New Composite Packaging Material from Edible Oil By-Product Coated with Paraffin Wax for Dry Apricot Slice Packing Under a Modified Atmosphere

Composite biopolymer hydrogel as food packaging material, apart from being environmentally favorable, faces high standards set upon food packaging materials. The feature that favors biopolymer film application is their low gas permeability under room conditions and lower relative humidity conditions. However, most biopolymer-based materials show high moisture sensitiveness and limited water vapor permeability, which limits their application for food packaging. In this paper, a new packaging material derived from an edible oil industry byproduct (pumpkin oil cake) coated with a thin layer of paraffin wax was obtained. Compared to the film without wax coating, the new material showed reduced water sensitivity and significantly reduced water vapor transmission rate (56.98 ± 7.42 g/m² 24 h). The new material was tested for packing dry apricot slices under a modified atmosphere (100% N₂). Gas composition in PuOC/wax pouches' headspace was minimally changed during 105 days of storage. The low moisture content (6.76-10.60%) of dried apricot slices was preserved throughout the storage period (<i>p</i> > 0.05), as well as high rehydration power (65-75%). Changes in sensorial properties during storage were minimal. Total phenol content was minimally reduced during storage, followed by antioxidant activity (FRAP and ABTS trial). The microbial profile of dried apricot slices showed that a safe product was obtained throughout the storage. Considering the results, the functionality of new material for packing dry apricots under a modified atmosphere was proven.