Effects of Microwave Treatment on Physical, Morphological, Mechanical and Functional Properties of Chitosan Films Incorporated with β-Carotene

Abstract

Packaging plays a crucial role in safeguarding the quality of food products and extending their shelf life. Despite the benefits, the use of synthetic materials for food packaging that are non-biodegradable such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA), causes alarming ecological problem and increases number of health risks. This study explores the potential of chitosan biodegradable films, as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic plastics. Chitosan are favourable materials in developing biodegradable films on an industrial level due to their biodegradable, film-forming and non-toxic attributes. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of microwave treatment on the physical, morphological, mechanical and functional properties of chitosan films with β-carotene.