Embalagens cartonadas multicamadas e biodegradáveis com potencial aplicação em food delivery
Data
2023-10-30
Tipo
Dissertação de mestrado
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Resumo
A intensificação na demanda pelos serviços de entrega gerado pela pandemia principalmente de estabelecimentos de alimentos, provocou o aumento da utilização de embalagens descartáveis (single use), principalmente de material plástico. As embalagens descartáveis são comumente produzidas com polímeros sintéticos que possuem propriedades desejadas eficazes e tem custo relativamente baixo. No entanto, o uso excessivo desse tipo de embalagem provoca problemas ambientais, pois os materiais são tipicamente de fontes não renováveis e em geral não são de fácil biodegradação, perdurando no meio ambiente. Tentativas de substituição parcial ao plástico vem sendo testadas, como o emprego do papel. O presente trabalho consistiu em desenvolver um novo e sustentável material de embalagem single use de alimentos a partir do revestimento na superfície de papel cartão de um filme emulsionado a base de quitosana, ácido palmítico e fibra de coco, visando melhorar a propriedade de barreira a água e melhorar as propriedades mecânicas do papel cartão. A fibra de coco foi tratada quimicamente com álcali, incorporando-as com e sem tratamento químico. O papel cartão com e sem revestimentos foi avaliado quanto a espessura, gramatura, permeabilidade à gordura, barreira e resistência à umidade (Cobb test) e propriedades mecânicas. A rigidez Taber do papel aumentou significativamente com a aplicação da solução de quitosana e ácido palmítico, a adição de 5% fibra de coco na matriz, aumentou a rigidez quando comparada com revestimento somente de quitosana (2,0%, m/m) e ácido palmítico (1,5%, m/m), em 6,7% na direção MD (machine direction) e 8,9% em CD (cross direction). O menor valor para o Cobb test foi obtido com revestimento somente de quitosana e ácido palmítico. A incorporação de fibra de coco nos demais revestimentos aumentou a afinidade com a água. O papel cartão formado a partir dos revestimentos à base de quitosana (2,0%, m/m), ácido palmítico (1,5%, m/m) e fibra de coco não tratada quimicamente (5,0% m/m) apresentaram melhores propriedades de barreira a gordura com potencial aplicação para formação de embalagens para food delivery. Este material é uma alternativa com grande potencial para reduzir o uso de embalagens plásticas multicamadas descartáveis em food delivery, que apresentam difícil reciclabilidade e biodegradação, e alto impacto ambiental.
The intensification of demand for delivery services generated by the pandemic, mainly from food establishments, led to an increase in the use of disposable packaging (single use), mainly made of plastic material. Disposable packaging is commonly produced with synthetic polymers that have effective desired properties and are relatively low cost. However, the excessive use of this type of packaging causes environmental problems, as the materials are typically from non-renewable sources and are generally not easy to biodegrade, remaining in the environment. Attempts to partially replace plastic have been tested, such as the use of paper. The present work consisted of developing a new and sustainable single-use food packaging material by coating the cardboard surface with an emulsified film based on chitosan, palmitic acid and coconut fiber, aiming to improve the water barrier and mechanical properties of paperboard. The coconut fiber was chemically treated with alkali, incorporating them with and without chemical treatment. Cardboard paper with and without coatings was evaluated for thickness, grammage, fat permeability, barrier and resistance (Cobb test) to humidity and mechanical properties. The Taber stiffness of the paper increased significantly with the application of the chitosan and palmitic acid solution, the addition of 5% coconut fiber in the matrix increased the stiffness when compared to the chitosan-only coating (2.0%, w/w) and palmitic acid (1.5%, w/w), 6.7% in the MD direction (machine direction) and 8.9% in CD (cross direction). The lowest value for the Cobb test was obtained with only chitosan and palmitic acid coating. The incorporation of coconut fiber in the other coatings increased the affinity with water. Paperboard formed from coatings based on chitosan (2.0%, w/w), palmitic acid (1.5%, w/w) and chemically untreated coconut fiber (5.0% w/w) showed better fat barrier properties with potential application for forming packaging for food delivery. This material is an alternative with great potential to reduce the use of disposable multilayer plastic packaging in food delivery, which is difficult to recycle and biodegrade, and has a high environmental impact.
The intensification of demand for delivery services generated by the pandemic, mainly from food establishments, led to an increase in the use of disposable packaging (single use), mainly made of plastic material. Disposable packaging is commonly produced with synthetic polymers that have effective desired properties and are relatively low cost. However, the excessive use of this type of packaging causes environmental problems, as the materials are typically from non-renewable sources and are generally not easy to biodegrade, remaining in the environment. Attempts to partially replace plastic have been tested, such as the use of paper. The present work consisted of developing a new and sustainable single-use food packaging material by coating the cardboard surface with an emulsified film based on chitosan, palmitic acid and coconut fiber, aiming to improve the water barrier and mechanical properties of paperboard. The coconut fiber was chemically treated with alkali, incorporating them with and without chemical treatment. Cardboard paper with and without coatings was evaluated for thickness, grammage, fat permeability, barrier and resistance (Cobb test) to humidity and mechanical properties. The Taber stiffness of the paper increased significantly with the application of the chitosan and palmitic acid solution, the addition of 5% coconut fiber in the matrix increased the stiffness when compared to the chitosan-only coating (2.0%, w/w) and palmitic acid (1.5%, w/w), 6.7% in the MD direction (machine direction) and 8.9% in CD (cross direction). The lowest value for the Cobb test was obtained with only chitosan and palmitic acid coating. The incorporation of coconut fiber in the other coatings increased the affinity with water. Paperboard formed from coatings based on chitosan (2.0%, w/w), palmitic acid (1.5%, w/w) and chemically untreated coconut fiber (5.0% w/w) showed better fat barrier properties with potential application for forming packaging for food delivery. This material is an alternative with great potential to reduce the use of disposable multilayer plastic packaging in food delivery, which is difficult to recycle and biodegrade, and has a high environmental impact.