Active packaging enables improvement or maintenance of product quality, reducing the need for synthetic additives in product formulations.  The surfaces of polymer packaging films were modified to possess chelating activity. The resulting non-migratory active packaging film could prevent oxidative degradation of packaged foods.  Chelating moieties were grafted from polypropylene films using ultraviolet light initiated graft polymerization. The ability to prevent oxidation in an oil-in-water emulsion was evaluated at a range of pH.  Infrared spectroscopy, iron chelating, and lipid oxidation assays confirmed the presence and activity of chelating moieties at a surface density of ~70 nmol per square centimeter. The resulting films extended the lag phase of lipid oxidation by four-fold compared to a native polypropylene film.  The chelating packaging films designed herein may aid in reducing the use of synthetic chelators in product formulations, a potential benefit to producers seeking all natural claims.

Reducing additive use via non-migratory active packaging

245th National Meeting (2013)

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