Synthesis and Antimicrobial Properties Pectin + CuNi Films and Characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Authors

  • Yamila Illanez

    Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Villa Mercedes 5730, Argentina
  • Corina Cangiano

    Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Villa Mercedes 5730, Argentina
  • Yesica Sabrina Lambrese

    Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Villa Mercedes 5730, Argentina Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI) San Luis, San Luis 5700, Argentina
  • Cecilia Fernandez

    Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Villa Mercedes 5730, Argentina
  • Marcelo Ricardo Esquivel *

    Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche 8400, Argentina

    Departamento de Caracterización de Materiales, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA) y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bariloche 8400, Argentina
  • Maria de los Ángeles Cangiano

    Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Villa Mercedes 5730, Argentina

    Instituto de Tecnología Química Universidad Nacional de San Luis (UNSL) y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET) , Villa Mercedes 5370, Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55121/nefm.v4i2.711

Keywords:

Pectin, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, Cuni Nanoparticles, Food Packaging

Abstract

The synthesis of pectin-based films containing nanoparticles of CuNi (NPs), with potential antimicrobial properties, as an active solid is presented in this work. The NPs were dispersed in pure pectin to be used as food packaging in the food industry. The samples obtained were laid flat to characterize the sample thickness. The goal of this work is to find appropriate electron microscopy techniques to characterize the dispersion of the NPs on the pectin film and the pectin microstructural and antimicrobial characteristics properly. Different microstructural techniques of scanning electron microscopy modes were used to study the films, including low-voltage scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and low-voltage energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The condition of low beam voltage allows the sample characterization without destroying the sample surface/bulk due to electron irradiation. The pectin films containing raw NPs (pectin + NPs) and milled NPs (pectin + milled NPs) were observed by SEM in two different image modes: secondary electrons (SE) and backscattered electrons (BSE). The last mode allows the identification of sample components, i.e., matrix + samples containing different atomic Z numbers. This fact allows us to know the distribution of the metal particles within the volume of the sample. The results obtained in this work are relevant for the characterization and further use of these films in the protection of snacks in the food industry.

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How to Cite

Illanez, Y., Cangiano, C., Lambrese, Y. S., Fernandez, C., Esquivel, M. R., & Cangiano, M. de los Ángeles. (2025). Synthesis and Antimicrobial Properties Pectin + CuNi Films and Characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy. New Environmentally-Friendly Materials, 4(2), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.55121/nefm.v4i2.711

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Vol. 4 No. 2 (November 2025)

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Copyright (c) 2025 Yamila Illanez, Corina Cangiano, Yesica Sabrina Lambrese, Cecilia Fernandez, Marcelo Ricardo Esquivel, Maria de los Ángeles Cangiano

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