Effect of low‐pressure cold plasma on the properties of edible film based on alginate enriched with <i>Dunaliella salina</i> powder

Abstract

Abstract Edible films based on sodium alginate enriched with different percentages of Dunaliella salina powder were prepared and treated by cold plasma for diverse durations in the presence of oxygen and argon. The results demonstrated that plasma treatment, especially in the presence of argon, improves film tensile strength and Young's modulus but reduces its flexibility. Surface morphologies and topography clearly show that cold plasma's physical and chemical etching affected the microstructure of films and increased surface roughness and contact angle. Also, water vapor permeability decreased due to the reduced pores of the film and surface hydrophilicity after treatment. The results of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of treated films containing D. salina were interestingly increased by both O 2 and Ar plasma. The colorimetric findings indicated that plasma increased the intensity of redness in samples containing D. salina , with the color of these samples being more vivid.