Development and Active Biodegradable Film Evaluation Incorporated with Oregano Essential Oil and Nanoclay

Abstract

Biodegradable and active packaging comes against the industry wishes to offer innovative products and to help protect the environment, and avid consumers for food products with lower levels of additives, being thus healthier and safer. The objective of this work was to produce and characterize active biodegradable films, by extrusion blow processing, with 58% of thermoplastic starch (29g glycerol/100 g cassava starch), 40% poly (butylene adipate co-terephthalate), 1 to 2 % oregano essential oil, 1 to 2% of nanoclay. The three films were characterized sorption properties, films permeability to water vapor and mechanical strength. The nanoclay presence increased 11% in the tensile strength and did not alter the permeability to water vapor, however the presence of the oregano essential oil decreased hydrophilicity of the films. Further studies should be conducted to assess the stability of these packages and the antimicrobial effect.