Biodegradable active composite hydrogel packaging for postharvest climacteric bananas preservation.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Food Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Climacteric fruits like bananas are prone to rapid deterioration due to ethylene and temperature, leading to significant postharvest losses.
• Conventional plastic films used for fruit preservation pose environmental challenges due to their non-degradability and high consumption rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel carboxymethyl cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol/pyrazoic acid (CPP) hydrogel as a biodegradable packaging material for extending the postharvest life of bananas.
• To assess the efficacy of the CPP hydrogel film in preventing dehydration, senescence, and nutrient loss in bananas under simulated tropical conditions.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a carboxymethyl cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol/pyrazoic acid (CPP) hydrogel.
• Characterization of the hydrogel's properties, including degradability, tensile strength, transparency, and biosafety.
• Packaging of bananas using CPP hydrogel films and evaluation of their preservation effects compared to blank controls and non-CPP hydrogels at 30°C.

Main Results:

• The CPP hydrogel exhibited complete natural degradability within 50 days, high tensile performance, transparency, and biosafety.
• CPP hydrogel packaging significantly delayed banana browning, dehydration, softening, nutrient loss, and senescence compared to control groups.
• Bananas packaged with CPP hydrogel maintained their commercial value for a longer duration under accelerated ripening conditions.

Conclusions:

• CPP hydrogel films represent a promising, eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic packaging for postharvest preservation of climacteric fruits.
• The developed hydrogel material effectively mitigates postharvest deterioration in bananas, offering a sustainable solution for the fruit industry.