Characterization of insect chitosan films from Tenebrio molitor and Brachystola magna and its comparison with commercial chitosan of different molecular weights.

Insects are considered as alternative sources of chitosan; however, studies about the functional film-forming properties of insect chitosan are scarce. Insect chitosan films were made from Tenebrio molitor and Brachystola magna and were compared with commercial chitosan of different molecular weight (Mw). Mechanical properties (tensile strength, TS; elastic modulus, EM; elongation at break, %E), water vapor permeability (WVP) and physicochemical properties were characterized. The film properties of both commercial and insect chitosan were affected by Mw. Commercial chitosan films showed that at lower Mw, the TS (from 59 to 48 MPa) and EM (from 1471 to 1286 MPa) decreased; whereas WVP (from 2.9 × 10-11 to 3.4 × 10-11 g m-1s-1Pa-1), % E (from 38 to 41%) and solubility (from 30 to 33%) increased. Chitosan insect films showed lower TS and EM and higher WPV, %E and solubility than commercial films. SEM revealed that chitosan insect films had lower porosity than commercial films. FTIR and X-ray diffraction showed not difference between insect and commercial chitosan films. These results showed that T. molitor and B. magna chitosan films could be used as a packaging material in several food products.