Effects of Sorbic Acid‐Chitosan Microcapsules as Antimicrobial Agent on the Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer Film for Food Packaging

• Autores: Shuaifeng Hu, Jie Yu, Zhengfu Wang, Li Li, Yunfei Du, Liping Wang, Yuan Liu
• Localización: Journal of food science, ISSN 0022-1147, Vol. 82, Nº 6, 2017, págs. 1451-1460
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • This paper discusses the possibility of using sorbic acid‐chitosan microcapsules (S‐MPs) as an antibacterial component of active ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) film. S‐MPs with a diameter of approximately 1 to 4 μm showed a sorbic acid loading capacity of 46.5%. Addition of S‐MPs (3%, w/w) increased the tensile strength, haze, oxygen, and water vapor barrier properties, as well as reduced the elongations at break and transmittance of S‐MPs‐EVOH (S‐MP‐EVOH) film. Antibacterial tests showed that the inhibitory capacity of S‐MP‐EVOH film against Salmonella Enteritidisand Escherichia coliwas higher than that against Listeria monocytogenes. Moreover, the antibacterial effect of sorbic acid‐EVOH (S‐EVOH) film was stronger than that of S‐MP‐EVOH film. However, S‐MP‐EVOH film demonstrated a longer effective time than S‐EVOH film. Using the total viable counts and total volatile base nitrogen as the judgment standard, S‐MP‐EVOH/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composite film could extend the shelf life of fish fillets by 4 d at 4 °C, compared with EVOH/PET film. For this reason, S‐MP could be a potential antibacterial component of active films. Antimicrobial film that combines food packaging materials with antimicrobial substances provides a way to control microbial surface contamination of foods and extend shelf‐life, which meets the consumers’ demand. Sorbic acid‐chitosan microcapsules (S‐MPs) were prepared and subsequently incorporated as an antibacterial agent into ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) to prepare S‐MP‐EVOH (S‐MP‐EVOH) film with delayed release of sorbic acid and improved properties for food packaging. S‐MP‐EVOH film was applied to the preservation of snakehead fillets. This work will provide useful information for incorporation of microencapsulated antibacterial agents in food packaging films.