Design Of Eco-Friendly Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) Film Loaded With
Bio-Additives For Possible Food Packaging Applications

S.Swathi¹, P.Keerthana¹, G.Rajiv1, S.Ananda Kumar^1*, J.P.Nirmala², R.Neelakantan³

¹Department of Chemistry, College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, Chennai 600025, Tamil Nadu, (INDIA)
²Department of Textile Technology, A.C. Tech Campus, Guindy, Anna University, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, (INDIA)
³Department of Printing Technology, College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, (INDIA)

PAGE NO: 140-149

ABSTRACT – DOI : https://dx.doi.org/10.47204/EMSR.1.2.2020.140-149

An active packaging film for food packaging applications based on PLA with Spirulina and guava leaf extract was constructed. The effect of different levels of biocide incorporation on physical properties (contact angle, water absorption, and oxygen permeability), mechanical properties (tensile strength) and thermal properties (degradation behavior, glass transition and melting characteristics) of PLA films was investigated. Incorporation of Spirulina into PLA films showed more improvement in mechanical properties than incorporation of guava leaves. However, guava leaf extract loaded PLA films had better barrier properties towards water and oxygen. The agar disc diffusion method was employed to determine the antibacterial activities of PLA films with biological additives against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results revealed the maximum zone of inhibition observed for E. coli (the common foodborne pathogen responsible for food spoilage) was 15±0.44. This work clearly confirms the dual scope of PLA as suitable and sustainable material for active food packaging applications to replace the existing non-biodegradable petroleum-based counterparts.