REVIEW OF ZEOLITES AS DEODORANTS FOR POLYETHYLENE RESINS USED IN FOOD PACKAGING APPLICATIONS

The formation of odoriphores in polyethylene (PE) is of concern to industries involved in the packaging of items such as foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals that are sensitive to organoleptic contamination. Hitherto, traditional strategies such as increasing the level of antioxidant, reducing contact between the resin and oxygen during processing, optimizing processing conditions, and reducing substances that promote degradation during polymerization, have all been used to reduce odorous volatile organic compounds to some extent. Lately, there has been an interest in zeolites for this purpose. This article reviews the use of zeolites as deodorants in PE resins. The use of zeolites as adsorbents of ripening and degradation products and as antimicrobial agents in food packaging applications is also discussed. In addition, the effects zeolites have on the physico-mechanical properties of PE are considered.