Extraction of agar from Gelidium sesquipedale (Rhodopyta) and surface characterization of agar based films.

The chemical structure of the agar obtained from Gelidium sesquipedale (Rhodophyta) has been determined by (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance ((13)C NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Agar (AG) films with different amounts of soy protein isolate (SPI) were prepared using a thermo-moulding method, and transparent and hydrophobic films were obtained and characterized. FTIR analysis provided a detailed description of the binding groups present in the films, such as carboxylic, hydroxyl and sulfonate groups, while the surface composition was examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The changes observed by FTIR and XPS spectra suggested interactions between functional groups of agar and SPI. This is a novel approach to the characterization of agar-based films and provides knowledge about the compatibility of agar and soy protein for further investigation of the functional properties of biodegradable films based on these biopolymers.

Functional properties of chitosan-based films.

Chitosan-based films plasticized with glycerol were prepared by casting with the aim to obtain environmentally friendly materials for packaging applications. Different contents of glycerol were incorporated into chitosan solutions to improve mechanical properties and all films obtained were flexible and transparent. It was observed that the transparency and good behaviour of the films against UV radiation were not affected by chitosan molecular weight or glycerol content. Moreover, chitosan-based films exhibited excellent barrier properties against water vapour and oxygen, even with the addition of glycerol. The effect of the plasticizer on the properties has been explained using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. The changes observed in the intensity of the bands showed that glycerol interacts with chitosan, which could be confirmed by total soluble matter (TSM).