The effect of nanoclay-containing polymeric film packaging on the physicochemical properties of lavender (lavandula angustifolia) essential oil during storage

In this study, in order to examine the effect of lavender oil on the shelf life, an environmentally friendly nanoclay-containing polymeric film (NPF) that can be used instead of environmentally harmful plastic lids used in food packaging was produced. The produced NPF was covered with a lid packaging over the lavender essential oils during storage. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was applied to the nanoclay used in this research, and biodegradability, haze and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyzes were applied to the NPF packaging material produced. Then, acidity, peroxide, color, refractive index, viscosity and essential oil components analyzes were applied to the lavender essential oil stored with the produced film, at specified intervals. As a result of the applied SEM analysis, it was determined that the morphology of the nanoclay samples and the elements they contained showed similar results to the literature. In terms of biodegradability, it was observed that NPF packaging showed a 31.53% deterioration in nature in a 6-month period, and the haze analysis result was determined as 87.17%. As a result of FT-IR analysis, it was determined that nanoclay, starch and chitosan were present. During the 6-month storage period of lavenderessential oil stored with NPF cap packaging material, free fatty acidity (0.38%-0.68%), peroxide number (3.46-9.06 meqO2/kg), color results *L (40.63-67, 86), *a (-1.56- -0.89), *b (3.92-5.23), refractive index results (1.4578-1.4632), viscosity results (2.78-6.87 mPa) and the dominant essential oil components are linalyl acetate (27.04%-31.74%) and linalool (42.80%- 46.6%), lavandulyl acetate (1.25%-1.35%), It was determined in the ranges of 1-8 cineole (3.44%-4.29%), camphor (4.07%-5.26%) and borneol (2.18%-2.89%). In line with these results; It was determined that the nanoclay-containing polymeric lid packaging film produced and used had a protective effect as much as the plastic lid in terms of free fatty acidity, peroxide number, essential oil components and color analysis results, and that it could be improved in terms of refractive index and viscosity analysis results.