Effect of pressure on the supercritical solvent impregnation of pomegranate peel extract into low-density polyethylene films

This study investigated the effects of pressure (10, 20, 30, 40 MPa) on the supercritical solvent impregnation (SSI) of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) into low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film as a potential antioxidant and antimicrobial active food packaging material. The antimicrobial activities of both PPE and impregnated films were evaluated. The impregnation of PPE into LDPE film improved the ultraviolet (UV) light barrier and antioxidant properties. The highest impregnation efficiency was achieved at pressures of 30 and 40 MPa. The release of PPE from the LDPE matrix into its surrounding medium was demonstrated using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, which showed that the antioxidant activities of PPE were preserved after SSI. The present findings demonstrated the feasibility of SSI as a green approach to fabricating LDPE/PPE films as active food packaging. [Display omitted] •Pomegranate peel extract (PPE) is rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids.•LDPE/PPE films were produced using supercritical solvent impregnation (SSI).•Pressures of 30 and 40 MPa resulted in the highest impregnation loading.•SSI has minimal effect on the microstructure of the films, as shown by SEM.•PPE enhanced the DPPH scavenging activity and UV barrier of LDPE films.