Lotus Flower Extract Films as Sustainable pH Indicators for Food Packaging

Jenn Hoskins
17th June, 2024

Lotus Flower Extract Films as Sustainable pH Indicators for Food Packaging

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok developed an eco-friendly film that changes color to indicate food freshness
  • The film, made from alginate, PVA, garlic, and Nelumbo nucifera extract, shows strong interactions between its components, enhancing its performance
  • The film changes color from purple to green when food spoils, providing real-time information about food quality and safety
Environmental concerns and the need for sustainable food packaging have driven researchers to explore innovative materials that can enhance food safety and reduce waste. A recent study by King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok presents a significant advancement in this field with the development of an eco-friendly pH-sensitive indicator film[1]. This film, created through the solvent casting process, incorporates alginate, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), garlic, and Nelumbo nucifera flower extract, offering a promising solution for real-time food monitoring. The study extensively explored the chemical and physical properties of the film using various characterization techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed strong interactions between the polymers and the extract. These interactions are crucial as they influence the film's performance characteristics, such as swelling behavior, water solubility, and moisture content. The incorporation of the Nelumbo nucifera extract notably enhanced the thermal stability, biodegradability, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of the film. One of the most striking features of this new film is its ability to change color in response to pH variations. This characteristic is particularly useful for monitoring the freshness of food. During the storage of shrimp, the film exhibited a visible color transition from purple to green, indicating spoilage. This color change correlates with the measurement of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN), a common indicator of food freshness. The film's responsiveness to pH changes makes it an intelligent packaging material capable of providing real-time information about food quality. This innovation builds upon previous research efforts aimed at developing sustainable and functional food packaging materials. For example, earlier studies have highlighted the potential of biopolymers such as cellulose, starch, chitosan, polylactic acid, and polyhydroxyalkanoates in food packaging. However, their commercial application has been limited due to poor performance characteristics and high production costs[2]. The current study addresses some of these limitations by incorporating natural extracts that enhance the functional properties of the biopolymer matrix. Moreover, the study's findings align with previous research on the development of active films from non-toxic and antioxidant-rich bio-sources. For instance, chitosan films enhanced with mango leaf extract (MLE) have demonstrated improved antioxidant activity and mechanical properties, making them suitable for food preservation[3]. Similarly, the new pH-sensitive film leverages the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of garlic and Nelumbo nucifera extract to enhance food safety. The application of natural colorants in food packaging is another area where this study makes a significant contribution. Natural colorants are valued for their ability to monitor food freshness through color changes, as demonstrated in intelligent packaging systems[4]. The pH-sensitive film developed in this study not only utilizes natural extracts for their functional properties but also for their ability to provide visual cues about food quality. In conclusion, the development of the PVA/alginate/garlic/Nelumbo nucifera film represents a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable and intelligent food packaging solutions. By addressing the limitations of previous biopolymer-based materials and incorporating natural extracts with beneficial properties, this study paves the way for more effective and environmentally friendly packaging options. The ability of the film to provide real-time information about food freshness through color changes offers a practical and innovative approach to enhancing food safety and reducing waste.

SustainabilityBiotechPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Nelumbo nucifera flower extract incorporated alginate/polyvinyl alcohol films as a sustainable pH indicator for active food packaging applications.

Published 14th June, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133170

Related Studies

2) Recent advances and future prospects of cellulose, starch, chitosan, polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates for sustainable food packaging applications.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.08.203

3) Mango leaf extract incorporated chitosan antioxidant film for active food packaging.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.12.196

4) Recent advancements in natural colorants and their application as coloring in food and in intelligent food packaging.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134453


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