Polylactic Acid-Based Film Modified with Nano-Ag-Graphene-TiO2: New Film versus Recycled Film

Abstract

The increase in the polymer-based materials needs has induced along the waste accumulation, thus argued higher interest in recycling. The study aims to assess the structural, morphological, mechanical resistance, physical–chemical and biochemical characteristics, as well as the preservative role during the curd cheese storage of a recycled polylactic acid (PLA)-based film modified with Ag-graphene-TiO2 nanostructured composite, obtained by recovering the composite from the used film, followed by its incorporation in new PLA. The breaking load of the recycled film was 24% lower than that of the new film and 10% higher than of the neat PLA. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed changes of the recycled PLA’s surface tension and crystallization degree in a greater extent than in the newly prepared film, revealing better incorporation of the recovered composite into the PLA matrix. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy showed the formation of C–O–Ti bridges between composite and PLA both in new and recycled film. Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the new and recycled film decreased by 33% and 45%, respectively, in comparison with reference PLA. The curd cheese was successfully stored in the recycled packaging; the organoleptic characteristics of cheese wrapped in recycled film were superior in comparison with the new film. The variation of fat and protein contents and mass loss was the lowest when the recycled film was used as packaging material. The study successfully showed the possibility to recover and recycle the used PLA-based films modified with inorganic nanocomposites.