Evaluation of Functional, Mechanical and Structural Properties of Film Based Sodium Caseinate-Nanoclay and Echinophora Platyloba Essential Oil

The increasing environmental problems caused by synthetic polymers used in food packaging demonstrate the need for extensive research into the development of biodegradable packaging .The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding clay nanoparticles to sodium caseinate biofilm as a factor enhancing its properties. For this purpose, composite films based on caseinat sodium with 0 to 1.5% nanoclay and 0 to 500 ppm Echinophora platyloba essential oil. The effects of nanoclay and essential oil on surface properties, transparency, mechanical properties, water vapor permeability and antioxidant properties were studied. The results showed that the addition of nanoclay has improved the mechanical properties of composites. In this regard, films made of 75 % of nanoclay have the highest tensile strength. The film containing 25% of nanoclay had the highest percentage ofelongation at break point. The study of the microstructure of the film shows that the addition of nanoclay reduced the permeability of films to water vapor and also reduced the density of films and Causing their surface to become uneven. The compatibility of Echinophora Platyloba Essential Oilwith caseinat sodium also produced satisfactory results in order to produce an active film of bionanocomposite. The film containing 500 ppm of essential oil showed an antioxidant activity of 78%. Overall, The results showed that nanoclay can have positive effects on the physical properties of sodium caseinate and help to improve its properties.