Smart ulvan films responsive to stimuli of plasticizer and extraction condition in physico-chemical, optical, barrier and mechanical properties

Abstract Smart films were produced with ulvan extracted from the green seaweed Ulva. lactuca at different extraction conditions, by varying the glycerol or sorbitol in specific plasticizer concentration. Chemical composition and molecular weight characteristics of ulvans were carried out by GLC and HPSEC analysis, respectively. Regardless of the extraction procedure, the investigation revealed that ulvans were selected as reproducible and suitable materials of stimuli-responsive due to its peculiar chemical composition and self-aggregation molecular behavior. When using the terminology of stimuli-responsive system, we declare that the physico-chemical, barrier, optical, and mechanical characteristics of ulvan films system are strongly responsive to extraction conditions and to plasticizer type and concentration. As plasticizer concentration increased, thickness, moisture content (MC), water solubility, water vapor permeability (WVP), transparency, elongation at break (EAB), usually UV and visible light protection of ulvan films increased, while, their tensile strength (TS) decreased significantly. The films prepared with glycerol exhibited better solubility, transparency and mechanical properties, than those with sorbitol. However, the films formed with sorbitol had the greatest moisture resistance and more effective vapor, visible and UV light barrier as well as the lowest solubility. The FTIR spectra evidenced the expected outcome of the chemical interaction and miscibility kind between polysaccharides and plasticizers.