Biocomposite Films Based on κ-Carrageenan/Locust Bean Gum Blends and Clays: Physical and Antimicrobial Properties

The aims of this work were to evaluate the physical and antimicrobial properties of biodegradable films composed of mixtures of kappa-carrageenan (kappa-car) and locust bean gum (LBG) when organically modified clay Cloisite 30B (C30B) was dispersed in the biopolymer matrix. Film-forming solutions were prepared by adding C30B (ranging from 0 to 16 wt.%) into the kappa-car/LBG solution (40/60 wt.%) with 0.3 % (w/v) of glycerol. Barrier properties (water vapour permeability, P (vapour); CO2 and O-2 permeabilities), mechanical properties (tensile strength, TS, and elongation-at-break, EB) and thermal stability of the resulting films were determined and related with the incorporation of C30B. Also, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was done in order to investigate the effect of C30B in film structure. Antimicrobial effects of these films against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica were also evaluated. The increase of clay concentration causes a decrease of P (vapour) (from 5.34 x 10(-11) to 3.19 x 10(-11) g (m s Pa)(-1)) and an increase of the CO2 permeability (from 2.26 x 10(-14) to 2.91 x 10(-14) g (m s Pa)(-1)) and did not changed significantly the O-2 permeability for films with 0 and 16 wt.% C30B, respectively. Films with 16 wt.% clay exhibited the highest values of TS (33.82 MPa) and EB (29.82 %). XRD patterns of the films indicated that a degree of exfoliation is attained depending on clay concentration. kappa-car/LBG-C30B films exhibited an inhibitory effect only against L. monocytogenes. kappa-car/LBG-C30B composite films are a promising alternative to synthetic films in order to improve the shelf life and safety of food products.