Algal bioactive compounds application for packaging films and coatings

Farzad Barzegar Marvasti¹ Sepideh Motabi Alavi² Saeed Dadashi³

1) BS student of Food science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran.
2) BS student of Food science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran.
3) Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

Publication : National Conference on Food Security, Food Safety and Health(fssh.ir)
Abstract :
Food packaging is a crucial aspect of the food industry, as it prevents harmful chemical, physical, and microbial changes in food products, leading to an increase in shelf life. However, most food packaging today consists of petroleum-based polymeric materials, which have limitations in biocompatibility and recyclability. In light of the increasing harmful effects of plastics on the environment, there has been a growing interest in replacing these materials with biodegradable and eco-friendly alternatives. Algae are a rich source of polysaccharides that can produce biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, such as alginate and carrageenan, which are widely used in the packaging sector. These compounds exhibit good barrier properties against oxygen and moisture, reduce microbial growth, prevent oxidation of lipids, and ultimately increase the shelf life of food. The combination of other biological materials such as chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose, and pectin leads to the improvement of mechanical properties of algal polymers. The use of seaweed-derived bioactive compounds in food packaging is an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based polymeric materials and can help reduce the harmful effects of plastics on the environment.
Keywords : Seaweeds biocompatible polymers bioactive compounds biological materials