Chitosan-based edible membranes for food packaging

Abstract

Chitosan edible membranes provide extra benefits including compatibility with living organism, barrier properties to gases, nontoxic to mammals, nonpolluting, and low cost compared to synthetic polymers. In addition, bioactive membranes and coatings act as food additive carriers, such as antibiotics and antioxidants, and have been specifically considered in preservation of food due to their ability to extend shelf life. This chapter focuses principally on chitosan membranes derived from the naturally occurring chitin. Moreover, the chapter provides modern technological applications and the prospects of chitosan-modified membranes in food preservation.