Alginate-Based Films

Alginates are naturally existing group of polysaccharides, commonly derived at low cost from various species of brown algae. Alginates are mainly used as an additive in food industry (such as gelling agent, thickening agent, stabilizing agent, and emulsifying agent) as well as other industrial applications such as medical, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Alginate-based edible coatings and films find and are used to extend the shelf life of perishable food commodities like fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, seafood, cheese, etc. by coating the films over them, as the alginate-based films or coatings are biocompatible, nontoxic, and biodegradable. This chapter mainly aims at exploring the potential sources of alginates along with their properties including thermal, mechanical, tensile properties, heat seal ability, and antimicrobial along with the release kinetics of various bioactive and active compounds. Alginate-based films find applications in many areas of food technology, and it is required to identify the essentials of the coating process and to develop alginate-based edible films and coatings more readily.