Synergistic Effects of Aloe Vera and Moringa Oleifera in Chitosan-Based Composites for Preservation of Banana Fruit

• Published in: Chemical Engineering Transactions
• Main Author: Ramli N.H.; Olunusi S.O.; Tuan B.T.Z.; Ahmad-Kamal A.D.; Nawi N.M.; Kasmuri N.; Ismal A.F.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italian Association of Chemical Engineering - AIDIC 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85211029544&doi=10.3303%2fCET24113043&partnerID=40&md5=bf8a360d42d3874c081b493cdfd6b50c

Chitosan, derived from deacetylated chitin, is renowned for various industrial applications, including fruit coatings, due to its distinct biological and physicochemical properties such as film-forming capability, biodegradability, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial attributes. Chitosan exhibits certain limitations, including hydrophilicity, low mechanical strength, and poor mass transfer barriers. This research leveraged chitosan's biocompatibility by using sodium tripolyphosphate (NaTPP) as a crosslinker to strengthen chitosan (CH) molecules via ionic gelation, with Tween 80 as an emulsifier. Adding Aloe vera (AV) and Moringa oleifera (MO) to the chitosan-NaTPP coating solution aimed to further limit the respiration rate and inhibit microorganism proliferation. The study examined the physicochemical stability and characteristics of chitosan-NaTPP coating solutions with varying concentrations of AV, MO, and both. The effect of the deposition method, including single and double layers, on banana fruit was also studied over 10 d of storage. The particle size was characterized using Malvern Zeta Sizer Nano ZS and chemical bonding of the coating solutions using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The particle size of the CH-NaTPP coating solution was 3.2 nm, CH-NaTPP/AV was 3.6 nm, CH-NaTPP/MO was 3.1 nm, and CH-NaTPP/AV/MO was 2.7 nm. Bananas coated with CH-NaTPP containing 1 % AV and 3 % MO exhibited the slowest ripening process during 10 d of storage. In conclusion, the formulated CH-NaTPP/1 % AV/3 % MO composite proved effective for fruit coating applications, particularly for bananas. Copyright © 2024, AIDIC Servizi S.r.l.