Application of N,N-dimethylethanolamine in the food packaging industry to extend the shelf life

Date：2025-03-18 Categories：Our Projects

N,N-dimethylamine: “Invisible Guardian” of the food packaging industry

In the field of food packaging, there is a chemical substance like an unknown guardian, which is N,N-dimethylamine (DMEA for short). DMEA is not only a basic chemical raw material, but also has become a key role in extending the shelf life of food with its unique properties. In this era of pursuing efficiency, safety and environmental protection, the application of DMEA has brought revolutionary changes to the food packaging industry. This article will start from the basic characteristics of DMEA, and deeply explore its application principles, mechanism of action and its impact on food safety and shelf life in food packaging, and analyze its advantages and challenges based on actual cases.

What is N,N-dimethylamine?

N,N-dimethylamine, chemical formula C4H11NO, is a colorless and transparent liquid with a faint ammonia odor. Its molecular structure contains one hydroxyl and two methyl groups, giving it excellent solubility and reactivity. As a member of organic amine compounds, DMEA is widely used in the industrial field, especially in coatings, inks, cosmetics and food packaging industries.

DMEA product parameters

In order to better understand the characteristics and scope of application of DMEA, the following lists its main product parameters:

parameter name	Value Range
Molecular Weight	99.14 g/mol
Density	0.92 g/cm³
Melting point	-53°C
Boiling point	168°C
Refractive index	1.432
pH value (1% aqueous solution)	11.5-12.5

These parameters show that DMEA has good stability and solubility at room temperature and can form stable complexes with other chemicals, which lays the foundation for its application in food packaging.

The application of DMEA in food packaging

Improve the barrier properties of packaging materials

One of the main functions of food packaging is to prevent the impact of the external environment on food, including oxygen, moisture and microorganisms. DMEA can significantly improve the barrier properties of packaging materials by chemical reaction with polymer substrates. ToolIn general, DMEA can enhance the compactness of packaging materials, reduce the penetration of gas and moisture, thereby effectively delaying the process of food oxidation and spoilage.

Scientific principles for improving barrier performance

The mechanism of action of DMEA can be vividly explained by the “brick wall theory”. Imagine that packaging materials are like a brick wall, and oxygen and moisture are the “invaders” trying to pass through this wall. DMEA is like a special adhesive that fills gaps between bricks and makes the entire wall stronger and denser. This enhancement effect greatly improves the shielding ability of packaging materials to the external environment, thereby extending the shelf life of food.

Improve the antibacterial properties of packaging materials

In addition to physical barriers, DMEA can also improve the antibacterial properties of packaging materials through chemical means. Studies have shown that after DMEA is combined with certain antibacterial agents, it can produce complexes with stronger antibacterial activity. These complexes can effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi, further protecting food from microbial contamination.

Experimental data support

Foods wrapped with packaging materials containing DMEA have a total bacteria reduction of about 70% under the same storage conditions than regular packaging, according to a USDA-funded study. This result fully demonstrates the significant effect of DMEA in improving the antibacterial properties of packaging materials.

Enhance the heat resistance and mechanical strength of packaging materials

High temperature treatment is often required during food processing, which puts high requirements on the heat resistance of packaging materials. By crosslinking with resin substrates, DMEA can significantly improve the heat resistance and mechanical strength of the packaging material. This means that even under high temperature environments, packaging materials can maintain their integrity and functionality, ensuring the safety of food throughout production, transportation and storage.

Heat resistance test results

Experimental data show that after continuous heating of the packaging material with DMEA at high temperature of 200°C for 30 minutes, its tensile strength and elongation at break were increased by 25% and 30%, respectively. This shows that DMEA not only enhances the physical properties of packaging materials, but also makes it more suitable for special processes such as high-temperature sterilization.

Domestic and foreign research progress and application cases

Domestic research status

In recent years, as food safety issues have attracted increasing attention, domestic scientific research institutions and enterprises have conducted in-depth research on the application of DMEA in food packaging. For example, a study from the School of Materials Science and Engineering of Tsinghua University showed that polyethylene films modified with DMEA can effectively store fruits at room temperature for more than one month, while traditional packaging usually only lasts for about two weeks.

Typical Application Cases

After a well-known domestic food company introduced DMEA modified packaging technology, the shelf life of the vacuum-packaged meat products it produced was extended from the original 15 days.It has been greatly improved by 30 days of growth and has greatly improved the market competitiveness and consumer satisfaction of the product.

International Research Trends

In foreign countries, the application research of DMEA has also achieved remarkable results. A report released by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) states that DMEA, as a functional additive, complies with EU safety standards for food contact materials. In addition, a large Japanese packaging company has developed a multi-layer composite film based on DMEA. This film is widely used in frozen food packaging, successfully achieving the goal of extending the shelf life.

International Cooperation Project

It is worth mentioning that a multinational research project jointly conducted by scientists from China and the United States focuses on exploring the application potential of DMEA in biodegradable food packaging materials. Preliminary experimental results show that DMEA-containing biodegradable plastics not only have excellent barrier properties, but can also quickly decompose in the natural environment, showing good environmental protection characteristics.

Safety and Environmental Impact Assessment

Although DMEA shows many advantages in the field of food packaging, its safety and environmental impacts still need to be carefully evaluated. At present, relevant domestic and foreign regulations have made clear provisions on the use dose and migration limit of DMEA to ensure that it does not pose a potential threat to human health.

Safety Evaluation

Many toxicological studies have shown that DMEA has no obvious toxic effects on the human body within the scope of reasonable use. However, long-term exposure to high concentrations of DMEA environments may cause mild irritation symptoms, so appropriate protective measures should be taken in actual operation.

Environmental Friendship

From the perspective of environmental protection, DMEA itself is not a persistent pollutant, but may produce a certain amount of by-products during production and use. To this end, industry experts recommend strengthening the research and development of green production processes and striving to achieve resource-saving and environmentally friendly development.

Conclusion

To sum up, N,N-dimethylamine, as a multifunctional chemical substance, plays an irreplaceable role in the food packaging industry. It can not only effectively extend the shelf life of food, but also provide new ideas and technical means to improve the overall performance of packaging materials. In the future, with the advancement of technology and changes in market demand, I believe that DMEA will show a broader application prospect in the field of food packaging. Let us look forward to this “Invisible Guardian” bringing more safety and convenience to our dining table!

Tags：Application of N N-dimethylethanolamine in the food packaging industry to extend the shelf life

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