A method for preparing an anti-mold active film for a cigarette inner liner paper

Abstract

The present application relates to cigarette packaging antifungal technology field, specifically to a kind of antifungal active film for cigarette lining paper preparation method.The antifungal active film is three-layer composite structure, including two cellulose base films and active adhesive layer sandwiched between two base films, the active adhesive layer is composed of food-grade water-based adhesive and pomegranate peel extract.It is by sandwiching active antifungal component between two cellulose films, both avoid active component and cigarette direct contact, and can realize the slow release of active component, extend antifungal period and do not affect the sensory quality of cigarette.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of anti-mildew technology for cigarette packaging, specifically to a method for preparing an anti-mildew active film for cigarette inner lining paper. Background Technology

[0002] Cigarette liner paper is a core packaging material for maintaining cigarette quality and extending shelf life. Currently, the mainstream product on the market is aluminum foil composite paper, which relies solely on the physical barrier effect of the aluminum foil layer to achieve moisture-proof, oxygen-barrier, and aroma-preserving functions, but lacks active anti-mold capabilities. In the high-humidity environment of cigarette storage and transportation, dominant contaminants such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium citrinum can easily infect cigarettes, not only damaging the original flavor of the cigarette, but Aspergillus flavus can also produce highly carcinogenic aflatoxin, posing a health risk to smokers. Existing active liner papers mostly add anti-mold ingredients directly to the surface in contact with the cigarette, without using structural design to isolate the active ingredients from the cigarette, affecting the taste and posing a risk of migration. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for preparing an anti-mildew active film for cigarette inner liner paper, so as to solve the problems existing in the background art.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, this application employs the following technical solutions:

[0005] An anti-mildew active film for cigarette inner liner paper has a three-layer composite structure, including two cellulose base membranes and an active adhesive layer sandwiched between the two base membranes. The active adhesive layer is composed of a food-grade water-based adhesive and pomegranate peel extract.

[0006] Furthermore, the pomegranate peel extract accounts for 5-10% of the mass of the active adhesive.

[0007] A method for preparing an anti-mildew active film for cigarette inner liner paper according to any one of the above-mentioned methods comprises the following steps:

[0008] S1. Select fresh pomegranate peel, dry and pulverize it to obtain pomegranate peel powder;

[0009] S2. Add the above pomegranate peel powder to a 70% ethanol aqueous solution and extract it by ultrasonication at 40°C for 30 min. After filtration, concentrate the filtrate to 1 / 10 of the original volume using a rotary evaporator, and then freeze-dry to obtain crude extract powder.

[0010] S3. Add the crude extract powder from step S2 to the water-based biodegradable adhesive for food packaging to obtain an active adhesive.

[0011] S4. Select a regenerated cellulose membrane as the matrix material, apply the active adhesive prepared in step S3 to the surface of the regenerated cellulose membrane, cover it with another layer of regenerated cellulose membrane, and then use a laminator to hot press and form it at 40°C to obtain an anti-mildew active membrane.

[0012] Furthermore, in step S3, the crude extract powder is added to the water-based biodegradable adhesive for food packaging at a mass fraction of 5-10%.

[0013] Furthermore, in step S4, the coating thickness is 20-60 μm.

[0014] Furthermore, the anti-mildew active film of the cigarette inner liner paper prepared in any of the above-mentioned methods is sandwiched between the aluminum foil layer and the cigarette inner liner base paper, and is online laminated using the aforementioned water-based biodegradable adhesive for food packaging.

[0015] Furthermore, the specific steps of online lamination are as follows: lamination line speed 20m / min, lamination pressure 0.3MPa, hot pressing temperature 60℃, the three-layer structure is bonded and shaped by online lamination machine, and after winding, it is cured and shaped in an environment of 25℃ and 45% humidity for 24 hours.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0017] This invention provides a sandwich-structured anti-mold active film for cigarette inner liner paper. As a core functional layer, it can be integrated into the inner liner paper structure through conventional composite processes with aluminum foil layers and food-grade base paper. By sandwiching the active anti-mold components between two cellulose membranes, it avoids direct contact between the active components and the cigarette, while enabling the slow release of the active components, extending the anti-mold period without affecting the sensory quality of the cigarette.

[0018] The aluminum foil layer acts as a barrier layer to prevent the active ingredients from escaping to the outside of the packaging, while the porous fiber structure of the inner base paper forms a directional release channel, assisting the pomegranate peel active ingredients to be slowly released only to the cigarette side. This avoids the loss of effective ingredients and creates a long-lasting antibacterial environment on the side in contact with the tobacco. This invention uses a mature online lamination process in the industry, requiring no additional equipment modifications and facilitating industrial implementation. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the present invention will be described in detail below through embodiments. The following embodiments are merely exemplary and can only be used to explain and illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the technical solutions of the present invention.

[0020] This invention adds extracts to an adhesive to prepare a novel bioactive multilayer film based on cellulose polymers, which is then used in the development of novel anti-mold packaging. The film has a three-layer composite structure, comprising two cellulose base films and an active adhesive layer sandwiched between them. The active adhesive layer consists of a food-grade water-based adhesive and pomegranate peel extract, accounting for 5%-10% of the total active adhesive by mass. This arrangement, by sandwiching the active ingredients in the middle without direct contact with the cigarette, prevents them from affecting the cigarette's flavor. Furthermore, the anti-mold substances are slowly released through the outer film, extending the anti-mold effect of the packaging. The mechanical properties of the inner liner paper containing the active ingredients, the antibacterial properties of the active film, and the migration amount of the active ingredients were also measured.

[0021] This application provides a method for preparing an anti-mildew active film for cigarette inner liner paper, comprising the following steps:

[0022] S1. Sample Preparation: Fresh pomegranate peels were selected, and rotten, moldy, or black-spotted parts were removed, using only clean peels. The pomegranate peels were rinsed three times with clean water to remove surface dust. The samples were then dried in a 45℃ forced-air drying oven to constant weight, with moisture slowly removed under gentle conditions to maximize the retention of heat-sensitive active ingredients in the pomegranate peel, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and other antifungal substances. Subsequently, the samples were pulverized using an electric grinder until the average particle size was less than 0.5 mm. The pulverized samples were sealed in glass containers and stored away from light.

[0023] S2. Sample extraction: Weigh 30 g of powder sample, add 500 mL of 70% ethanol aqueous solution, and extract by ultrasonication at 40℃ for 30 min. After filtration, concentrate the filtrate to 1 / 10 of the original volume using a rotary evaporator, and then freeze-dry to obtain crude extract powder, which is then stored in a desiccator for later use.

[0024] S3. The extract was added to a water-based biodegradable adhesive for food packaging to prepare active adhesives with mass fractions of 5-10%, such as 5%, 8%, and 10%. After mixing, the mixture was vortexed for 1 minute and then allowed to stand at room temperature until completely homogenized. After comprehensive consideration, the maximum extract concentration for preparing active bio-packaging was determined to be 8%, which is the optimal addition amount and will not affect the adhesive properties of the adhesive itself. Regenerated cellulose membrane was selected as the matrix material. Two cellulose membrane sheets were bonded together using the active adhesive to prepare a multilayer active material.

[0025] S4. The prepared active adhesive was coated onto the surface of the cellulose membrane using a coating machine. A No. 4 wire bar with a wire diameter of 0.51 mm was used for coating, and the wet film coating thickness was 40 μm. Then, another layer of cellulose membrane was placed on top of the coated cellulose membrane to form a double-layer membrane. Finally, it was hot-pressed using a BiO 330 A3 heavy-duty laminator at 40°C and speed setting 5. At the same time, a blank biomembrane without the active extract was prepared as a control under the same process conditions.

[0026] S5. The aforementioned active film is sandwiched between the aluminum foil layer and 30-40g of cigarette inner liner paper. Online lamination is performed using the aforementioned water-based biodegradable adhesive. The lamination line speed is 20m / min, the lamination pressure is 0.3MPa, and the hot-pressing temperature is 60℃. The three-layer structure is bonded and shaped using an online laminating machine. After winding, it is cured for 24 hours at 25℃ and 45% humidity. The aluminum foil layer acts as a barrier layer, preventing the active ingredients from escaping to the outside of the packaging. The porous fiber structure of the inner liner paper forms a directional release channel, assisting the slow release of pomegranate peel active ingredients only to the cigarette side. This avoids loss of effective ingredients and creates a long-lasting antibacterial environment on the tobacco contact side. This invention utilizes a mature online lamination process, requiring no additional equipment modifications, and is easy to industrialize.

[0027] Performance testing:

[0028] 1. Mechanical property testing:

[0029] The tensile strength and elongation at break of the liner paper containing the active film were determined using a tensile tester. The liner paper was cut into rectangular strips of 15mm×100mm. The clamp spacing was set to 50mm, the tensile speed was 10mm / min, and each group of samples was tested 5 times and the average value was taken.

[0030] Test results showed that adding pomegranate peel extract significantly improved the mechanical properties of the liner paper. Specifically, the liner paper with 8% pomegranate peel extract achieved a tensile strength of 27.8 MPa, a 20.3% increase compared to the blank liner paper, while the elongation at break increased from 12.3% to 15.6%. This is likely because the phenolic components in the pomegranate peel extract can form hydrogen bond networks with cellulose molecules, enhancing the membrane's cohesive strength and flexibility. However, when the extract content exceeded 10%, the membrane's mechanical properties decreased, which is related to the agglomeration of the extract in the membrane matrix, disrupting the uniformity of the membrane structure.

[0031] Table 1. Effect of pomegranate peel extract addition on the mechanical properties of lining paper

[0032]

[0033] 2. Antifungal properties test of extract:

[0034] Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium citrinum are the dominant fungal species most easily contaminated and causing mold growth in cigarettes during storage and transportation. Therefore, these three fungi were selected as test strains. The antifungal performance was tested using the agar diffusion method. Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium citrinum were coated on a culture medium, and samples with different loadings of active film were placed on it and incubated for 24 hours. The diameter of the transparent inhibition zone was measured; a larger value indicates stronger antifungal activity. The results showed that the blank group had no inhibitory effect on Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium citrinum. As the amount of pomegranate peel extract added increased from 5% to 10%, the diameter of the inhibition zone of the active film against the three molds increased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. This indicates that the active film has excellent inhibitory activity against common cigarette mold-causing fungi, and within the experimental concentration range, the antifungal performance increased with increasing extract loading.

[0035] Table 2. Inhibition zone results of pomegranate peel extract against cigarette-contaminated mold (unit: mm)

[0036]

[0037] Note: Different letters (ad) indicate that the difference between groups is statistically significant (p≤0.5).

[0038] 3. Migration detection:

[0039] Liquid simulation is a common rapid screening method in the industry, characterized by its simplicity, high repeatability, and ability to quickly assess the migration risk of materials. Simulation system: 70% ethanol + 10% propylene glycol solution (simulating the oily environment of tobacco); Contact conditions: Take a sample of the composite inner liner paper, cut it to a size equivalent to the contact area with the cigarette, and seal it in the simulation solution. The inner liner paper and the simulation solution should be separated by a 10cm gap. 2 1 mL samples were sealed and stored at 22℃ and 60% relative humidity for 14 days. Total polyphenols were detected using the Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method at 765 nm, with gallic acid as the standard for a standard curve. Total flavonoids were detected using the aluminum nitrite colorimetric method at 510 nm, with rutin as the standard for a standard curve. Migration levels were far below the safety limits. The test data are shown in the table below.

[0040] Table 3. Detection of component migration of reactive liner paper under simulated tobacco environment

[0041]

[0042] Taking into account antibacterial efficacy, mechanical properties, and migration safety, an 8% extract addition was selected as the optimal loading: at this concentration, the inhibitory effect of the active film on cigarette contamination mold is close to the plateau period, while the tensile strength, elongation at break, and other mechanical properties of the inner lining paper containing the active film are in the peak range, and the migration of total polyphenols and total flavonoids is far below the safety threshold, thus taking into account efficacy, practicality, and application safety.

[0043] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the technical solutions of the present invention, and these modifications or equivalent substitutions cannot cause the modified technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A mildew-resistant active film for cigarette inner liner paper, characterized in that, It has a three-layer composite structure, including two cellulose base membranes and an active adhesive layer sandwiched between the two base membranes. The active adhesive layer is composed of a food-grade water-based adhesive and pomegranate peel extract.

2. The anti-mildew active film for cigarette inner liner paper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pomegranate peel extract accounts for 5-10% of the mass of the active adhesive.

3. A method for preparing an anti-mildew active film for cigarette inner liner paper according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The following steps are adopted: S1. Select fresh pomegranate peel, dry and pulverize it to obtain pomegranate peel powder; S2. Add the above pomegranate peel powder to a 70% ethanol aqueous solution and extract it by ultrasonication at 40°C for 30 min. After filtration, concentrate the filtrate to 1 / 10 of the original volume using a rotary evaporator, and then freeze-dry to obtain crude extract powder. S3. Add the crude extract powder from step S2 to the water-based biodegradable adhesive for food packaging to obtain an active adhesive. S4. Select a regenerated cellulose membrane as the matrix material, apply the active adhesive prepared in step S3 to the surface of the regenerated cellulose membrane, cover it with another layer of regenerated cellulose membrane, and then use a laminator to hot press and form it at 40°C to obtain an anti-mildew active membrane.

4. The method for preparing the anti-mildew active film for cigarette inner liner paper according to claim 3, characterized in that, In step S3, the crude extract powder is added to the water-based biodegradable adhesive for food packaging at a mass fraction of 5-10%.

5. The method for preparing the anti-mildew active film for cigarette inner liner paper according to claim 3, characterized in that, In step S4, the coating thickness is 20-60 μm.

6. An application characterized in that, The anti-mildew active film for cigarette inner lining paper prepared according to any one of claims 3 to 5 is sandwiched between the aluminum foil layer and the cigarette inner lining base paper, and is online laminated using the aforementioned water-based biodegradable adhesive for food packaging.

7. The application according to claim 6, characterized in that, The specific steps of online lamination are as follows: lamination line speed 20m / min, lamination pressure 0.3MPa, hot pressing temperature 60℃, the three-layer structure is bonded and shaped by online lamination machine, and after winding, it is cured and shaped in an environment of 25℃ and 45% humidity for 24 hours.

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