Permeation analyser is essential for research into biodegradable packaging materials

University Research Group use Systech 8001 OTR analyser to test oxygen barrier properties of biodegradable packaging materials.
At The University of Helsinki, one of the research programmes, at the Department of Food & Environmental Sciences, is the Hemicellulose Research Group. Their focus area is the structure and function of polysaccharides in producing plant derived hemicellulosic polymers for the development of films biodegradable and coatings.
Hemicelluloses consist of several structurally different polysaccharides that exist in the plant cell walls closely associated with cellulose. Polysaccharides offer a sustainable alternative to synthetic plastics, which are widely used as food packaging materials. To protect the packed product from the outside environment, barrier properties as well as mechanical strength and flexibility are required. The presence of oxygen inside food packaging is associated with deterioration of the food, reducing the quality and taste of the product. Polysaccharides have shown to provide a good barrier against the permeation of oxygen.
The Hemicellulose research group have chosen the Systech Illinois 8001 oxygen permeation analyser to test the barrier properties of the polysaccharide films. This leading analytical instrument offers precision temperature, humidity and flow control providing consistent and repeatable test conditions. With a wide sample temperature range and a controllable relative humidity range it has a quick changeover from wet to dry sample runs. It has the widest measurement range in the market making it ideal for research and development permeation testing.
Kirsi Mikkonen, Principal Investigator says: ‘We find that the Systech 8001 is a versatile oxygen permeation analyser, having a large measurement range and allowing us to adjust the RH and temperature at wide scale. The RH control is especially important with hydrophilic biopolymer-based films that we study. Additionally, the external climate cabinet included in our setup enables analysis of various shapes of packaging at controlled conditions.’
References of published work using the 8001 instrument:
Visanko, M., Liimatainen, H., Sirviö, J. A., Mikkonen, K. S., Tenkanen, M., Sliz, R., Hormi, O. & Niinimäki, J. 2015. Butylamino-functionalized cellulose nanocrystal films: barrier properties and mechanical strength. RSC Advances. 5 p. 15140-15146.
Kisonen, V., Prakobna, K., Xu, C., Salminen, A., Mikkonen, K. S., Valtakari, D., Eklund, P., Seppälä, J., Tenkanen, M. & Willför, S. 2015. Composite films of nanofibrillated cellulose and O-acetyl galactoglucomannan (GGM) coated with succinic esters of GGM showing potential as barrier material in food packaging. Journal of Materials Science. 50, 8, p. 3189-3199.
Bober, P., Liu, J., Mikkonen, K. S., Ihalainen, P., Markus, P., Plumed-Ferrer, C., von Wright, A., Lindfors, T., Xu, C. & Latonen, R-M. 2014. Biocomposites of nanofibrillated cellulose, polypyrrole and silver nanoparticles with electroconductive and antimicrobial properties. Biomacromolecules. 15, 10, p. 3655-3663.

As a global company Systech Illinois specialises in online, portable and laboratory gas analysis equipment. With 30 years as one of the leading experts in gas and moisture measurement, Systech Illinois' application and technology knowledge provides efficient gas analysis solutions in many industry sectors worldwide.
For the packaging industry, Systech’s oxygen permeation and water vapour permeation analysers offer testing of all packaging film, finished package and PET bottles. Systech’s headspace range provides fast, easy to use, accurate gas analysis of gas flushed food packages and headspace analysis of food and pharmaceutical packaging. For the process industry, Systech offer a wide range of gas analysis solutions including measurement of moisture, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and many other gases. In addition, Systech manufacture intrinsically safe units for use in hazardous areas.
Systech Illinois is a multinational company with offices and gas analysis equipment manufacturing facilities in the UK and the U.S. Systech is very proud of its well developed and well trained workforce, which enables it to offer customers a continuing high level of service, and become known globally as a leading supplier of gas analysis instrumentation.

Systech Illinois
Beth Faulkner
Phone: +44 1844 216838 (EMEA)
+1 815 344 6212 (N. & S. America and Canada).

Systech Illinois
17 Thame Park Business Centre
Wenman Road
Thame
Oxfordshire
UK

This release was published on openPR.