Plastic waste is currently generated at a rate approaching 400 Mt year–1. The amount of plastics accumulating in the environment is growing rapidly, yet our understanding of its persistence is very...

Degradation Rates of Plastics in the Environment

Starch Nanoparticles: A Review

Concerns on environmental waste problems caused by non-biodegradable petrochemical-based plastic packaging materials as well as the consumer's demand for high quality food products has caused an increasing interest in developing biodegradable packaging materials using annually renewable natural biopolymers such as polysaccharides and proteins. Inherent shortcomings of natural polymer-based packaging materials such as low mechanical properties and low water resistance can be recovered by applying a nanocomposite technology. Polymer nanocomposites, especially natural biopolymer-layered silicate nanocomposites, exhibit markedly improved packaging properties due to their nanometer size dispersion. These improvements include increased modulus and strength, decreased gas permeability, and increased water resistance. Additionally, biologically active ingredients can be added to impart the desired functional properties to the resulting packaging materials. Consequently, natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite packaging materials with bio-functional properties have a huge potential for application in the active food packaging industry. In this review, recent advances in the preparation of natural biopolymer-based films and their nanocomposites, and their potential use in packaging applications are addressed.

Natural Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposite Films for Packaging Applications

Developments in organic solid–liquid phase change materials and their applications in thermal energy storage

Recent trends in biodegradable polymers indicate significant developments in terms of novel design strategies and engineering to provide advanced polymers with comparably good performance. However, there are several inadequacies in terms of either technology or cost of production especially in the case of applications in environmental pollution. So, there is a need to have a fresh perspective on the design, properties and functions of these polymers with a view to developing strategies for future developments. The paper reviews the present state-of-art on biodegradable polymers and discusses the salient features of the design and properties of biodegradable polymers. Special emphasis is given to the problems and prospects of (1) approaches adopted to make non-biodegradable synthetic polymers such as polyethylene biodegradable and (2) biodegradable polymers and copolymers made from renewable resources especially poly(lactic acid) based polymers and copolymers which are emerging as the candidate biodegradable materials for the future.

Biodegradable Polymers- A Review on Recent Trends and Emerging Perspectives

Biodegradable films made from low density polyethylene (LDPE), wheat starch and soluble starch for food packaging applications. Part 2

The mechanical properties and gas/water permeabilities of extrudates of low density polyethylene (LDPE), wheat starch and ethylene acrylic acid (EAA) or polycaprolactone (PCL) were studied after their conditioning at various relative humidities. Satisfactory agreement was found between the experimental values, pertaining the mechanical properties, and estimates obtained by applying several semiempirical equations. The presence of starch contents (> 30%) or PCL had an adverse effect on the mechanical properties of LDPE/starch blends, whereas EAA acted as a compatibilizer by increasing the percentage elongation of the blends. Gas permeability and water vapour transmission rate increased proportionally to the starch/PCL content in the blend. Several theoretical and semiempirical calculation were also applied for gas permeability and possible interpretations were provided for the occasionally observed deviations between the experimental and the theoretical values.

Biodegradable Films Made from Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Ethylene Acrylic Acid (EAA), PolyCaprolactone (PCL) and Wheat Starch for Food Packaging Applications: Part 3

Hiromasa Ogawa

Papers

Biodegradable films made from low density polyethylene (LDPE), wheat starch and soluble starch for food packaging applications. Part 2

Biodegradable Films Made from Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Ethylene Acrylic Acid (EAA), PolyCaprolactone (PCL) and Wheat Starch for Food Packaging Applications: Part 3