Chitosan on recycled paper and its impact on packaging properties
A recent study explored chitosan, a biodegradable nontoxic biopolymer, at different dosages for surface treatment of recycled paper to improve various properties relevant to packaging.
Chitosan, at all applied concentrations, improved important paper properties like surface, strength and barrier due to which the low strength paper can also be used as a packaging paper. The effects of surface treatment of chitosan solutions of different concentrations on paper were analysed by measuring various properties.
Antibacterial activity
After surface treatment by 1% solution of chitosan, the burst index was increased by 38.4% in comparison with the base paper. The water vapor transmission rate was reduced from 706 to 496 g/m2/24 h. The chitosan solution at all the concentrations showed antibacterial activity in plate assay therefore reducing the susceptibility of paper to microbial attack.
The study has been published in Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, Volume 20, Issue 4, July 2023.
Event tip
Bio-based systems are also the focus of the EC Conference Bio-based and Water-based Coatings on November 14 and 15 in Berlin, Germany. At the conference, you will learn about the latest developments in bio-based and water-based coatings.
