Development of multifunctional quaternary ammonium cellulose coating for fruit preservation

Due to the lack of preservation technology and cold chain logistics, the decay loss rate of fruits and vegetables is surprisingly high. To meet the demands of environmental protection and food preservation, sustainable coating materials that fabricated by biowaste to wealth approach can efficiently cover the challenges. Hence, quaternary ammonium lotus root residue celluloses (QACs) were homogeneously synthesized by reacting cellulose with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride for 24 h. In terms of the chemical structure, morphology, rheological property and biocompatibility as well as antimicrobial ability, QACs were characterized. The antibacterial mechanism was investigated at cellular level via disruption of membrane integrity, metabolic inactivation, destruction of antioxidant system. Meanwhile, due to the nature source of cellulose, QACs exhibited inherent outstanding biocompatibility. QACs could extend preservation time of strawberry for least 3 d by decreasing the weight loss and maintaining the hardness and springiness, as well as inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. The residual amount of QACs coating on the surface of strawberries was <0.1 mg kg^-1, featuring with easy cleaning and safety. This biowaste-derived coating for strawberry preservation not only provides a new strategy for fruit preservation platforms but also expands the high-value application of biowaste resources in the agro-industry.