Researchers in São Paulo, Brazil, have unveiled a significant advancement in sustainable packaging with the development of a biodegradable film. Crafted from a compound derived from limonene, found in citrus fruit peel, and chitosan, a biopolymer sourced from crustacean exoskeletons, the innovative film addresses environmental concerns surrounding traditional petroleum-based packaging.
The pervasive use of non-biodegradable packaging materials has contributed to a global plastic crisis, accumulating in oceans and landfills. In response, the food industry is actively seeking sustainable alternatives that not only meet human health and environmental safety standards but also preserve nutritional quality and sensory traits.
The research, a collaborative effort between the Department of Materials Engineering and Bioprocesses at the State University of Campinas’s School of Chemical Engineering and the Packaging Technology Center at the Institute of Food Technology, focuses on leveraging limonene due to Brazil’s prominent position as a leading orange producer.
Previous attempts at using limonene in food packaging were hindered by volatility and instability during manufacturing. To overcome this, the researchers introduced a derivative called poly(limonene), which offers enhanced stability. Chitosan, chosen for the film matrix, is a natural polymer with established antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, creating a synergistic effect.
Through polymerization, the team successfully combined limonene, poly(limonene), and chitosan to create a film with impressive bioactive properties. Comparative analyses demonstrated the film’s superior antioxidant activity, twice as potent as those with conventional limonene.
The substance also exhibited effectiveness as a UV radiation blocker and proved non-volatile, making it suitable for large-scale production under more demanding processing conditions. While the films are not yet ready for commercial use due to scalability challenges with chitosan-based plastic production, the researchers are optimistic about the potential of their multifunctional additive.
Roniérik Pioli Vieira, co-author of the study and a professor at FEQ-UNICAMP, expressed the team’s dedication to optimizing the production process for poly(limonene) and exploring its applications in various fields, emphasizing its renewable origins. The breakthrough signals a promising step toward more environmentally friendly packaging solutions in the future.
