Active bio composites films based on PLA/olive wood flour (Olea europaea L.)/cinnamon essential oil

In this study, activated PLA/olive wood flour (OWF) composite films were prepared by a solvent casting process with different wood flour contents (0, 1, 3, 5 and 10 wt%). 3% Cinnamon Essential Oil (CEO) is incorporated into the biocomposite film to impart antimicrobial activity. OWF and CEO properties were examined using FTIR and total phenol quantification. Biocomposite films with and without CEO were tested by FTIR and tensile strength. The antimicrobial activity of biocomposite films was tested against four types of fungi and five types of bacteria. CEO and OWF extracts physically interact with PLA, affecting its mechanical and antimicrobial properties. In addition, only 1% of OWF and CEO achieved better performance. The best antifungal inhibition against A. flavus and F. oxysporum was observed in the case of 10% of OWF, and the best antibacterial activity for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus was observed for OWC0 films. The combined use of OWF and CEO showed synergistic antifungal properties. Overall, low content of OWF and CEO could bring antibacterial and antifungal activities to biocomposite PLA/OWF biofilms with satisfactory mechanical properties. The primary use of these films is cereal packaging applications. Graphical abstract