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Halloysite Nanotubes/Polyethylene Nanocomposites for Active Food Packaging Materials with Ethylene Scavenging and Gas Barrier Properties

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Abstract

Novel polymeric active food packaging films comprising halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as active agents were developed. HNTs which are hollow tubular clay nanoparticles were utilized as nanofillers absorbing the naturally produced ethylene gas that causes softening and aging of fruits and vegetables; at the same time, limiting the migration of spoilage-inducing gas molecules within the polymer matrix. HNT/polyethylene (HNT/PE) nanocomposite films demonstrated larger ethylene scavenging capacity and lower oxygen and water vapor transmission rates than neat PE films. Nanocomposite films were shown to slow down the ripening process of bananas and retain the firmness of tomatoes due to their ethylene scavenging properties. Furthermore, nanocomposite films also slowed down the weight loss of strawberries and aerobic bacterial growth on chicken surfaces due to their water vapor and oxygen barrier properties. HNT/PE nanocomposite films demonstrated here can greatly contribute to food safety as active food packaging materials that can improve the quality and shelf life of fresh food products.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Eczacıbaşı ESAN (Turkey) for providing HNTs, Mr. Turgay Gonul for assistance with SEM and TEM analyses, and Dr. Ilhan Ozen for assistance with gas permeability measurements. This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK; grant no. 113O872).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey

    C. Erdinc Tas, Saman Hendessi, Mustafa Baysal, Fevzi C. Cebeci & Yusuf Z. Menceloglu

  2. Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey

    Serkan Unal, Fevzi C. Cebeci & Hayriye Unal

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  1. C. Erdinc Tas
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  2. Saman Hendessi
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  3. Mustafa Baysal
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  4. Serkan Unal
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  5. Fevzi C. Cebeci
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  6. Yusuf Z. Menceloglu
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  7. Hayriye Unal
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Correspondence to Hayriye Unal.

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Tas, C.E., Hendessi, S., Baysal, M. et al. Halloysite Nanotubes/Polyethylene Nanocomposites for Active Food Packaging Materials with Ethylene Scavenging and Gas Barrier Properties. Food Bioprocess Technol 10, 789–798 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-017-1860-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-017-1860-0

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