Enhancements made to carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) by integrating zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) with graphene oxide (GO) lead to significant improvements in its structural and optoelectronic properties, paving the way for effective antimicrobial packaging solutions. This innovative approach demonstrates the potential of using higher performance biocomposite materials to combat common challenges faced by the food packaging industry.
One of the major issues plaguing the food packaging sector is the persistent reliance on single-use plastics, which poses dire environmental concerns. Scientists around the globe are steering efforts toward sustainable and biodegradable alternatives. A recent study turns the spotlight on CMC, derived from cellulose, which is lauded for its natural abundance, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Despite these advantages, pure CMC lacks the ability to effectively shield against ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is detrimental to food products and can lead to health risks.
This study aimed to improve CMC's UV shielding properties and antibacterial activity through the incorporation of ZnO, CuO, and GO. By employing the solution casting technique, the researchers manufactured composite films with enhanced functional properties. The resultant films underwent a series of characterizations using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to assess their chemical and structural qualities.
Significant findings emerged from the analyses. FTIR revealed strong interactions and hydrogen bonding between CMC and the ZnO/GO and CuO/GO nanocomposites. The XRD confirmed successful functionalization of CMC with these metal oxides, demonstrating the creation of promising nanocomposites.
Notably, the optical properties of the CMC film showed remarkable enhancement, with the optical gap decreasing from 5.53 eV to 3.43 eV and achieving excellent UV shielding performance. Spectroscopic analysis provided insights indicating improved optical conductivity values and strong interactions between CMC and the incorporated nanomaterials.
The findings also corroborated previous research validating the antibacterial efficacy of CMC films. The study tested the composite films against common foodborne pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, using the agar diffusion test. The results were promising; both CMC/ZnO/GO and CMC/CuO/GO demonstrated significantly higher antibacterial activity than pure CMC, with inhibition zones measuring 16 mm and 14 mm against S. aureus, respectively. These compelling figures signal enhanced susceptibility of S. aureus compared to E. coli.
The researchers document these advancements with notable remarks: “The CMC/CuO/GO model has the highest total dipole moment (84.031 Debye) and the smallest band gap energy (0.118 eV).” The combination of these properties indicates a substantial leap forward for CMC-based materials, manifesting strong potential as excellent candidates for packaging applications aimed at extending food shelf life and preserving quality.
Given these positive outcomes, the future of food packaging may witness improved utilization of biodegradable materials such as CMC, augmented through the incorporation of inorganic compounds like ZnO and CuO. CMC-derived materials offer excellent properties due to their biodegradability and non-toxicity, making them suitable alternatives for food packaging. The study provides key insights and proposes the potential adoption of such nanocomposites across food packaging industries.
This research sheds light on the undeniable need for sustainable solutions to address food safety concerns and environmental issues. Researchers remain optimistic about subsequent studies focusing on optimizing the properties of CMC-based materials for even broader applications within food technology and other relevant sectors.
