Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
The rapidly growing population increases the consumption of food, consequently raising the demand for packaging materials that ensure safety from contamination and have a prolonged shelf life. Fruit and vegetable products, which are rich in nutrients, can suffer from post-harvest deterioration, but these issues can be mitigated with effective packaging. However, most packaging materials for fruits and vegetables are made of plastic, which often becomes a pollutant after initial use. The disposal of plastic packaging is challenging and poses significant environmental harm. Therefore, it is essential to develop food packaging materials made from more suitable and environmentally friendly substances, such as biodegradable or natural polymers. The study aimed to synthesize biopolymer nanocomposite films using chitosan a natural polymer, combined with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and orange peel powder (OPP) to produce a reliable and biodegradable packaging material. Nanoscale ZnO was already recognised as "generally recognised as safe" for use in polymeric films. OPP, in addition to being a promising organic filler candidate, offers several advantages like it improve the photodegradability, polymer matrix's, recyclable eminence, and ecological and economical sustainability. The structural features of the fine ZnO, OPP, and biopolymer nanocomposite films were assessed using X-ray diffraction analysis Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify the presence of various functional groups in ZnO, OPP, and the formulated biopolymer nanocomposite films. We also reported the thickness, mechanical properties, water absorption capacity, stability at room temperature, and biodegradation tests of the optimized OPP@CS-ZnO-based biopolymer nanocomposite films. This biopolymer nanocomposite film can be effectively utilized for the packaging of fruit- and vegetable-based products. Additionally, it ensures that such novel materials are suitable for food packaging, minimizes the use of plastic, and contributes to an eco-friendly environment.
Yadav et al. (Tue,) studied this question.