Active packaging based on cellulose-chitosan-Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite for storage of clarified butter

Three active cellulose-based papers coated in chitosan (P-CH), chitosan-TiO₂ (P-CH-TiO₂) and chitosan-Ag/TiO₂ (P-CH-Ag/TiO₂), respectively were real-time aged for 6 months at 4°C, 55% relative humidity, 15 h light/9 h dark cycle and characterized in relation to plain paper (P). The reduction in the chitosan cristallinity, N-deacetylation of chitosan, degradation of cellulosic fibers and loss in the active agents (proven by SEM, FTIR, EDX techniques and physical-chemical-microbial measurements) occurred during storage explains the deterioration of the barrier and antimicrobial properties of the active papers and subsequently the decrease in their preservation efficiency. Experimental results indicate that after storage for 6 months of the clarified butter the most effective package was P-CH-Ag/TiO₂ for which the lowest levels of PV (2.72 mEq O₂/kg), yeasts and molds (5.8 CFU/g) and E. coli (6.12 CFU/g) counts were measured. By mathematical modeling of the evolution of the PV, E. coli, yeasts and molds experimental profiles the shelf-life of the clarified butter packed in P, P-CH, P-CH-TiO₂ and P-CH-Ag/TiO₂ was assessed in respect to their admitted limits to 1.6, 2, 4 and 9.3 months, respectively. At the end of storage the appearance of P-CH-Ag/TiO₂ package was clean, without greasy spots, as opposed to that of P, P-CH and P-CH-TiO₂, which proves its self-cleaning property.