| Description: |
Functional biopolymers are increasingly stud-ied due to their renewability and enhanced biocompatibility. Chitin, the second most abundant biopolymer on Earth after cellu-lose, can be sourced from various terrestrial and marine organisms, including crustaceans, insects, and fungi. The advancement of bio-technology and the need to valorize agro-food waste are expected to increase the availability of chitin for various applications. Chitin derivatives, such as chitin nanofibrils and chitosan, exhibit notable antimicrobial properties. These properties are attributed to the presence of amine groups, which, when protonated in acidic environments, interact with bacterial lipid membranes, neutralizing their infective capabilities [1]. The applica-tion of chitin nanofibrils and chitosan to var-ious biopolymeric surfaces (e.g., cellulose, biopolymer blends) has been extensively re-searched for use in personal care, hygiene, cosmetics, and packaging [2].The develop-ment of appropriate coatings has been achieved through liquid or hot-melt coating techniques, utilizing diverse manufacturing processes. Fatty amines, known for their hydrophobic nature, are widely used in detergents, cosmet-ics, and agricultural products due to their an-timicrobial properties. The sustainable enzy-matic production of fatty amines from agro-food waste is nearing practical application [3]. Compared to chitin and chitosan, these compounds are more hydrophobic, potential-ly enhancing compatibility with bioplastics and non-polar surfaces. However, the prepa-ration of blends can be challenging due to the differing solubility of chitosan and fatty amines in water. This study explores the combination of fatty amines and chitosan by preparing films and characterizing their spec-troscopic, thermal, and mechanical proper-ties. |