Semester of Graduation
August 2024
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Department
School of Nutrition and Food Sciences
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Bacterial cellulose (BC), a biopolymer synthesized by certain bacterial strains, has garnered immense interest owing to its unique properties, purity, mechanical strength, and potential for diverse applications. This study investigated the factors influencing bacterial cellulose production by Komagataeibacter xylinus (ATCC 53524) and the antimicrobial activities of the film incorporated with silver nano particles. BC was synthesized through static fermentation and characterized using SEM, FTIR, TGA, tensile strength, and X-ray diffraction after drying by different techniques. The fermentation process was monitored by pH changes, decreasing from 6.0 on day 0 to 4.68 on day 21, indicating successful BC production. SEM analysis revealed an interconnected fibril network for BC, with purified BC free of bacterial cells. Freeze-dried BC exhibited the highest swelling ratio of 993.94%, followed by oven-dried (256.09%) and room temperature-dried (18°C) BC (141.30%) after 24 h. BC biocomposite films with pullulan demonstrated good thermal stability and mechanical properties, making them suitable for packaging applications. Silver nanoparticle formation was confirmed by a UV-Vis peak at 415 nm and a color change from transparent to yellowish-brown. The 75% BCAg-pullulan and 85% BCAg-pullulan formulations significantly inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica with inhibition zones ranging from 22.167±0.247 mm, 23.667±0.252 mm, 26.167±0.176 mm, and 4.0 ± 0 mm , respectively compared to the control BC-pullulan discs without inhibition. These findings highlight the potential of BC-based biocomposite films for antimicrobial packaging applications.
Date
7-23-2024
Recommended Citation
Dhakal, Aakankshya, "DEVELOPMENT OF FOOD PACKAGING FILMS USING BACTERIAL CELLULOSE AND PULLULAN IMPREGNATED WITH GREEN SYNTHESIZED SILVER NANOPARTICLES" (2024). LSU Master's Theses. 6013.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/6013
Committee Chair
Adhikari, Achyut