Physical and barrier properties of chemically modified pectin with polycaprolactone through an environmentally friendly process

The paper reports the preparation of a novel material composed of pectin chemically modified with polycaprolactone (PCL). PCL was firstly functionalized through radical grafting of maleic anhydride and glycidyl methacrylate in the molten state and then used as grafting agent onto pectins from apple, using a solvent free process. The obtained material was submitted to melt process on laboratory scale and films obtained. Structural, thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties to water vapor were evaluated and compared with pure pectin and modified PCL’s films. The used strategy allowed to overcome the processability problems of a natural polymer, like pectin, that undergoes degradation with the temperature and is not processable without additives and plasticizers. The proposed green process represents a good opportunity to manufacture waste materials from fruits to obtain flexible and fully biodegradable polymers for food packaging applications, as interesting alternative to not biodegradable traditional thermoplastics. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]