Release Profile of the Antimicrobial Agent from Clove Oil Encapsulated in a Polyurethane Shell

The essential oil has been known for its antimicrobial properties and has the potency to be utilized as an active agent in food preservative, packaging, and textile. Eugenol and caryophyllene are a major antimicrobial component in the clove oil, which is proved against several bacterial and fungal strains. Due to the clove oil is easily oxidized and have a strong smell, it needs to be encapsulated so it can be used for long-term application. The encapsulation of the clove oil in the polyurethane shell was prepared by polymerization in an oil-in-water emulsion. The FTIR spectra of the microcapsules showed that the clove oil was successfully encapsulated. The release profile of the antimicrobial agent from the microcapsules was measured using Headscape GC. From the prediction based on the release profile showed that the microcapsules could emit the eugenol for 59 days and the caryophyllene for 15 days. Therefore, it could be concluded that the microcapsules of clove oil in the polyurethane shell is suitable for long term application.