UV Radiation and Protein Hydrolysates in Bio-Based Films: Impacts on Properties and Italian Salami Preservation.

UV radiation was combined with the incorporation of fish protein hydrolysates to improve the performance of active bio-based films for food packaging. UV radiation was not used previously to enhance the packaging performance of blend films of starch/protein, and fish protein hydrolysates were not incorporated in bio-based polymer surfaces previously. Rice starch and fish proteins (from Whitemouth croaker muscle) were utilized to prepare films by the casting technique, which were UV-radiated under different exposure times (1, 5, and 10 min). The packaging performance of the films was determined according to the mechanical and barrier performance, solubility, and color. Fish protein hydrolysates (from Argentine croaker muscle) were then incorporated into the films (bulk structure or surface). The results showed that UV radiation for 1 min increased the tensile strength and modified the optical properties of films. It also altered the structure of the polymeric matrix, as demonstrated by the microstructure and thermal analysis, in agreement with the data obtained in packaging properties. The evaluation of antioxidant capacity through 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and reducing power indicated that incorporating fish protein hydrolysates either in the films' bulk structure or film surface promoted antioxidant properties; control films (produced with rice starch/fish proteins without hydrolysates) also presented antioxidant potential. According to the peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) assays, control films and the films containing hydrolysates in their bulk structure or on the surface could prevent the lipid oxidation of Italian salami. Thus, combining UV radiation to shape the characteristics of bio-based materials with fish protein hydrolysates to reduce lipid oxidation contributes to the performance of active bio-based films for food packaging.

Evaluation of Active LDPE Films for Packaging of Fresh Orange Juice.

Microbial development, enzymatic action, and chemical reactions influence the quality of untreated natural orange juice, compromising its organoleptic characteristics and causing nutritional value loss. Active low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films containing green tea extract (GTE) were previously prepared by a blown film extrusion process. Small bags were prepared from the produced films, which were then filled with fresh orange juice and stored at 4 °C. Ascorbic acid (AA) content, sugar content, browning index, color parameters, pH, total acidity (TA) and microbial stability were evaluated after 3, 7, and 14 days of storage. The packaging containing GTE maintained the microbial load of fresh juice beneath the limit of microbial shelf-life (6 log CFU/mL) for the bacterial growth, with a more prominent effect for LDPE with 3%GTE. Regarding yeasts and molds, only the CO_LDPE_3GTE package maintained the microbial load of fresh juice below the limit for up to 14 days. At 14 days, the lowest levels of AA degradation (32.60 mg/100 mL of juice) and development of brown pigments (browning index = 0.139) were observed for the packages containing 3% of GTE, which had a pH of 3.87 and sugar content of 11.4 g/100 mL of juice at this time. Therefore, active LDPE films containing 3% of GTE increase the shelf-life of fresh juice and can be a promising option for storage of this food product while increasing sustainability.

Oregano essential oil addition in rice starch films and its effects on the chilled fish storage.

Active packaging produced from biodegradable polymers and essential oil could have a great value to food industries. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the addition of oregano essential oil (OEO) on rice starch films and its application as packaging for fish fillets. Several concentrations of OEO were added to the films, the film added with 4.5% OEO showed lower permeability to water vapor 3.7 g mm kPa-1 m-2 day-1, intermediate solubility of 24% and high tensile strength (4.4 MPa) while the standard film (without the addition of OEO) presented 8.8 g mm kPa-1 m-2 day-1, 25.8% and 2.2 MPa, respectively. Packed fish fillets with the active film showed an increase in its shelf life when compared to the standard film. Packaged fish fillets in OEO films showed greater resistance (13.4 N), less oxidation (1.65 mg malonaldehyde/kg of sample) and less microbiological growth 107 CFU/g in 6 days of storage, while packaged fish fillets in standard film showed lower resistance (10.4 N), higher oxidation (1.88 mg malonaldehyde/kg of sample) and higher microbiological growth 108 CFU/g. Thus, the active packaging developed had the capacity to increase the shelf life of a perishable product that has great interest of food industries.

Impact of acid hydrolysis and esterification process in rice and potato starch properties.

The modification of the starches aims to change the properties of these polymers making them more suitable for specific applications. Therefore, the objective of this study was to modify potato and rice starch using the hydrolysis process with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the esterification process with citric acid (CA), both acids at different concentrations and reaction time. To verify if the modifications were effective, the physicochemical changes (solubility, swelling power, gel strength and amylose content), thermal, morphological and pasting properties were evaluated. The applied modifications reduced the swelling power, solubility and amylose content of starches. The strength of the gel was reduced with the modifications for the rice starch and increased for the potato starch. Regarding the pasting properties, modified starch RS1 (modified rice starch using 0.1 M HCl) and PS3 (modified potato starch using 2% CA) showed a tendency to reduce retrogradation. Structurally, X-ray evaluation indicated reduced crystallinity. Thermal analyses showed that gelatinization temperatures were increased for all treatments, while gelatinization enthalpies were reduced indicating greater thermal stability of the modified starches. Therefore, modified starches have distinct characteristics that can be used for specific processes that requiring starches with different properties from the conventional ones.

New lipopeptide produced by Corynebacterium aquaticum from a low-cost substrate.

Conventional biosurfactants have high production costs. Therefore, the use of low-cost carbon sources for their production is attractive for industry. The ability to remain stable under various environmental conditions further extends industrial application. Here we aimed to evaluate the stability of a new lipopeptide produced by Corynebacterium aquaticum using fish residue as an unconventional energy source. The biosurfactant was produced using 3% fish residue, 2% of the microorganism, and mineral medium. Biosurfactant characterization was performed by thin layer chromatography (TLC), as well as by testing its infrared, surface tension, emulsifying activity, and ionic character. The stability of the biosurfactant was evaluated by testing its surface tension at a range of temperatures, pH, and saline concentrations, as well as after 6 months of storage. The biosurfactant was characterized as a lipopeptide due to its retention time, which was coincident with the amino acid and lipid chains obtained in the TLC analysis, being confirmed by some regions of absorption verified in the infrared analysis. The surface tension and emulsifying activity of the biosurfactant were 27.8 mN/m and 87.6%, respectively, and showed anionic character. The biosurfactant was stable at temperatures of 20 to 121 °C, in saline concentrations of 1 to 7%, and at pH close to neutrality. Based on our findings, it is possible to use unconventional sources of energy to produce a lipopeptide biosurfactant that can act under various environments.