Characterization of antimicrobial films containing basil extracts

The properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-based films containing either linalool or methylchavicol as antimicrobial (AM) additives were evaluated. Slight decreases in transparency, water vapour and oxygen transmission rates were found in the extruded films containing 0.34% w/w linalool or methylchavicol. The infrared (IR) spectra of the AM films were similar to that of additive-free LDPE film. However, carbonyl peaks could also be observed in the spectra of the AM films. There was no significant difference in the degree of crystallinity and the melting temperature range of the different films. Derivative thermogravimetry mass-loss curves showed that the thermal decomposition temperatures of the AM films were marginally lower than that of LDPE film. Electron micrographs indicated that AM LDPE-based films exhibited no evidence of changes in microstructure to suggest that linalool and methylchavicol were not evenly distributed in the film. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.