Antimicrobial and degradable all-cellulose composite for functional and sustainable food packaging

The investigation of environmentally friendly and sustainable replacement materials is consistently prompted by the mounting environmental concern over plastics derived from petrochemicals. Compared with fossil oil derived chemicals and materials, cellulose is more readily available, less expensive, and biodegradable. Herein, all-cellulose composite films with excellent biodegradability and antimicrobial activities were prepared for sustainable food package. The all-cellulose films were prepared by a simple solution cast method of amino cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose mixture. Rheological studies suggest typical non-Newtonian and shear thinning behavior of the all-cellulose solution associated with strong intermolecular electrostatic interactions. Such composite results in package films with amorphous structure, and uniform, dense and smooth morphology. Properties explorations indicated that the all-cellulose composites films exhibited better mechanical properties, water vapor and oxygen barrier properties than conventional synthetic plastic packages. Besides, the all-cellulose films showed excellent antimicrobial activity, and biodegradability. When applied as shrimp package, the all-cellulose composite films effectively extended shelf-life of shrimp by inhibition of microbial and oxidative deterioration of shrimp meat. This study provides a feasible approach to syntheze biodegradable and antimicrobial functional food package from cellulose in replacing of traditional synthetic plastic films.