Protein/Clay Nano-Biocomposites

International audienceIn the current context, protein-based materials might be considered as an alternative to the petroleum-based plastics since fully biodegradable and characterized by remarkable functional properties that can be exploited in a wide range of non-food applications. To improve their performances that are often restricted by high water sensitivity and low mechanical properties, a relevant strategy consisted in the development of protein/clay nanocomposite. For this purpose, several examples of protein-based nano-biocomposites were presented with a special attention for the methods used for the incorporation of layered silicates (organically modified or not) into the matrices and the ultimate functional properties exhibited by the resulting materials. In terms of mechanical properties, the addition of nanoclays leads to a significant improvement of material performance with an increase of Young’s modulus and tensile strength ranging between 1.5 and 2 times. As regards as barrier properties, the improvement appeared quite moderate in spite of a rather good dispersion of layered silicates that would be expected to result in a tortuous pathway limiting diffusion of gases molecules. Thus, a two-fold reduction in water vapour permeability was obtained, and the same or no effect in the case of permeability toward O2 and CO2

Impact of Two-Dimensional Particle Size Distribution on Estimation of Water Vapor Diffusivity in Micrometric Size Cellulose Particles

This work aims at assessing the impact of two-dimensional particle size distribution (2D-PSD) on the identification of water vapor diffusivity in micrometric size cellulose particles displaying a size aspect ratio lower than 2 and a cylindrical shape. First, different methodologies to obtain the two-dimensional (2D) particle size distribution (diameter versus length) were compared, based on image analysis. Then, experimental sorption kinetics were obtained by using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) coupled with a water vapor adsorption system. Diffusivity values were estimated when considering either the 2D-PSD or global descriptors, such as the mean or median diameter and length of particles. Results revealed that the use of an analytical approach when considering the 2D mean-PSD or the median-PSD was the most accurate way to get diffusivity values at the scale of particles in a polydisperse sample of cellulose particles. Following this approach, a water vapor apparent diffusivity of 3.1 × 10−12 ± 2.3 × 10−12 m2·s−1 was found for the considered cellulose sample. Neglecting PSD in diffusivity estimation led to an underestimation of a factor of 2. This procedure could be extended for all the polydisperse samples in order to have an accurate estimation of water vapor diffusivity at the scale of single particles

The Next Generation of Sustainable Food Packaging to Preserve Our Environment in a Circular Economy Context

Packaging is an essential element of response to address key challenges of sustainable food consumption on the international scene, which is clearly about minimizing the environmental footprint of packed food. An innovative sustainable packaging aims to address food waste and loss reduction by preserving food quality, as well as food safety issues by preventing food-borne diseases and food chemical contamination. Moreover, it must address the long-term crucial issue of environmentally persistent plastic waste accumulation as well as the saving of oil and food material resources. This paper reviews the major challenges that food packaging must tackle in the near future in order to enter the virtuous loop of circular bio-economy. Some solutions are proposed to address pressing international stakes in terms of food and plastic waste reduction and end-of-life issues of persistent materials. Among potential solutions, production of microbial biodegradable polymers from agro-food waste residues seems a promising route to create an innovative, more resilient, and productive waste-based food packaging economy by decoupling the food packaging industry from fossil feed stocks and permitting nutrients to return to the soil. To respond to the lack of tools and approach to properly design and adapt food packaging to food needs, mathematical simulation, based on modeling of mass transfer and reactions into food/packaging systems are promising tools. The next generation of such modeling and tools should help the food packaging sector to validate usage benefit of new packaging solutions and chose, in a fair and transparent way, the best packaging solution to contribute to the overall decrease of food losses and persistent plastic accumulation

Functional and tailor-made wheat gluten-based materials: properties and applications

International audienc

Exploring the potentialities of using lignocellulosic fibres derived from three food by-products as constituents of biocomposites for food packaging

Lignocellulosic fibres obtained by dry grinding of three different solid agro-residues, i.e. wheat straw, brewing spent grains and olive mills, were compared regarding their potential use as fillers in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) for food packaging applications. Differences found in their composition might have influenced their grinding ability, as observed with the difference of sizes, i.e. 109 !m, 148 !m and 46 !m, respectively. Thereafter, composites structure was characterized regarding their morphology, fibre/matrix interaction, matrix molecular weight and crystallization behaviour. Poor fibre/matrix adhesion, degradation of PHBV polymer chains, and decrease of PHBV’s crystallinity were evidence. Consequently, mechanical properties were degraded in presence of the fibres. Water vapour transfer rate of composites was increased with wheat straw fibres introduction while it was decreased for olive mills-based materials. Regarding the food packaging applications, PHBV/wheat straw fibres composites appeared as promising materials to reach the requirements of respiring food products, whereas PHBV/olive mills composites would be more adapted for water sensitive products.This work was also supported by FEDER funds through the program COMPETE (project PTDC/AGR-ALI/122741/2010), by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (PEst- C/CTM/LA0025/2013 – Projecto Estratégico – LA 25 – 2013–2014 – Strategic Project – LA 25 – 2013–2014) and by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2) through the project “Matepro – Optimizing Materials and Processes”, with reference NORTE-07- 0124-FEDER-000037 FEDER COMPET