BELSPO Project Report Project: Nano-reinforced Bioplastics for Active Packagings (NanoBioPack)

Research and development of packaging materials and packaging technology have shown a clear and irreversible trend toward “green” and active packaging. Recent studies on packaging materials have emphasized the use of biobased materials in conjunction with nanotechnology. Hence, in present study we explored a concept of using bionanohybrids and their composites with biobased polymer for active packaging applications. A bioactive molecule, ferulic acid is successfully intercalated into the galleries of layered double hydroxide (LDHs) type nanoclay. The resulting bionanohybrid is used as multifunctional reinforcement to biobased polylactic acid (PLA). The intercalated biomolecules are expected to prolong the bacterial growth in PLA films, their high hydrophobic nature may facilitate the filler dispersion and simultaneously the high aspect ratio of LDH inorganic nanosheets can be reinforcing the polymer matrix. Also, the presence of long range nanoclays is expected to improve the oxygen barrier. Hence, the resulting composites are envisaged as environment friendly active packaging materials.