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Projeto de investigação
Bionanocomposites of Cellulose for Application in Food packaging: Production and Characterization
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Packaging of Fresh Poultry Meat with Innovative and Sustainable ZnO/Pectin Bionanocomposite Films
Publication . Przybyszewska, Adrianna; Barbosa, Cássia H.; Pires, Filipa; Pires, João Ricardo Afonso; Rodrigues, Carolina; Galus, Sabina; Souza, Victor Gomes Lauriano; Alves, Marta M.; Santos, Catarina F.; Coelhoso, Isabel; Fernando, Ana Luísa; MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; DQ - Departamento de Química; LAQV@REQUIMTE; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
The development of innovative/sustainable materials capable of enlarging the shelf-life of food products has lately been a focus of research, aiming to reduce food waste. Due to their good antimicrobial properties, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) can add activity to food packaging, improving its performance. Furthermore, these nanoparticles are considered GRAS by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which represents an advantage in their application. Through an innovative and sustainable approach using tomato and passionfruit extracts, ZnO NPs were produced and incorporated into pectin films. The resulting bionanocomposites were tested for their activity via in situ studies, using fresh poultry meat as a food matrix. Overall, the bionanocomposites presented good antimicrobial activity, with the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of pectin having shown to be enhanced by the incorporated ZnO NPs. When used as primary packaging for the meat, the deterioration rate of the poultry meat, measured through microbiological growth and total volatile basic nitrogen content, was reduced. However, the nanoparticles contributed to the increment of discoloration and meat oxidation processes. Nonetheless, it can be concluded that fresh poultry meat protected with the bionanocomposites presented an extension of its shelf-life time, and it was confirmed that this eco-friendly packaging has potential to be employed by the food industry.
Current Applications of Bionanocomposites in Food Processing and Packaging
Publication . Pires, João Ricardo Afonso; Rodrigues, Carolina; Coelhoso, Isabel; Fernando, Ana Luísa; Souza, Victor Gomes Lauriano; DQ - Departamento de Química; MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; LAQV@REQUIMTE; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Nanotechnology advances are rapidly spreading through the food science field; however, their major application has been focused on the development of novel packaging materials reinforced with nanoparticles. Bionanocomposites are formed with a bio-based polymeric material incorporated with components at a nanoscale size. These bionanocomposites can also be applied to preparing an encapsulation system aimed at the controlled release of active compounds, which is more related to the development of novel ingredients in the food science and technology field. The fast development of this knowledge is driven by consumer demand for more natural and environmentally friendly products, which explains the preference for biodegradable materials and additives obtained from natural sources. In this review, the latest developments of bionanocomposites for food processing (encapsulation technology) and food packaging applications are gathered.
Methodologies to Assess the Biodegradability of Bio-Based Polymers—Current Knowledge and Existing Gaps
Publication . Pires, João Ricardo Afonso; Souza, Victor Gomes Lauriano; Fuciños, Pablo; Pastrana, Lorenzo; Fernando, Ana Luísa; MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Our society lives in a time of transition where traditional petroleum-based polymers/plastics are being replaced by more sustainable alternative materials. To consider these bioproducts as more viable options than the actual ones, it is demanded to ensure that they are fully biodegradable or compostable and that there is no release of hazardous compounds to the environment with their degradation. It is then essential to adapt the legislation to support novel specific guidelines to test the biodegradability of each biopolymer in varied environments, and consequently, establish consistent data to design a coherent labeling system. This review work aims to point out the current standards that can serve as a basis for the characterization of biopolymers’ biodegradation profile in different environments (soil, compost, and aquatic systems) and identify other laboratory methodologies that have been adopted for the same purpose. With the information gathered in this work, it was possible to identify remaining gaps in existing national and international standards to help establish new validation criteria to be introduced in future research and policies related to bioplastics to boost the sustainable progress of this rising industry.
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SFRH/BD/144346/2019