Climateric fruits control using photocatalytic degradation of ethylene
For climacteric fruits (such as apples, bananas, and tomatoes), postharvest ripening is highly determined by the ambient concentration of ethylene (C2H4).
Hence, effective control of the storage atmosphere can positively decrease fruit respiration rate and retard the ripening processes. A promising technology to achieve this goal is photocatalysis on semiconductor metal oxides such as TiO2.
The proposal connects two expert research groups on the fields of photocatalysis in Brazil and Italy to joint efforts to investigate ethylene degradation using innovative visible light- responsive photocatalysts (Ag2MoO4, Ag3PO4, g-C3N4, TiO2 possibly doped or decorated and their composites). Experimental approach will be used to investigate photocatalytic reaction kinetics, optimize photocatalyst properties and evaluate process efficiency targeting the development of cost-effective photocatalysts useful to be applied in the climacteric fruits ripening.
Responsible:
Profa. Dra. Regina de Fatima Peralta Muniz Moreira
Department of Chemical and Food Engineering – Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) – Brazil
Recent publications
Fraga, F. C. ; Della-Rocca, D. G. ; José, H.J ; Victória, H. F. V. ; Gabriel Filho, J. B. ; Krambrock, K. ; Castellón, E. R. ; Moreira, R.F.P.M. . Evaluation of reactive oxygen species and photocatalytic degradation of ethylene using β-Ag2MoO4/g-C3N4 composites. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A – Chemistry, p. 114102, 2022.
Fonseca, J. M. ; Valencia, G. A. ; Moreira, R. F. P. M ; Fritz, A. R. M. . Ethylene scavenging properties from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-TiO2 and gelatin-TiO2 nanocomposites on polyethylene supports for fruit application. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 178, p. 154-169, 2021.
Fonseca, J. M. ; Pabón, N. Y. L. ; Nandi, L. G. ; Valencia, G. A. ; Moreira, R. F. P. M. ; Fritz, A. R. M., Gelatin-TiO2-coated expanded polyethylene foam nets as ethylene scavengers for fruit postharvest application. Postharvest Biology and Technology, v. 180, p. 111602, 2021.
Alves, M. J. dos S; Nobias, M. C. ; Soares, L. S. ; Coelho, D. S. ; Maraschin, M. ; Basso, A; ; Moreira, R F P M ; José, H. J. ; Monteiro, A.R. . Physiological changes in green and red cherry tomatoes after photocatalytic ethylene degradation using continuous air flux. Food Science and Technology International , v. 2021, p. 108201322110561, 2021.
Fonseca, J. M. ; Valencia, G. A. ; Soares, L. S. ; Dotto, M. E. R. ; Campos, C. E. M. ; Moreira, R F P M ; Fritz, Alcilene Rodrigues Monteiro . Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-TiO2 and gelatin-TiO2 nanocomposite films: Physicochemical and structural properties. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, p. 1-13, 2019.
Basso, A.; Moreira, R. F. P. M; José, H. J. . Effect of operational conditions on photocatalytic ethylene degradation applied to control tomato ripening. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A Chemistry, v. 367, p. 294-301, 2018.