Synthesis and characterization of Acacia lignin-gelatin film for its possible application in food packaging

Abstract

Background

The aim of the present investigation was to develop Acacia lignin-gelatin (LG) blended films using glycerol as plasticizer and to establish correlation between lignin contents and structure, thermal and mechanical properties of the film. Acacia lignin extracted by alkali method was used for the preparation of LG blended films by solution casting method.

Results

Solubility and swelling tests of the films concluded that the lignin incorporation reduced water affinity of film. Lignin incorporation produces a noticeable plasticizing effect on the blended film, showing optimum values for film incorporated with 20 and 30 % (w/v) lignin, as deduced from their mechanical and thermal properties. Lignin blended film had lower glass transition temperatures (T_g) as compared to control gelatin. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of films suggested that lignin interacts with gelatin by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction consequently creating conformational changes. Atomic force microscopic (AFM) study displays smooth surface of synthesized films. Light barrier properties of film revealed that the lignin addition improved barrier properties against UV light in the range of 280–350 nm. Furthermore, the lowest scavenging activity was observed in LG-E (111.10 µg/ml) trailed by LG-D (249.29 µg/ml) and LG-C (259.53 µg/ml).

Conclusions

The LG films showed improved light barrier and antioxidant properties with low cytotoxicity, displaying great potential in food packaging and coating for preventing ultraviolet induced lipid oxidation with an extended biomedical applications.

Keywords

Acacia lignin / Gelatin / Edible film / Antioxidant activity / In vitro cytotoxicity

References

[1] Aadil KR, Barapatre A, Sahu S, Jha H, Tiwary BN. Free radical scavenging activity and reducing power of Acacia nilotica wood lignin. Int J Biol Macromol, 2014, 67: 220-227.

[2] Aadil KR, Barapatre A, Meena AS, Jha H. Hydrogen peroxide sensing and cytotoxicity of Acacia lignin stabilized silver nanoparticles. Int J Biol Macromol, 2016, 82: 39-47.

[3] Al-Hassan AA, Norziah MH. Starch-gelatin edible films: water vapor permeability and properties as affected by plasticizers. Food Hydrocoll, 2012, 26: 108-117.

[4] ASTM. Standard test method for tensile properties of thin plastic sheeting, standard designation: D882, Annual book of ASTM standards, 2001, Philadelphia: American Society for Testing and Materials.

[5] Ban W, Song J, Lucia LA. Influence of natural biomaterials on the absorbency and transparency of starch-derived films: an optimization study. Ind Eng Chem Res, 2007, 46(20): 6480-6485.

[6] Barapatre A, Aadil KR, Tiwary BN, Jha H. In vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of biomodified Acacia wood lignin. Int J Biol Macromol, 2015, 75: 81-89.

[7] Bergo P, Sobral PJA. Effects of plasticizer on physical properties of pigskin gelatin films. Food Hydrocoll, 2007, 21(8): 1285-1289.

[8] Bhat R, Abdullah N, Din RH, Tay GS. Producing novel sago starch based food packaging films by incorporating lignin isolated from oil palm black liquor waste. J Food Eng, 2013, 119: 707-713.

[9] Bigi A, Cojazzi G, Panzavolta S, Roveri N, Rubini K. Stabilization of gelatin films by cross linking with genipin. Biomaterials, 2002, 23(24): 4827-4832.

[10] Cao N, Fu Y, He J. Mechanical properties of gelatin films cross-linked, respectively, by ferulic acid and tannin acid. Food Hydrocoll, 2007, 21: 575-584.

[11] Carvalho RA, Sobral PJA, Thomazine M, Habitante AMQB, Gimenez B, Gomez-Gullen MC, Montero P. Development of edible films based on differently processed Atlantic habitat (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) skin gelatin. Food Hydrocoll, 2008, 22: 1117-1123.

[12] Cuq B, Gontard N, Cuq J, Guilbert S. Selected functional properties of fish myofibrillar protein-based films as affected by hydrophilic plasticizers. J Agric Food Chem, 1997, 45(3): 622-626.

[13] Dominguez JC, Oliet M, Alonso MV, Gilarranz MA, Rodriguez F. Thermal stability and pyrolysis kinetic of organosolv lignins obtained from Eucalyptus globulus. Ind Crops Prod, 2008, 27(2): 150-156.

[14] Gómez-Guillén MC, Ihl M, Bifani V, Silva A, Montero P. Edible films made from tuna-fish gelatin with antioxidant extracts of two different murta ecotypes leaves (Ugni molinae Turcz.). Food Hydrocoll, 2007, 21(7): 1133-1143.

[15] Gordobil O, Egues I, Llano-Ponte R, Labidi J. Physico-chemical properties of PLA lignin blends. Polym Degrad Stab, 2014, 108: 330-338.

[16] Hoque MS, Benjakul S, Prodpran T. Effects of partial hydrolysis and plasticizer content on the properties of film from cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) skin gelatin. Food Hydrocoll, 2011, 25(1): 82-90.

[17] Hosseini SF, Rezaei M, Zandi M, Farahmandghavi F. Fabrication of bio-nanocomposite films based on fish gelatin reinforced with chitosan nanoparticles. Food Hydrocoll, 2015, 44: 172-182.

[18] Huang J, Zhang L, Chen F. Effects of lignin as a filler on properties of soy protein plastics. I. Lignosulfonate. J Appl Polym Sci, 2003, 88(14): 3284-3290.

[19] Jongjareonrak A, Benjakul S, Visessanguan W, Prodpran T, Tanaka M. Characterization of edible films from skin gelatin of brown stripe red snapper and bigeye snapper. Food Hydrocoll, 2006, 20(4): 492-501.

[20] Karnnet S, Potiyaraj P, Pimpan V. Preparation and properties of biodegradable stearic acid-modified gelatin films. Polym Degrad Stab, 2005, 90(1): 106-110.

[21] Ma W, Tang C, Yin S, Yang X, Wang Q, Liu F, Wwi Z. Characterization of gelatin-based films incorporated with olive oil. Food Res Int, 2012, 49: 572-579.

[22] Milczarek G, Rebis T, Fabianska J. One step synthesis of lignosulphonate–stabilized silver nanopartilcles. Colloids Surf B, 2013, 105: 335-341.

[23] Mu C, Gua J, Li X, Lin W, Li D. Preparation and properties of dialdehyde carboxymethyl cellulose cross linked gelatin edible films. Food Hydrocoll, 2012, 27(1): 22-29.

[24] Nunez-Flores R, Giménez B, Fernández-Martín F, López-Caballero ME, Montero MP, Gómez-Guillén MC. Role of lignosulphonate in properties of fish gelatin films. Food Hydrocoll, 2012, 27(1): 60-71.

[25] Nunez-Flores R, Gimenez B, Fernandez-Martin F, Lopez-Caballero ME, Montero MP, Gomez-Guillen MC. Physical and functional characterization of active fish gelatin films incorporated with lignin. Food Hydrocoll, 2013, 30(1): 163-172.

[26] Park Y, Doherty WOS, Halley JP. Developing lignin-base resin coating and composites. Ind Crops Prod, 2008, 27: 163-167.

[27] Pena C, Caba K, Eceiza A, Ruseckaite R, Mondragon I. Enhancing water repellence and mechanical properties of gelatin film by tannin addition. Bioresour Technol, 2010, 101: 6836-6842.

[28] Rivero S, García MA, Pnotti A. Correlations between structural, barrier, thermal and mechanical properties of plasticized gelatin films. Innov Food Sci Emerg Technol, 2010, 11: 369-375.

[29] Sahoo S, Seydibeyogl MO, Mohanty AK, Misra M. Characterization of industrial lignins for their utilizations in future value added applications. Biomass Bioenergy, 2011, 35(10): 4230-4237.

[30] Saini JK, Saini R, Tewari L. Lignocellulosic agriculture wastes as biomass feedstocks for second-generation bioethanol production: concepts and recent developments. 3 Biotech, 2015, 5(4): 337-353.

[31] Sivasankarapillai G, McDonald AG. Synthesis and properties of lignin-highly branched poly (ester-amine) polymeric systems. Biomass Bioener, 2011, 35(2): 919-931.

[32] Skehan P, Storeng R, Scudiero D, Monks A, McMahon J, Vistica T, Warren JT, Bokesh H, Kenney S, Boyd MR. New colorimetric cytotoxicity assay of anticancer drug screening. J Natl Cancer Inst, 1990, 82(13): 1107-1112.

[33] Ugartondo V, Mitjans M, Vinardell MP. Comparative antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of lignins from different sources. Bioresour Technol, 2008, 99(14): 6683-6687.

[34] Vanin FM, Sobral PJA, Menegalli FM, Carvalho RA, Habitante AMQB. Effect of plasticizers and their concentration on thermal and functional properties of gelatin based films. Food Hydrocoll, 2005, 19(5): 899-907.

[35] Wang M, Leitch M, Xu C. Synthesis of phenol-formaldehyde resol resins using oraganosolv pine lignins. Eur Polymer J, 2009, 45(12): 3380-3388.

[36] Zeng J, Tong Z, Wang L, Zhu JY, Ingram L. Isolation and structural characterization of sugarcane bagasse lignin after dilute phosphoric acid plus steam explosion pretreatment and its effect on cellulose hydrolysis. Bioresour Technol, 2014, 154: 274-281.

Funding

University Grants Commission(41-543/2012)