I. Leceta

Functional properties of chitosan-based films.

Chitosan-based films plasticized with glycerol were prepared by casting with the aim to obtain environmentally friendly materials for packaging applications. Different contents of glycerol were incorporated into chitosan solutions to improve mechanical properties and all films obtained were flexible and transparent. It was observed that the transparency and good behaviour of the films against UV radiation were not affected by chitosan molecular weight or glycerol content. Moreover, chitosan-based films exhibited excellent barrier properties against water vapour and oxygen, even with the addition of glycerol. The effect of the plasticizer on the properties has been explained using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. The changes observed in the intensity of the bands showed that glycerol interacts with chitosan, which could be confirmed by total soluble matter (TSM).

Extraction of agar from Gelidium sesquipedale (Rodhopyta) and surface characterization of agar based films

The chemical structure of the agar obtained from Gelidium sesquipedale (Rhodophyta) has been determined by (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance ((13)C NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Agar (AG) films with different amounts of soy protein isolate (SPI) were prepared using a thermo-moulding method, and transparent and hydrophobic films were obtained and characterized. FTIR analysis provided a detailed description of the binding groups present in the films, such as carboxylic, hydroxyl and sulfonate groups, while the surface composition was examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The changes observed by FTIR and XPS spectra suggested interactions between functional groups of agar and SPI. This is a novel approach to the characterization of agar-based films and provides knowledge about the compatibility of agar and soy protein for further investigation of the functional properties of biodegradable films based on these biopolymers.

Chicken feathers as a natural source of sulphur to develop sustainable protein films with enhanced properties

In this work, the effect of hydrolyzed keratin on the properties of soy protein-based films was analyzed when different manufacture processes were employed. It is widely known that the processing method selected can affect the film properties as a function of the structure obtained during the film formation. Therefore, the assessment of hydrolyzed keratin/soy protein films processed by casting and compression moulding was carried out by means of the analysis of physicochemical, thermal, mechanical, optical and surface properties. It was observed that the incorporation of hydrolyzed keratin, obtained from a simpler, environmentally friendlier and more sustainable extraction method, resulted in the improvement of the thermal stability of the films, irrespective of the processing method employed. Moreover, the films processed by compression moulding showed enhanced tensile strength, which increased with the incorporation of hydrolyzed keratin due to the formation of disulfide bonds.

Assessment of gallic acid-modified fish gelatin formulations to optimize the mechanical performance of films

In this study, a response surface methodology (RSM) using a Box-Behnken design was applied to optimize the mechanical response (tensile strength, elongation at break and Youngs modulus) of fish gelatin films. These responses were analyzed as a function of glycerol content (0-10% on gelatin basis), added as a plasticizer, gallic acid content (5-15% on gelatin basis), used as crosslinker, and solution pH (4.5-10). Second order polynomial models were adjusted for the three responses, and they were found to be reliable according to the standard statistical analysis. The values of the independent factors that maximize the responses were also determined. In order to relate mechanical performance to material structure, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was carried out and this revealed that a reaction occurs between gelatin and gallic acid through a process that releases water and provides a plasticizing effect. The performed time-, material- and cost-saving optimization of the formulation based on biodegradable compounds from abundant renewable resources enabled a sustainable approach to the development of new materials.