular (LABQUIMAC), Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, SpainGrupo de Química Macromolecular (LABQUIMAC), Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, SpainGrupo de Química Macromolecular (LABQUIMAC), Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, SpainThe increasing production of plastics, driven by modern societal development, has resulted in a significant rise in plastic waste, which poses serious environmental concerns due to its lengthy degradation times. The growing issue of single-use plastics (SUPs), such as packaging for food items and disposable utensils, has led to their reduction and potential future prohibition in the European Union. Cellulose, a natural biopolymer sourced from nature, has been proposed as a viable alternative to SUPs because it degrades without toxicity. However, its limited barrier properties against water and grease have restricted its effectiveness as a substitute. This study focuses on developing an environmentally friendly alternative to SUPs by combining cellulose with acetylated starch and incorporating inorganic fillers like kaolin and talc. These fillers enhance the material’s barrier properties and reduce production costs. The results indicate that the addition of kaolin significantly lowers moisture absorption and water vapor permeability, while a mixture of kaolin and talc provides superior grease resistance. Additionally, incorporating D-sorbitol as a plasticizer improves the mechanical properties of the coated sheets, preventing cracking and enhancing strength. Overall, these coatings offer a promising alternative for packaging applications, such as for sugar, candies, or chocolate.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4176/5/4/42starch biocoatingcellulosekaolintalcbarrier propertiessingle-use plastic |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Veloso-Fernández José Manuel Laza Leyre Pérez-Álvarez José Luis Vilas-Vilela A Talc- and Kaolin-Enriched Acetylated Starch Biocoating: An Alternative to Single-Use Plastic for the Food Industry Polysaccharides starch biocoating cellulose kaolin talc barrier properties single-use plastic |
| title | A Talc- and Kaolin-Enriched Acetylated Starch Biocoating: An Alternative to Single-Use Plastic for the Food Industry |
| title_full | A Talc- and Kaolin-Enriched Acetylated Starch Biocoating: An Alternative to Single-Use Plastic for the Food Industry |
| title_fullStr | A Talc- and Kaolin-Enriched Acetylated Starch Biocoating: An Alternative to Single-Use Plastic for the Food Industry |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Talc- and Kaolin-Enriched Acetylated Starch Biocoating: An Alternative to Single-Use Plastic for the Food Industry |
| title_short | A Talc- and Kaolin-Enriched Acetylated Starch Biocoating: An Alternative to Single-Use Plastic for the Food Industry |
| title_sort | talc and kaolin enriched acetylated starch biocoating an alternative to single use plastic for the food industry |
| topic | starch biocoating cellulose kaolin talc barrier properties single-use plastic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4176/5/4/42 |
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