Venus antiqua Clamshell-Derived Calcium Oxide Nanoparticles for the Preparation of PLA/d-Limonene/CaO Nanocomposites with Antimicrobial Properties

Clamshell waste and d-limoneneare interestingand promising sources for developing sustainable nanocomposites forfood packaging engineering. Antimicrobial films based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/d-limonene/calcium oxide (CaO)-based nanocomposites were preparedby extrusion and successive thermocompression. d-Limonenewas incorporated into PLA at a concentration of 5 or 10 wt %. Venus antiqua clamshell-derived calcium oxide (CaO)nanoparticles with an average diameter of 11.2 & PLUSMN; 9.9 nm wereadded at concentrations of 3 and 5 wt %. A decrease in the glass transitiontemperature (T (g)) by ca. 20% corroboratedthe plasticizing effect of d-limonene compared to pure PLA.The incorporation of 5 wt % CaO in PLA composites promoted a ca. 15%decrease in T (cc). Although CaO induceda lower Young's modulus and a lower thermal stability in nanocomposites,excellent antimicrobial performance was demonstrated. Both PLA/limoneneand PLA/limonene/CaO films reached 99.99% efficiency against Escherichia coli, regardless of the source of irradiation, d-limonene, and nanoparticle loading. Therefore, these nanocompositesestablish significant progress in developing sustainable antimicrobialmaterials in the fields of medicine or food packaging.