Bioactive Aerogels as Absorbent Pads: Production, Characterization, and Application for Chicken Meat Packaging

Traditional food absorbent pads are typically made from non-degradable polymers with low absorption rates and lack antibacterial properties. In this study, new composite aerogels were prepared as bioactive pads for food packaging. The aerogels were produced using cress seed mucilage (CSM) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as matrix materials with citric acid (CA) as an environmentally friendly crosslinking agent. Microscopic analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed pore formation with uniform distribution and confirmed esterification between CSM, PVA, and CA. The composite aerogels exhibited low density (14.24 ± 0.4 (mg/cm³)) and high porosity (96.93%), indicating their ideal bioactive carrier capability. In addition, CA crosslinking of CSM-PVA aerogels improved thermal stability (T_max: 320 °C) and mechanical properties of the pads. Clove essential oil (CEO) was loaded as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent through the porous network structure of the composite aerogel. The CEO-loaded composite aerogels showed excellent antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus. The physicochemical and microbial results of chilled chicken meat during the storage indicated that the composite aerogel pads with CEO could extend its shelf life, highlighting their potential as absorbent and bioactive pads for food packaging.