Gellan Gum Film Incorporated with Palm Kernel Oil Nanoemulsion for Enhanced Barrier Properties

Biopolymer-based films are increasingly viewed as viable substitutes for petroleum-based materials. In this study, high acyl gellan gum (HAGG) films were developed by incorporating palm kernel oil nanoemulsions (PKON) to address the intrinsic limitations of gellan gum, such as its weak water barrier properties, which hinder broader applications. PKON at varying concentrations (0.075 w/v%, 0.1 w/v%, 0.125 w/v%, and 0.15 w/v%) were employed to assess their influence on the physical, structural, thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties of gellan gum films. A four-week storage study was conducted under room conditions (22.0 ± 2.0 °C, 63 ± 3% RH) to evaluate changes in the films’ physical, barrier, and mechanical performance over time. The results demonstrate that incorporating PKON enhanced the smoothness of the film surface and modified the microstructure, as confirmed by SEM and FTIR analyses. A higher PKON concentration (0.15 w/v%) improved film mechanical strength and barrier properties against water and oxygen. The films maintained consistent barrier properties against oxygen and water vapor throughout storage, particularly at higher PKON concentrations. This study highlighted the viability of HAGG-PKON films as environmentally friendly packaging materials with improved functional properties.