Carnauba wax-based composite films and coatings: recent advancement in prolonging postharvest shelf-life of fruits and vegetables

Preparation and properties of anti-weathering and superhydrophobic wood based on palm wax in polydimethylsilane nanocomposite coating

The superhydrophobic coating on wood surface is an effective method to improve the durability and service life of wood. In this paper, dodecyl modified gas-phase nano-SiO2 particles (M-SiO2), polydimethylsilane-trimethoxysilane ends (PDMS-Ts), palm wax, γ-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (KH560), and isopropyl titanate (TTIP) were blended and sprayed on the surface of wood by a simple one-step method at room temperature. The superhydrophobic modified wood has a water contact angle (WCA) of 161.2° and a sliding angle (SA) of less than 3°, demonstrating excellent anti-fouling, self-cleaning, and durability properties. Specifically, after undergoing various durability tests, including sandpaper abrasion (15 cycles), finger abrasion (30 cycles), sand impact (90 cycles), tape peeling (70 cycles), and chemical stability tests (24 h immersion in acidic and alkaline environments), the wood surface maintained its superhydrophobicity. Importantly, the wood's color remained virtually unchanged after superhydrophobic modification, preserving its inherent aesthetic properties. Moreover, after 768 h of artificial weathering, the color difference (ΔE*) of the modified wood was only 4.35, indicating excellent color stability, with the water contact angle remaining largely unchanged. Notably, the modified wood significantly delayed the combustion time and maintained its superhydrophobic properties after combustion tests. This study presents a novel method to achieve superhydrophobicity, weathering resistance, and flame retardancy in wood, offering new insights for the protection of wood used in outdoor applications.

Strategies for processing and valorization of ash gourd byproducts: A comprehensive review

Ash gourd (Benincasa hispida) is cultivated for its medicinal benefits, with processing enhancing its health properties and shelf life. The processing industries generate significant byproducts, with peel and seeds common across all methods, along with lime (from petha sweet production), brine wastewater (from fermented foods), and pulp from juice processing. This review focuses on peel, seeds, and lime wastewater, which contain valuable compounds like polyphenols, terpenoids, essential oils, and ribosome-inactivating proteins known for their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The review explores the bio-functionalities of these byproducts, highlighting applications in wastewater treatment, bioenergy production, edible coatings, prebiotics, medicinal products, and enzyme production. Rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, and essential oils, these byproducts offer versatile uses, such as biosorption, bio-coagulation, nanoparticle synthesis, bioenergy production, and medicinal formulations. Further research into their potential for functional foods and high-value applications is essential to maximize their benefits for human health, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.

Utilization of potassium carbonate-olive oil solutions for wax removal from fruits: Investigation of mode of action using a model gelatin-based film system

This study evaluated a potassium carbonate-olive oil solution's efficacy in removing a wax from gelatin films (model surfaces). The solution (pH 12.15-12.40) was most effective with 1 % olive oil. Dipping treatment increased wax-free film thickness by 89 % and wax-containing films by 36 %, while reducing density by 50 % and 21 %, respectively. Optical analysis confirmed wax removal, showing a 20 % drop in whiteness and 144 % higher opacity in wax-containing films. Thermal analysis revealed a 35 % lower wax melting enthalpy and 28 % less mass loss in treated films. FTIR spectra showed reduced ester CO peak intensity (1735 cm-1), confirming hydrolysis. Post-treatment, the solution's particle size grew to 2138 nm, zeta potential fell to 20.4 mV, and surface tension dropped to 40.94 mN/m. Microscopy revealed increased particle aggregation with wax-containing films. These results demonstrate the potassium carbonate-olive oil solution's effectiveness in wax removal from gelatin film surfaces through hydrolysis, emulsification, and solubilization mechanisms.

Preparation of durable and multifunctional superhydrophobic cellulose paper-based materials using the phase change properties of carnauba waxes

Amid growing environmental awareness, hydrophobic paper-based materials demonstrate pronounced advantages in sustainable packaging. However, current superhydrophobic modification techniques exhibit inherent limitations in durability and moisture resistance, rendering them inadequate for addressing diverse environmental challenges. This study presents a protection-and-release strategy, employing a hierarchical curing process to fabricate a graded rough surface featuring a honeycomb-like primary structure and nano-fumed silica (NFS) as the secondary microstructure. The formation mechanism of continuous, hierarchical, and durable rough structures in superhydrophobic coated paper-based materials (SCPBM) was investigated. SCPBM exhibited remarkable durability under mechanical abrasion (200 g, 50 cycles), tape peeling (30 cycles), ultrasonic treatment (300 W, 21 min), and various extreme conditions. Moreover, SCPBM has been demonstrated to exhibit exceptional resistance to water flow impact, immersion (68.5 % reduction), and bending-induced moisture resistance, Shows particular promise in Anti-icing performance and Multiphase repellence applications. Building upon the protection and release strategy, this study proposes a novel hierarchical curing transition model termed 'lotus seed head-honeycomb', which offers a versatile design blueprint for the broad-scale fabrication of durable superhydrophobic materials.

Antimicrobial and antifungal edible coatings with ZnO nanoparticles dispersed in a chitosan-guar gum matrix for hass avocado preservation

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol-gel method and calcined at 400 °C (4ZnO) and 600 °C (6ZnO). ZnO nanoparticles were mechanically incorporated into chitosan-guar gum (QG) gels to develop edible active coatings (EACs). The coating antimicrobial efficacy was assessed using a double-layer agar test against Clavibacter michiganensis, Pseudomonas savastanoi, Tatumella terrea, Xanthomonas axonopodis, and Ralstonia solanacearum. Additionally, QG, 4ZnO/QG, and 6ZnO/QG coatings were tested to protect Hass avocados against the Phytophthora cinnamomi fungal infection. All coatings were characterized by water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), water vapor permeability (WVP), thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed that the calcination temperature of ZnO nanoparticles significantly influenced the antimicrobial performance and the physicochemical properties of 4ZnO/QG and 6ZnO/QG coatings. Higher ZnO calcination temperatures generated larger wurtzite crystal sizes and ZnO particle agglomeration in the EACs, associated with a higher ability to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. However, low WVTR and WVP values and high thermal stability were closely linked to lower ZnO calcination temperatures. Application of 4ZnO/QG and 6ZnO/QG coatings on Hass avocados effectively delayed ripening by inhibiting fungal growth, preserving firmness, minimizing weight loss, and maintaining nutritional quality for up to 16 days. These coatings present a promising solution for post-harvest preservation and food safety in climacteric fruits.

Influence of alginate extraction conditions from the brown seaweed Dictyota mertensii on the functional properties of a novel glycerol plasticized alginate film

Alginate films were prepared from the brown seaweed Dictyota mertensii using glycerol as a plasticizer. The effects of extraction conditions-time, temperature, and Na2CO3 concentration-on the optical, barrier, and mechanical properties of the films were investigated using a central composite design (CCD). ANOVA and F tests confirmed the models' statistical significance at p ≤ 0.05, 95 % CI. Na2CO3 concentration significantly influenced moisture absorption, water vapor permeability, solubility, opacity, L*, b*, and elongation at break. Temperature mainly affected the color parameter a* and tensile strength, while time was more relevant for the modulus of elasticity. The properties of alginate from Dictyota mertensii were correlated to the film properties. Optimization through numerical desirability function yielded a global desirability index of 0.767, with optimal conditions at 1.390 h, 54.927 °C, and 0.361 mol.L-1 Na2CO3. Under these conditions, the films showed low moisture content (0.277 %), moderate WVP (31.278 g.mm/kPa.m2.h), low solubility (18.825 %), appropriate color parameters (Opacity: 12.411 AU.nm/mm, L*: 49.655, a*: 17.680, b*: 44.657), and balanced mechanical properties (TS: 13.270 MPa, EB: 20.638 %, and E: 64.592 MPa). These findings emphasize the potential of alginate films from Dictyota mertensii and promote sustainable use of marine resources.

Polymers Derived from Agro-Industrial Waste in the Development of Bioactive Films in Food

This review explores the potential of biopolymers as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics in food packaging. Biopolymers derived from plant or animal sources are crucial in extending food shelf life, minimizing degradation, and protecting against oxidative and microbial agents. Their physical and chemical properties, influenced by the raw materials used, determine their suitability for specific applications. Biopolymers have been successfully used in fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products, offering antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits. Consequently, they represent a functional and eco-friendly solution for the packaging industry, contributing to sustainability while maintaining product quality.

Deep eutectic solvent pretreatment of cellulose and development of hydrophobic foaming material

This work aims to investigate the effects of deep eutectic solvents (DES) on the chemical and physical structure of cellulose. Choline chloride-oxalic acid and choline chloride-oxalic acid-glycerol were selected as solvents and cotton fibers was sued as raw materials to explore the difference between cotton fibers treated separately with two different DES. According to yield analysis, ternary solvents alleviated the degradation of cellulose when comparing to binary solvents, resulting in over 90 % of cellulose being obtained. Particularly, there is an esterification reaction of cellulose during treatment with the DES system, which also affects the performance of the subsequent products. Through the simple use of mechanical foaming with polyvinyl alcohol and the palm wax impregnation process, foams with a water contact angle greater than 140° and excellent mechanical properties can be obtained. The resultant foam material has 5 % linear elastic area, and prominent compressive strength providing potential use in the packaging industry in the replacement of plastic.

Thermally Degradable Water Diffusion Barrier Assembled by Gelatin and Beeswax toward Edible Electronics

Making ingestible devices edible facilitates diagnosis and therapy inside the body without the risk of retention; however, food materials are generally soft, absorb water molecules, and are not suitable for electronic devices. Here, we fabricated an edible water diffusion barrier film made by gelatin-beeswax composites for the encapsulation of transient electronics. Hydrophobic beeswax and hydrophilic gelatin are inherently difficult to mix; therefore, we created an emulsion simply by raising the temperature high enough to melt the materials and vigorous stirring them. As they cool, the beeswax with a relatively high solidification temperature aggregates and forms microspheres, which increases the gelatin gel's viscoelasticity and immobilizes the emulsion structure in the film. The thermoresponsive gelatin imparts degradability to the barrier and its stickiness also enables transfer of metal patterned electronics. Furthermore, we designed an edible resonator on the film and demonstrated its operation in an abdominal phantom environment; the resonator was made to be degradable in a warm aqueous solution by optimizing the composition ratio of the gelatin and beeswax. Our findings provide insight into criteria for making transient electronics on hydrophilic substrates with hydrophobic water diffusion barriers. This proof-of-concept study expands the potential of operating edible electronics in aqueous environments in harmony with the human body and nature.

Chitosan-based nanocomposite films with carnauba wax, rosin resin, and zinc oxide nanoparticles

This work aimed to develop edible emulsion-based barriers in the form of chitosan composite films, with a focus on assessing the impacts of carnauba wax, rosin resin, and zinc oxide nanoparticles on their properties. Six films were produced by casting using chitosan as polymer base and glycerol as plasticizer. Acetic acid and polysorbate 80 were also used to facilitate the dissolution and mixing of the components. The six filmogenic solutions contained chitosan at 1.2% w/v, wax or resin content with 0 or 0.6% m/v and ZnO with 0 or 0.05% m/v. The dried films were characterized according to their chemical, barrier, mechanical, thermal and optical properties. All treatments resulted in flexible films. Chitosan films appeared smoother and more uniform under SEM imaging, while carnauba wax films displayed roughness due to their hydrophobic nature. Wax and resin films were less transparent and water soluble than the chitosan-only films. On the other hand, the addition of ZnO in the formulations increased the solubility of the films. The sorption degree was in line with the solubility results, i.e., films with ZnO presented higher sorption degree and solubility values. All treatments showed low or non-light UV transmission, indicating that the films provide good barrier to UV light. In the visible light region, films of resin with ZnO showed the lowest transmittance values, hence offering a good barrier to visible light. Among the evaluated films, chitosan, and resin films with ZnO nanoparticles were more rigid and resistant to deformation. Overall, films produced with rosin resin and ZnO nanoparticles showed potential improvements in barrier, mechanical, thermal, and optical properties, mainly due to their low water solubility, good UV protection and low permeability to water vapor and oxygen, which are suitable for using in formulations, intended to produce edible films and coatings.

Binary wax oleogels: Improving physical properties and oxidation stability through substitution of carnauba wax with beeswax

High concentrations of carnauba waxes (CRWs) that can compromise organoleptic properties are required to create self-sustained and functional oleogels. The weak physical properties and stability of 4% w/w CRW-rice bran oil (RBO) oleogel were addressed by substituting CRW with beeswax (BW) in different weight ratios. The texture profile analyzer revealed that substituting only 10% (weight ratio) of CRW with BW improved the hardness compared to the mono-CRW oleogel. The hardness of binary oleogels increased gradually as the proportion of BW increased. At a BW ratio of 70% or more, the hardness was three times higher than that of mono-BW oleogel. Rheology analysis showed the same trend as the large deformation test; however, the hardest binary oleogels had lower critical strain and yield point compared to the mono-wax oleogels, implying that they are more prone to lose their structure upon applied stress. Nevertheless, nearly all binary mixtures (except for 10%BW90%CRW) showed oil-binding capacities above 99%, suggesting improved nucleation and crystallization process. Polarized light microscopy showed the coexistence of BW and CRW crystals and changes in the size and arrangement of wax crystals upon proportional changes of the two waxes. X-ray diffraction confirmed no differences in the peaks' location, and all oleogels had β' polymorphism. Differential scanning calorimetry showed eutectic melting behavior in some binary blends. Oxidation stability in the binary wax oleogels improved as compared to the mono-wax oleogel and bulk RBO. BW and CRW mixtures have promising oil-structuring abilities and have various properties at different ratios that have the potential to be used as solid fat substitutes. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: As a trending green oil-structuring technology, oleogelation has shown great potential to reduce saturated fats in food systems. The current research provides valuable fundamental information on the strong synergistic interactions between beeswax and carnauba wax that have the potential to be used as solid fat substitutes created with a much lower total concentration of the required wax. This will help create wax oleogels with better organoleptic properties and less negative waxy mouthfeel. Such knowledge could prove beneficial for the development of healthy products that have potential applications in meat, bakery, dairy, pharmaceutical, as well as cosmetic industries.

Eugenol and Aloe vera blended natural wax-based coating for preserving postharvest quality of Kaji lemon (Citrus jambhiri)

Edible coatings on fruits and vegetables preserve postharvest quality by reducing water loss and lowering respiration, and metabolic activities. The primary objectives of this study were to develop composite coating formulations using natural waxes (carnauba and shellac wax), eugenol nanoemulsion, and Aloe vera gel, and assess the potential impacts of the coating formulations on the postharvest quality and shelf-life of the Kaji lemon. The results show that eugenol nanoemulsion and Aloe vera gel enhanced the physico-chemical, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the developed coating. Notably, the fruits coated with optimized nanocomposite of wax with eugenol and aloe vera gel inclusion (SW + CW/EuNE-20/AVG-2) showed the lowest weight loss (16.56%), while the coatings of wax with only aloe vera gel (SW + CW/AVG-2) exhibited the highest firmness (48 N), in contrast to the control fruit, which had 27.33% weight loss and 9.6 N firmness after 28 days of storage, respectively.

Fluorescent Molecular Rotors Quantify an Adjuvant-Induced Softening of Plant Wax

Epicuticular wax is the outmost layer of plant leaves that protects them from desiccation and penetration of harmful reagents. There is an intense industrial effort in the development of softening agents, adjuvants, that can adjust the permeability of the wax toward pesticides and, thus, play an important role in sustainable agriculture. However, mechanistic understanding of the structure and dynamic properties within the plant wax, particularly upon the application of adjuvants, is currently lacking. In this work, we demonstrate that fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) combined with molecular rotors, fluorescent probes sensitive to viscosity, can directly probe the microviscosity of amorphous and crystalline phases of model plant wax layers. Moreover, this approach is able to quantify the changes in viscosity in both phases upon the addition of water and adjuvant solutions on top of the wax. We show that water permeation mostly perturbs the crystalline phase of the wax, while our chosen adjuvant, Plurafac LF431, mainly softens the amorphous phase of the wax. Our technique provides a facile and quantitative way to monitor dynamic properties within plant waxes with diffraction-limited resolution and reveals the effect of organic substances on wax structure and rigidity, crucial for designing next-generation agents to improve agricultural efficiency.

Melatonin Combined with Wax Treatment Enhances Tolerance to Chilling Injury in Red Bell Pepper

Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are prone to chilling injury (CI) when stored at temperatures below 7 °C. Melatonin, a natural plant regulator, plays a critical role in defending against different pre- and post-harvest abiotic stresses, including those associated with cold storage. This study aimed to assess the effects of applying exogenous melatonin alone and in combination with a commercial wax on the CI tolerance, postharvest life, and potential biomarker search of red bell peppers. In the initial experiment, the effective melatonin concentration to reduce CI effects was determined. Peppers were sprayed with either distilled water (control) or a melatonin aqueous solution (M100 = 100 μM or M500 = 500 μM) and then stored for 33 d at 4 °C, followed by 2 d at 20 °C. The M500 treatment proved to be more effective in reducing fruit CI incidence (superficial scalds) and metabolic rate, while weight loss, softening, and color were comparable to the control. A second experiment assessed the potential synergistic effects of a combined melatonin and commercial wax treatment on pepper CI and quality. Fruits were sprayed with distilled water (control), melatonin (M500), commercial wax (Wax), or the combined treatment (Wax + M500) and stored for 28 d at 4 °C, followed by 2 d at 20 °C. The Wax + M500 was the most effective in significantly reducing the incidence of fruit CI symptoms and calyx fungal infection. Furthermore, this combined treatment enhanced fruit weight loss prevention compared with individual melatonin or wax treatment. Also, Wax + M500-treated peppers exhibited notable proline accumulation, indicative of a metabolic response counteracting the cold effects, resulting in better fruit stress acclimation. This treatment also preserved the peppers' color and antioxidant capacity. In summary, these findings highlight the suitability of applying a combined Wax + M500 treatment as a highly effective strategy to enhance the CI tolerance of peppers and extend their postharvest life.

Evaporative Drying Induced Self-Assembly of Epicuticular Wax: A Biomimetic Approach in Tuning Surface Roughness

Epicuticular wax is an example of a naturally created functional material that forms a layer on the outermost surface of plants with the objective to protect them from adverse environmental conditions, such as UV-solar radiation, uncontrolled water loss, microbial attacks, and so forth. Their functionalities are often attributed to the chemical composition of the wax as well as the physical structuration formed by the wax crystals on the surface. With this work, we present a simple, one-step biomimetic approach to replicate similar surface structures, on model substrate, using wax extracted from Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla wax). First, we describe formation of structured wax due to self-assembly induced by evaporative drying on quartz plates. Subsequently, we highlight the fundamental physical parameters required to tune the surface morphology. Our experiments reveal that it is possible to achieve considerably diverse surface morphologies depending on the solvent properties and deposition temperature. This diversity is due to the kinetics of recrystallization of wax during evaporation of solvent which, in turn, is primarily driven by the solubility of wax as well as evaporation rate of the solvent. Thus, the final morphology that we obtain is an interplay between recrystallization kinetics and solvent evaporation. Additionally, the degree of crystallinity of the structured films could also be tuned by solvent polarity. Surprisingly, X-ray diffraction indicates that the crystalline structure at the molecular level remains similar to that of bulk Candelilla wax. Our results provide fundamental insights into the replication of epicuticular wax films and identification of tuning parameters to obtain different surface morphologies with the same wax material for potential bioinspired multifunctional coatings in cosmetic applications.

Moisture loss inhibition with biopolymer films for preservation of fruits and vegetables: A review

In cold storage, fruits and vegetables still keep a low respiratory rate. Although cold storage is beneficial to maintain the quality of some fruits and vegetables, several factors (temperature and humidity fluctuations, heat inflow, air velocity, light, etc.) will accelerate moisture loss. Biopolymer films have attracted great attention for fruits and vegetables preservation because of their biodegradable and barrier properties. However, there is still a certain amount of water transfer occurring between storage environment/biopolymer films/fruits and vegetables (EFF). The effect of biopolymer films to inhibit moisture loss of fruits and vegetables and the water transfer mechanism in EFF system need to be studied systematically. Therefore, the moisture loss of fruits and vegetables, crucial properties, major components, fabrication methods, and formation mechanisms of biopolymer films were reviewed. Further, this study highlights the EFF system, responses of fruits and vegetables, and water transfer in EFF. This work aims to clarify the characteristics of EFF members, their influence on each other, and water transfer, which is conducive to improving the preservation efficiency of fruits and vegetables purposefully in future studies. In addition, the prospects of studies in EFF systems are shown.

Lipid incorporated biopolymer based edible films and coatings in food packaging: A review

In the evolving landscape of food packaging, lipid-based edible films and coatings are emerging as a sustainable and effective solution for enhancing food quality and prolonging shelf life. This critical review aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the functional properties, roles, and fabrication techniques associated with lipid-based materials in food packaging. It explores the unique advantages of lipids, including waxes, resins, and fatty acids, in providing effective water vapor, gas, and microbial barriers. When integrated with other biopolymers, such as proteins and polysaccharides, lipid-based composite films demonstrate superior thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties. The review also covers the application of these innovative coatings in preserving a wide range of fruits and vegetables, highlighting their role in reducing moisture loss, controlling respiration rates, and maintaining firmness. Furthermore, the safety aspects of lipid-based coatings are discussed to address consumer and regulatory concerns.

Recent Progress of Biodegradable Polymer Package Materials: Nanotechnology Improving Both Oxygen and Water Vapor Barrier Performance

Biodegradable polymers have become a topic of great scientific and industrial interest due to their environmentally friendly nature. For the benefit of the market economy and environment, biodegradable materials should play a more critical role in packaging materials, which currently account for more than 50% of plastic products. However, various challenges remain for biodegradable polymers for practical packaging applications. Particularly pertaining to the poor oxygen/moisture barrier issues, which greatly limit the application of current biodegradable polymers in food packaging. In this review, various strategies for barrier property improvement are summarized, such as chain architecture and crystallinity tailoring, melt blending, multi-layer co-extrusion, surface coating, and nanotechnology. These strategies have also been considered effective ways for overcoming the poor oxygen or water vapor barrier properties of representative biodegradable polymers in mainstream research.

Construction of a sustainable and hydrophobic high-performance all-green pineapple peel cellulose nanocomposite film for food packaging

The increasing global awareness of environmental issues has led to a growing interest in research on cellulose-based film. However, several limitations hinder their development and industrial application, such as hydrophilicity, inadequate mechanical properties and barrier properties, and a lack of activity. This study aimed to create a sustainable and hydrophobic high-performance all-green pineapple peel cellulose nanocomposite film for food packaging by incorporating natural carnauba wax and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) into a pineapple peel cellulose matrix. The results showed that adding carnauba wax to the cellulose matrix converted the surface wettability of the cellulose-based film from hydrophilic to hydrophobic (water contact angle over 100). Additionally, the film exhibited ultraviolet resistance and antioxidation properties. The incorporation of CNF further improved the barrier properties, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of the cellulose nanocomposite film. In applied experiments, the cellulose nanocomposite film delayed post-harvest deterioration and maintained storage quality of cherry tomatoes. Importantly, the cellulose nanocomposite film could be degraded in soil within 30 days. It can be concluded that the cellulose nanocomposite film has great potential to alleviate the environmental problems and human health problems caused by non-degradable petroleum-based plastic packaging.

Preparation and characterization of carnauba wax-based particle with hierarchical structure and its use as hydrophobic coating for chitosan films

To improve the hydrophobicity of polysaccharide-based films, hydrophobic carnauba wax-based particles were prepared by Pickering emulsion. The influence of the different size of the particles on the structure and hydrophobicity of the chitosan coating films were investigated. The results showed that micro-scale particles (average particle size 25.04 μm) with nano-scale (5-10 nm) TiO2 uniformly distributed on the surface of the particles were formed by Pickering emulsion. The chitosan coating films showed higher contact angle and lower sliding angle compared to the control due to the hierarchical structure, hydrophobicity and arrangement of the particles. In addition, the small particle (23-48 μm) coating film showed higher hydrophobicity than the large particle coating film (48-70 μm) due to the small particle size and the formation of more small gaps. The gaps were conducive to form "air cushion" which reduced the contact area between water and the coating films and thus increased contact angle and decreased sliding angle. The coating films showed high chemical stability and low residual rates of liquid food. The results suggest that Pickering emulsion is an effective method to create wax-based particles with hierarchical structure and the particles have potential to be used as hydrophobic coating materials.

Research Progress and Trends on Utilization of Lignocellulosic Residues as Supports for Enzyme Immobilization via Advanced Bibliometric Analysis

Lignocellulosic biomasses are used in several applications, such as energy production, materials, and biofuels. These applications result in increased consumption and waste generation of these materials. However, alternative uses are being developed to solve the problem of waste generated in the industry. Thus, research is carried out to ensure the use of these biomasses as enzymatic support. These surveys can be accompanied using the advanced bibliometric analysis tool that can help determine the biomasses used and other perspectives on the subject. With this, the present work aims to carry out an advanced bibliometric analysis approaching the main studies related to the use of lignocellulosic biomass as an enzymatic support. This study will be carried out by highlighting the main countries/regions that carry out productions, research areas that involve the theme, and future trends in these areas. It was observed that there is a cooperation between China, USA, and India, where China holds 28.07% of publications in this area, being the country with the greatest impact in the area. Finally, it is possible to define that the use of these new supports is a trend in the field of biotechnology.

Advances in the Role and Mechanisms of Essential Oils and Plant Extracts as Natural Preservatives to Extend the Postharvest Shelf Life of Edible Mushrooms

China has a large variety of edible mushrooms and ranks first in the world in terms of production and variety. Nevertheless, due to their high moisture content and rapid respiration rate, they experience constant quality deterioration, browning of color, loss of moisture, changes in texture, increases in microbial populations, and loss of nutrition and flavor during postharvest storage. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects of essential oils and plant extracts on the preservation of edible mushrooms and summarizes their mechanisms of action to better understand their effects during the storage of mushrooms. The quality degradation process of edible mushrooms is complex and influenced by internal and external factors. Essential oils and plant extracts are considered environmentally friendly preservation methods for better postharvest quality. This review aims to provide a reference for the development of new green and safe preservation and provides research directions for the postharvest processing and product development of edible mushrooms.