Development of Biodegradable Cellulosic Materials from Green Algae Ulva spp. and Chaetomorpha spp.
Green algaes, antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, cellulosic packaging, biodegradable.
The food industry is increasingly looking for sustainable packaging where negative impacts and disposal waste are reduced when compared to conventional materials already used. Macroalgae have shown potential for application in several areas; among them, the possibility of use in the packaging industry as they are rich in macro and micronutrients. Green algae are considered a biomass rich in polysaccharides with the potential to be used as a substrate for cellulosic packaging, replacing wood in conventional paper pulp production. Therefore, the present study aims to identify the species and physical-chemical characterization of green algae collected in Tibau do Sul, in Northeast Brazil. In addition to evaluating the amount of pigments present and a preliminary qualitative phytochemical analysis of some compounds such as saponins, terpenoids, steroids, phytosterols, tannins and flavonoids. Different extractions techniques will be applied with solvents of different polarities for subsequent quantification of the bioactive compounds present in the algae extracts. In vitro antioxidant activity analyzes will be performed using radicals 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). Analysis of antibacterial activity will be carried out with gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria using the disk diffusion method. Furthermore, a biodegradable cellulosic compound will be produced from green algae, Kraft and water. The compounds obtained after drying will be evaluated by mechanical analyzes such as the tensile test and elongation at break, tear test, bending test, the resistance to water immersion test and biodegradability analysis. Thus, the aim is to analyze the antioxidant and antibacterial potential of the collected green algae’s extracts and the development of biodegradable cellulosic packaging as a more sustainable alternative.