Next Article in Journal
Retentive Characteristics of a New Attachment System for Hybrid Dentures
Next Article in Special Issue
Biodegradable Polymers for the Production of Nets for Agricultural Product Packaging
Previous Article in Journal
Influence of Superhydrophobic Coating on the Water Resistance of Foundry Dust/Magnesium Oxychloride Cement Composite
Previous Article in Special Issue
Unraveling the History and Revisiting the Synthesis of Degradable Polystyrene Analogues via Radical Ring-Opening Copolymerization with Cyclic Ketene Acetals
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Materials
Volume 13
Issue 15
10.3390/ma13153432
materials-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Compostable Polylactide and Cellulose Based Packaging for Fresh-Cut Cherry Tomatoes: Performance Evaluation and Influence of Sterilization Treatment

by
Marco Rapisarda
1,
Cristina Patanè
2,
Alessandra Pellegrino
2,
Angelo Malvuccio
2,
Valeria Rizzo
3,
Giuseppe Muratore
3 and
Paola Rizzarelli
1,*
1
CNR-Istituto per i Polimeri, Compositi e Biomateriali (IPCB)-SS di Catania, via P. Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy
2
CNR-Istituto per la BioEconomia (IBE), SS di Catania, via P. Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy
3
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment-Di3A, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Materials 2020, 13(15), 3432; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153432
Submission received: 3 July 2020 / Revised: 26 July 2020 / Accepted: 2 August 2020 / Published: 4 August 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymers: From Synthesis to the Market)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

For food packaging, plastic materials display large appeal, mostly due to their versatility, mechanical, optical and barrier properties. However, they play an important role in environmental concerns and waste management issue. Compostable bioplastics represent alternative materials designed for a lower environmental impact. In this work, a biobased compostable packaging, constituted by polylactide (PLA) trays and NatureFlex™ film, was evaluated for fresh-cut cherry tomato. A comparative analysis was accomplished using traditional packaging materials, that is, polyethylene terephtalate (PET) trays and polypropylene (PP Coex) film. Structural stability under food contact conditions, mechanical and physical-chemical properties were investigated. Tensile mechanical properties, puncture resistance, contact angle (CA) and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), before and after UV or radiofrequency (RF) sterilization treatment, were evaluated. UV irradiation method resulted the less invasive one. Therefore, oxygen and water vapor transmission rate (OTR and WVTR), overall chemical migration test, biodegradation assessment by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) according to ISO 14851 and disintegration test by ISO 20200 were carried out to establish the further influence of UV sterilization on the packaging. Overall, data showed that the biobased compostable packaging for a prolonged shelf-life of fresh-cut cherry tomato has better properties that were surprisingly enhanced by the UV treatment.
Keywords: polylactide; PET; natureflex; biodegradable film; barrier properties; packaging; mechanical properties; UV sterilization; radiofrequency; waste management polylactide; PET; natureflex; biodegradable film; barrier properties; packaging; mechanical properties; UV sterilization; radiofrequency; waste management
Graphical Abstract

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Rapisarda, M.; Patanè, C.; Pellegrino, A.; Malvuccio, A.; Rizzo, V.; Muratore, G.; Rizzarelli, P. Compostable Polylactide and Cellulose Based Packaging for Fresh-Cut Cherry Tomatoes: Performance Evaluation and Influence of Sterilization Treatment. Materials 2020, 13, 3432. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153432

AMA Style

Rapisarda M, Patanè C, Pellegrino A, Malvuccio A, Rizzo V, Muratore G, Rizzarelli P. Compostable Polylactide and Cellulose Based Packaging for Fresh-Cut Cherry Tomatoes: Performance Evaluation and Influence of Sterilization Treatment. Materials. 2020; 13(15):3432. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153432

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rapisarda, Marco, Cristina Patanè, Alessandra Pellegrino, Angelo Malvuccio, Valeria Rizzo, Giuseppe Muratore, and Paola Rizzarelli. 2020. "Compostable Polylactide and Cellulose Based Packaging for Fresh-Cut Cherry Tomatoes: Performance Evaluation and Influence of Sterilization Treatment" Materials 13, no. 15: 3432. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153432

APA Style

Rapisarda, M., Patanè, C., Pellegrino, A., Malvuccio, A., Rizzo, V., Muratore, G., & Rizzarelli, P. (2020). Compostable Polylactide and Cellulose Based Packaging for Fresh-Cut Cherry Tomatoes: Performance Evaluation and Influence of Sterilization Treatment. Materials, 13(15), 3432. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153432

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop