Exceptional performance, sustainable functionality, and application perspectives of lignin in bioplastic food packaging: A review.

Abstract

Packaging materials are effective means for food to maintain quality and reduce damage, and biomaterials, with their advantages of being renewable, safe and green, are ideal raw materials for packaging. Among them, the abundant active sites on lignin and its unique molecular structure endow it with designability, antibacterial/antioxidant properties, showing unique advantages in addressing the limitations of traditional bioplastics. Hence, this paper first reviews the definition, sources and preparation methods of lignin, and further focuses on exploring the modification of lignin, including chemical modification and graft copolymerization technology, which improves the thermal stability, UV resistance, oxidation resistance and other properties of lignin, thereby enhancing lignin packaging. More importantly, this article elaborates in detail on the design, preparation, modification and application of different lignin in various food packaging materials, including packaging films, hydrogel systems and paper-based composite coatings, etc. Finally, the current challenges and future development prospects of lignin packaging were summarized and prospected. This review aims to systematically analyze and summarize the application value of lignin food packaging, providing theoretical references for further research on lignin food packaging.