The Release of Carotenoids from a Light-Protected Antioxidant Active Packaging Designed to Improve the Stability of Soybean Oil

An antioxidant active packaging was developed by coextruding two layers of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Bags were made with the film in which the inner layer, designed to be in contact with food, contained marigold flower (Tagetes erecta) extract rich in carotenoids. The outer layer of the film was added with titanium dioxide (TiO2) to decrease the effect of commercial lighting on the degradation of carotenoids. Four bilayer films were produced: added with TiO2 and carotenoids, added with carotenoids, added with TiO2, and with no additives at all (control film). Degradation of color and astaxanthin in the films was delayed by the addition of the TiO2 when they were stored under commercial lighting at 25 A degrees C. Bags made of these films produced an improvement on the soybean oil stability at 25 A degrees C as a result of a synergic effect of light protection by TiO2 and carotenoids release. This release was measured as diffusion coefficients of carotenoids from the films toward soybean oil at 10, 25, and 40 A degrees C (2.10-19.26 x 10(-11) cm(2) s(-1)) with activation energy of 53.66 kJ mol(-1). In conclusion, the combination of the two layers of HDPE added with TiO2 and carotenoids introduced opacity and permitted to extend the active effect of the films in contact with soybean oil. Moreover, the effect of temperature on the diffusion of carotenoids showed that this new active packaging is able to exert its function in conditions of transport, storage, and commercialization of food.