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The activated carbon based on waste tea (WT-AC) was prepared using sulfuric acid as an activating agent at different concentrations (5%, 10%, 20%, and 30%). Suitable characteristics as adsorbent have revealed concentration at 30% of waste tea activated carbon (WT-AC4) yield better adsorption, whereby other parameters including bulk density, ash content, volatile matter content, and moisture content obtained are 0.301 g mL−1, 3.40%, 26.76%, and 4.34%, sequentially. Overall, WT-AC samples have shown a well-developed porous structure and are declared an amorphous region. Comparatively, the results of adsorption studies reveal iodine value of WT-AC4 is 593.41 mg g−1 and commercial activated carbon is 738.62 mg g−1, while in 100 mg L−1 of methylene blue, the percentage of removal along with adsorption capacity yield the value of 89.2% (1.78 mg g−1) and 97.6 (1.98 mg g−1), respectively. In 0.5 mg L−1 and 1.0 mg L−1 of cadmium ions, WT-AC4 achieved 100% removal in both concentrations compared to commercially activated carbon with only 88.9%, then dropped to 46.2%. Significantly, the activated carbon from waste tea at a concentration of 30% sulfuric acid could be used as a low-cost adsorbent to remove organic and inorganic pollutants.

Fruits are highly perishable and prone to biological abnormalities and damage. Currently, insecticides and fungicides are utilized to control food spoilage. Due to consumer concerns and the rising need for safer products, attempts are being undertaken to develop eco-friendly components from essential oils (EOs) and bio-polysaccharides. Numerous studies have examined the in vitro efficiency of essential oils on various fruit pathogenic bacteria by evaluating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the percentage of the pathogen's inhibition. The presence of extensive phytochemicals and bioactive components in essential oils are mainly associated with its pathogen inhibitory mechanisms that can disrupt pathogen cellular metabolism. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides-based coatings are said to be enhanced in the presence of essential oils. The vast majority of volatiles and essential oils produced by plants are recognized as GRAS for humans and should be consumed not exceeding their permissible dose. Previously, they are in vivo (in storage) and in situ (in the field) uses were not well documented. Therefore, in this review, we examine the efficacy, main phytochemical components, and mechanisms of action of incorporating essential oils into polysaccharides-based coatings matrices to control microorganisms on fruits.

The conversion of waste into a valuable product is regarded as a promising alternative to relieving the burden of solid waste management and could be beneficial to the environment and humans. This study is focused on utilizing eggshell and orange peel enriched with banana starch to fabricate biofilm via the casting technique. The developed film is further characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The physical properties of films, including thickness, density, color, porosity, moisture content, water solubility, water absorption, and water vapor permeability, were also characterized. The removal efficiency of the metal ions onto film at different contact times, pH, biosorbent dosages, and initial concentration of Cd(II) were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The film’s surface was found to have a porous and rough structure with no cracks, which can enhance the target analytes interactions. EDX and XRD analyses confirmed that eggshell particles were made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and the appearance of the main peak at 2θ = 29.65° and 2θ = 29.49° proves the presence of calcite in eggshells. The FTIR indicated that the films contain various functional groups, such as alkane (C-H), hydroxyl (-OH), carbonyl (C=O), carbonate (CO32−), and carboxylic acid (-COOH) that can act as biosorption materials. According to the findings, the developed film exhibits a notable enhancement in its water barrier properties, thereby leading to improved adsorption capacity. The batch experiments showed that the film obtained the maximum removal percentage at pH = 8 and 6 g of biosorbent dose. Notably, the developed film could reach sorption equilibrium within 120 min at the initial concentration of 80 mg/L and remove 99.95% of Cd(II) in the aqueous solutions. This outcome presents potential opportunities for the application of these films in the food industry as both biosorbents and packaging materials. Such utilization can significantly enhance the overall quality of food products.

The main goal of this investigation is to conduct a thorough analysis of the physical, chemical, and morphological characteristics of chitosan derived from various forest fungi. Additionally, the study aims to determine the effectiveness of this vegetal chitosan as an antimicrobial agent. In this study, Auricularia auricula-judae, Hericium erinaceus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Tremella fuciformis, and Lentinula edodes were examined. The fungi samples were subjected to a series of rigorous chemical extraction procedures, including demineralization, deproteinization, discoloration, and deacetylation. Subsequently, the chitosan samples were subjected to a comprehensive physicochemical characterization analysis, encompassing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), degree of deacetylation determination, ash content determination, moisture content determination, and solubility determination. To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the vegetal chitosan samples, two different sampling parameters were employed, namely human hand and banana, to assess their effectiveness in inhibiting microbial growth. Notably, the percentage of chitin and chitosan varied significantly among the distinct fungal species examined. Moreover, EDX spectroscopy confirmed the extraction of chitosan from H. erinaceus, L. edodes, P. ostreatus, and T. fuciformis. The FTIR spectra of all samples revealed a similar absorbance pattern, albeit with varying peak intensities. Furthermore, the XRD patterns for each sample were nearly identical, with the exception of the A. auricula-judae sample, which exhibited sharp peaks at ~37° and ~51°, while the crystallinity index of this same sample was approximately 17% lower than the others. The moisture content results indicated that the L. edodes sample was the least stable, while the P. ostreatus sample was the most stable, in terms of degradation rate. Similarly, the solubility of the samples showed substantial variation among each species, with the H. erinaceus sample displaying the highest solubility among the rest. Lastly, the antimicrobial activity of the chitosan solutions exhibited different efficacies in inhibiting microbial growth of skin microflora and microbes found on the peel of Musa acuminata × balbisiana.

Food freshness monitoring, which is reflected in the quality of the product at the time of use, remains a significant challenge for both consumers and the food industry. This paper presents an experimental study on the development of a biodegradable, film-based curcumin, incorporated with modified rice starch, that may be used to detect hypoxanthine in chicken and fish. The physicochemical properties of the films were characterized and analyzed through several different approaches, including moisture content, water absorption, and water solubility. The morphology characteristics were analyzed using an SEM. The nanocomposite of the films showed excellent physical and chemical properties that bettered the control film used in the study. The deprotonation of curcumin occurs when the indicator is exposed to a pH level of 9 and above, where the indicator's color changes from yellow to a reddish-brown or wine-red color, which can be seen by the naked eye. The thickness of the films increased as the concentration of curcumin rose to 3%, showing that they were more stable than other films. The stability of the films increased when they were kept at a lower temperature (4 °C). Under optimum conditions, the detection limit of the film was found to be at 38.63 μM, with a limit of quantification of 128.75 μM, and the linear working range was determined to be from 0 to 100 μM. The concentration of hypoxanthine in chicken meat and fish was determined to be 30.25 μM and 52.84 μM, respectively. The recovery rate of the technique used was from 99.94 to 104.11%.Therefore, these results encourage the use of curcumin films as active packaging material in monitoring the freshness of various meat products.

The food production industry is a significant contributor to the generation of millions of tonnes of waste every day. With the increasing public concern about waste production, utilizing the waste generated from popular fruits and vegetables, which are rich in high-added-value compounds, has become a focal point. By efficiently utilizing food waste, such as waste from the fruit and vegetable industries, we can adopt a sustainable consumption and production pattern that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper provides an overview of the high-added-value compounds derived from fruit and vegetable waste and their sources. The inclusion of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibrowning properties can enhance the quality of materials due to the high phenolic content present in them. Waste materials such as peels, seeds, kernels, and pomace are also actively employed as adsorbents, natural colorants, indicators, and enzymes in the food industry. Therefore, this article compiles all consumer-applicable uses of fruit and vegetable waste into a single document.

In the rapidly evolving field of food science, nanotechnology-based biosensors are one of the most intriguing techniques for tracking meat freshness. Purine derivatives, especially hypoxanthine and xanthine, are important signs of food going bad, especially in meat and meat products. This article compares the analytical performance parameters of traditional biosensor techniques and nanotechnology-based biosensor techniques that can be used to find purine derivatives in meat samples. In the introduction, we discussed the significance of purine metabolisms as analytes in the field of food science. Traditional methods of analysis and biosensors based on nanotechnology were also briefly explained. A comprehensive section of conventional and nanotechnology-based biosensing techniques is covered in detail, along with their analytical performance parameters (selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, and detection limit) in meat samples. Furthermore, the comparison of the methods above was thoroughly explained. In the last part, the pros and cons of the methods and the future of the nanotechnology-based biosensors that have been created are discussed.

In recent years, there has been much interest in developing advanced and innovative approaches for sensing applications in various fields, including agriculture and environmental remediation. The development of novel sensors for detecting heavy metals using nanomaterials has emerged as a rapidly developing research area due to its high availability and sustainability. This review emphasized the naturally derived and engineered nanomaterials that have the potential to be applied as sensing reagents to interact with metal ions or as reducing and stabilizing agents to synthesize metallic nanoparticles for the detection of heavy metal ions. This review also focused on the recent advancement of nanotechnology-based detection methods using naturally derived and engineered materials, with a summary of their sensitivity and selectivity towards heavy metals. This review paper covers the pros and cons of sensing applications with recent research published from 2015 to 2022.

Heavy metal contamination has spread around the world, particularly in emerging countries. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of starch/eggshell/orange peel-activated carbon-based composite films in removing cadmium (II) ions from water samples. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the composite films. The effect of Cd2+ was studied using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The morphology of the composite film reveals a highly porous and rough surface with more open channels and a non-uniform honeycomb, indicating that the film has a high potential to adsorb Cd2+. The diffraction peaks for this film were found to be at 13.74°, 17.45°, 18.4°, and 23.6°, indicating a typical crystalline A-type packing arrangement within the starch granules. The results indicate that crystalline structure was unaffected by the addition of eggshell powder and orange peel-activated carbon. In 0.5 mg L−1 and 1.0 mg L−1 Cd2+ ions, the composite film removed 100% and 99.7% of the Cd2+, respectively, while the maximum removal efficiency for methylene blue was 93.75%. Thus, the current study shows that starch/eggshell/orange peel activated carbon film has a high potential for commercial activated carbon as a low-cost adsorbent.

Food packaging was not as important in the past as it is now, because the world has more people but fewer food resources. Food packaging will become more prevalent and go from being a nice-to-have to an essential feature of modern life. Food packaging has grown to be an important industry sector in today’s world of more people and more food. Food packaging innovation faces significant challenges in extending perishable food products’ shelf life and contributing to meeting daily nutrient requirements as people nowadays are searching for foods that offer additional health advantages. Modern food preservation techniques have two objectives: process viability and safe, environmentally friendly end products. Long-term storage techniques can include the use of edible coatings and films. This article gives a succinct overview of the supplies and procedures used to coat food products with conventional packaging films and coatings. The key findings summarizing the biodegradable packaging materials are emphasized for their ability to prolong the freshness and flavor of a wide range of food items; films and edible coatings are highlighted as viable alternatives to traditional packaging methods. We discuss the safety concerns and opportunities presented by applying edible films and coatings, allowing it to be used as quality indicators for time-sensitive foods.

This study was performed to develop and characterize a bio-film composed of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis), green banana Saba (Musa acuminata x balbisiana), and curcumin for the detection of Fe2+ ions. Cross-linking interaction between banana starch-aloe vera gel and banana starch-curcumin enhanced l the sensing performance of the composite film towards divalent metal ions of Fe2+. The morphological structure of the Aloe vera-banana starch-curcumin composite revealed a smooth and compact surface without cracks and some heterogeneity when observed under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The thickness, density, color property, opacity, biodegradation, moisture content, water-solubility, water absorption, swelling degree, and water vapor permeability of bio-films were measured. The incorporation of aloe vera gel and curcumin particles onto the banana starch film has successfully improved the film properties. The formation of the curcumin-ferrum (II) complex has triggered the film to transform color from yellow to greenish-brown after interaction with Fe2+ ions that exhibit an accuracy of 101.11% within a swift reaction time. Good linearity (R2 = 0.9845) of response on colorimetric analysis was also obtained in Fe2+ ions concentration that ranges from 0 to 100 ppm, with a limit of detection and quantification found at 27.84 ppm and 92.81 ppm, respectively. In this context, the film was highly selective towards Fe2+ ions because no changes of color occur through naked eye observation when films interact with other metal ions, including Fe3+, Pb2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+. Thus, these findings encourage curcumin-based starch films as sensing materials to detect Fe2+ ions in the field of food and agriculture.

In the current study, cornstarch (CS) and eggshell powder (ESP) were combined using a casting technique to develop a biodegradable film that was further morphologically and physicochemically characterized using standard methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the morphology of the ESP/CS film, and the surface of the film was found to have a smooth structure with no cracks, a spherical and porous irregular shape, and visible phase separation, which explains their large surface area. In addition, the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis indicated that the ESP particles were made of calcium carbonate and the ESP contained carbon in the graphite form. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy indicated the presence of carbonated minerals in the ESP/CS film which shows that ESP/CS film might serve as a promising adsorbent. Due to the inductive effect of the O–C–O bond on calcium carbonate in the eggshell, it was discovered that the ESP/CS film significantly improves physical properties, moisture content, swelling power, water solubility, and water absorption compared to the control CS film. The enhancement of the physicochemical properties of the ESP/CS film was principally due to the intra and intermolecular interactions between ESP and CS molecules. As a result, this film can potentially be used as a synergistic adsorbent for various target analytes.

Colorimetric indicators, used in food intelligent packaging, have enormous promise for monitoring and detecting food quality by analyzing and interpreting the quality data of packaged food. Hence, our study developed and characterized a biopolymer film based on starch and anthocyanin for prospective meat freshness monitoring applications. The developed film was morphologically characterized using different morphology instruments to identify the interaction between anthocyanin and starch. The color differences of the proposed film in response to different pH buffers have also been investigated. The combination of anthocyanin and starch produces a smooth and homogenous surface with an intermolecular hydrogen bond that increases the biopolymer’s wavelength. The film indicated bright red at pH 2.0–6.0, bluish-grey at pH 7.0–11.0, and yellowish-green above 11.0 that the naked eye can see. The indicator film shows high sensitivity toward pH changes. The inclusion of anthocyanin increases the biopolymer film’s thickness and crystalline condition with low humidity, water solubility, and swelling values. As a result, the polymer film can be employed in the food industry as an affordable and environmentally friendly indication of meat freshness.

The freshness of fruits and vegetables plays a significant role in consumers’ decision to purchase a product at the supermarket. Fresh-cut products are the latest trend in fulfilling society’s restless needs, and the food industry is faced with the challenge of maintaining the quality of fresh produce. The food industry is concerned with the natural maturation and degradation of fruits and vegetables, primarily due to enzymatic reactions. It has been demonstrated that polysaccharide coatings effectively preserve the freshness of these products, extending their shelf life depending on the preservation method used. This review informs readers about the different types of polysaccharides and their novel applications as natural food preservatives in the past five years (2018–2022). The key findings summarized the properties of the antimicrobial agent, the molecular mechanism of action, coating methods, and formulation for the preservation approach. Additionally, we discuss the scientific factors influencing polysaccharide processing and preservation efficacy, allowing it to be used in post-harvest management.

As the top grocery list priorities, the primary challenge when purchasing fruits and vegetables from supermarkets is obtaining fresh, minimally processed perishable goods. This source of diet is critical for obtaining vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibres. However, the short shelf life caused by moisture content in rapid deterioration and decay caused by microbial growth, results in unappealing appearances. Fruits and vegetables undergo ripening and eventually the ageing process, in which the tissues of the plants degrade. Even after harvesting, numerous biological processes occur, generating a significant variation of ethylene production along with respiration rates between fruits and vegetables. Thus, the utilization of ethylene scavengers in food packaging or films has been revealed to be beneficial. The synergistic effects of these biomaterials have been demonstrated to reduce microorganisms and prolong the shelf life of greens due to antimicrobial activity, oxygen scavenging capacity, enzyme immobilization, texture enhancers, and nutraceuticals. The current review fills this void by discussing the most recent advances in research on ethylene scavengers and removal mechanisms of ethylene, including oxidation in fruit and vegetable packaging. The application and advantages of ethylene scavengers in packaging are then discussed with the addition of how the efficiency related to ethylene scavengers can be increased through atmospheric packaging tools. In this context, the article discusses characteristics, types of applications, and efficacy of ethylene control strategies for perishable commodities with the inclusion of future implications.

Despite the enormous accomplishments of current sensing methods, portable and sensitive sensing materials remains a challenging issue. Herein, a novel of a biodegradable hybrid polymer film was developed for quantitative analysis of formaldehyde seafood, including Lutjanus erythropterus, Euthynnus affinis, Caranx indicus, and Penaeus monodon at Sabah, Malaysia. In this research, starch and chitosan were introduced as the substrate to entrap Nash colorimetric reagents for the fabrication of biodegradable films for detection of formaldehyde. Under optimal conditions, excellent linearity (R2 = 0.9918) of colorimetric response was obtained in formaldehyde concentration ranges of 100 to 0 ppm, with a limit of detection and quantification calculated to be 5 and 16.8 ppm, respectively. The developed film was successfully applied to the identification and quantification of formaldehyde in four different seafood samples with satisfactory recoveries, and RSD values obtained range between 98.80%–104.65% and 0.12%–1.21%, respectively. The present research demonstrated short response time (within 5 min) that provides reliable methods for application in biosensing, which exhibited the advantage of this well-performing platform for application in the food, environmental, and medical disciplines sensing. Keywords: Formaldehyde, Biodegradable film, Chitosan, Starch, Colorimetric sensor