Air-assisted sprayed flexible cellulose acetate/chitosan materials for food packaging

This article explores the development of flexible food-packaging materials based on cellulose acetate and chitosan using air-assisted solution spraying, a scalable manufacturing technique that enables rapid film formation. The study examines how formulation and processing conditions influence the structure, surface characteristics, mechanical performance, moisture barrier properties, and antimicrobial behavior of cellulose acetate-based films.

By combining cellulose acetate with small amounts of chitosan, the authors investigate a sustainable approach to producing packaging materials from abundant bio-based polymers while avoiding the use of added plasticizers.

The results demonstrate that cellulose acetate/chitosan films can achieve an unusual combination of flexibility, mechanical strength, water and oil resistance, and bioactivity. Increased chitosan content improved barrier-related properties and enabled antibacterial activity against E. coli, while the unique droplet-based morphology generated during spraying played a key role in controlling wettability and performance. The study concludes that air-assisted solution spraying offers a promising route for manufacturing cellulose acetate packaging materials with reduced energy demand and enhanced functionality. These findings are relevant for sustainable packaging innovation, highlighting how cellulose acetate can be tailored to balance durability, food protection, biodegradability, and antimicrobial performance in future packaging applications.

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