Natural Antioxidants for Polymer Stabilization

M. PELTZER, A. JIMÉNEZ.

Recent Advances in Research on Biodegradable Polymers and Sustainable Composites

NOVA Science Publishers, Inc

Año: 2009; p. 10 - 18

Natural antioxidants are receiving increasing attention as polymer additives for food packaging as they are obtained from renewable resources and can give some benefits to foodstuff. Two different natiral antioxidants (tocopherol and hydroxytyrosol) have been tested as polypropylene additives. Their stabilization efficiency has been evaluated by measuring oxidation parameters by Dieferential Scanning Calorimetry. Both antioxidants have shown an excellent stabilization performance even at low concentrations and in all cases better than a conventional synthetic phenolic antioxidant. Their release from the mayterial ti eventual foodstuff has been also tested and tocopherol has shown a contrlled migration from polypropylene lower than the limits indicated in legislation for food material. Therefore, this antioxidant, in addition to material stabilization, can be considered as a potential candidate to be used in active packaging systems.