Modification of Ethylene Acrylic Acid Film for Antimicrobial Activity.

Benzoyl chloride is commonly used as a
food preservative to control microbial contamination by
reducing the growth rate and maximum growth population
and extending the lag period of the target microorganisms.
Benzoyl chloride was successfully incorporated
into a matrix of an ethylene acrylic acid polymer. The
reaction of benzoyl chloride with ethylene acrylic acid
was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
The antimicrobial activity of modified ionomer
films was studied through the monitoring of the growth of
Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus sp. on the modified films.
An untreated film did not show any inhibition of microbial
growth. The inhibition activity was least in an ionomer
film treated with acid and benzoyl chloride, and this
was followed by a film treated with alkali and benzoyl
chloride. The maximum inhibition was observed in a film
treated just with benzoyl chloride.