Polysaccharide oxygen barrier properties

Among the polysaccharides, cellulose derivatives are often used as good barrier properties against gas as oxygen, with good mechanical properties but often permeable to water. A wide variety of possible coatings offer many possibilities for controlled release (Clark and Shen, 2004). 

Hayashibara in Japan has produced Pullulan polysaccharide-based biodegradable films. Properties were reported to be similar to polystyrene. Aisero Chemical in Japan has produced biodegradable films and gels made by reacting chitin, found in the shells of crustaceans, with concentrated bases to form chitosan. Films manufactured from chitosan and cellulosic fiber have been reported to be hydrophilic, but not water-soluble, and to be good oxygen barriers. ... 

Biodegradable films made from edible biopolymers from renewable sources could become an important factor in reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste. Proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides are the main biopolymers employed to make edible films and coatings. Which of these components are present in different proportions and determine the properties of the material, as a barrier to water vapor, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and lipid transfer in food systems (Gomez-Guillen et al. 2002 and 2009). 

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