Diffusion of linalool and methylchavicol from polyethylene-based antimicrobial packaging films

Abstract The diffusion of linalool and methylchavicol from thin (45–50 μm) antimicrobial low-density polyethylene-based films was evaluated after immersion in isooctane and the effect of temperature (4, 10, or 25 °C) on the diffusion rate was evaluated. The kinetics of linalool and methylchavicol release showed a non-Fickian behavior at the lowest temperature. An increase in temperature from 4 °C to 25 °C resulted in an increase in the diffusion coefficient from 4.2 × 10 −13  m 2  s −1 to 2.5 × 10 −12  m 2  s −1 for linalool and from 3.5 × 10 −13  m 2  s −1 to 1.1 × 10 −12  m 2  s −1 for methylchavicol. The effect of temperature on the diffusion coefficient followed an Arrhenius-type model ( r 2  = 0.972) in relation to a time-response function with a Hill coefficient. Activation energies of 57.8 kJ mol −1 (linalool) and 42.8 kJ mol −1 (methylchavicol) were observed.