3 research outputs found
Assessment of Foam Decontamination in Tomato Washing Process
No full textThe work of the dissertation investigated the efficacy of foam-based decontamination treatments to enhance microbial safety in Roma tomatoes, specifically targeting natural microflora and Salmonella contamination. Growing concerns over foodborne illnesses linked to fresh tomatoes and the limitations of conventional decontamination techniques, such as organic matter built-up and limited microbial reduction, are addressed. The primary objectives were to characterize the physiochemical properties of foams formed using various concentrations of Tween 20 (T20) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with and without the addition of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and peracetic acid (PAA), compare the efficacy of foam and traditional dump tank (DT) washing methods in removing natural contaminants, and evaluate the performance of NaOCl and PAA in both foam and DT methods for reducing Salmonella on tomato surfaces. The research employed a combination of physicochemical characterization parameters, efficacy study on the natural microflora, and inoculation study to assess the decontamination efficacy. Findings reveal that foam decontamination provides superior microbial reduction and enhances sanitizer efficacy better than the traditional DT method. Specifically, NaOCl combined with T20 in foam form demonstrated significant reductions (p\u3c0.05) in Salmonella counts and natural microflora on Roma tomato surfaces over DT treatments. The study highlights the potential of foam-based decontamination as a more effective alternative to a conventional DT washing method, offering practical implications for enhancing tomato safety in the fresh produce industry
Innovative recyclable pouch in pouch packaging with biodegradable and polyolefin-based films for oxygen and moisture sensitive products
No full textThe present study proposes a composite packaging system comprising two pouches: an outer layer made of moisture-resistant biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film and an inner layer using oxygen-barrier biodegradable polymer films, such as starch or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The biodegradable inner pouch enhances sustainability by reducing plastic waste, while the single-polymer composition of the outer pouch facilitates recyclability. The formulation of the inner biodegradable pouches was refined using starch/PVA, with glycerol as a plasticizer and tannic acid (TA) as a crosslinking agent. Results revealed that glycerol and TA concentrations significantly affected the film properties, and optimal ranges were identified to balance flexibility and barrier performance. Among the two biodegradable options, PVA films demonstrated superior packaging characteristics. A pouch-in-pouch system was developed, characterized, and tested for preserving red chili powder and deshelled peanuts stored under daylight at 40°C for seven weeks. Of the ten packaging configurations evaluated, the PVA-TA/BOPP combination showed exceptional preservation performance, with the lowest oxygen transmission rate and the ability to maintain 95% of chili powder pungency and American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) color value. Similarly, favorable moisture content and peroxide values were observed in deshelled peanuts. This research highlights the potential of biodegradable packaging systems, optimized through material selection and additive incorporation, to enhance food preservation in packaging applications
Exploring the anti-diabetic potential of banana peel extracts: Impact of maceration and ultrasonication on bioactive compounds and glycemic control in diabetic rabbits
No full textBanana peel is an excellent source of fibre and antioxidants. In the current study, extraction parameters for banana peels were optimized using various extraction methods (sonication and maceration), solvents (acetone, ethanol, and methanol) and solvent concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100 %). Furthermore, the antioxidant, antimicrobial and in-vivo diabetic potential of banana peel extracts (BPE) was investigated. Based on optimization results, the highest TPC (31.45 mg GAE/g), TFC (22.15 mg QE/g), DPPH (82.52 %), and FRAP (29.51 %) activity was shown by 50 % sonicated ethanolic banana peel extracts (SEBPE). Similarly, 50 % SEBPE showed the highest microbial inhibition zone. However, it was in a dose-dependent manner. The optimum dose was 750 µl/ml for bacterial strains and 500 µl/ml for S. cerevisiae. Furthermore, the administration of SEBPE significantly (p 0.05) variations. However, a significant reduction in total cholesterol (159–90 mg/dL) was attributed to higher fibre. Hence, it can be concluded that sonication improves the antioxidant potential of SEBPE due to the increased release of polyphenols, which are responsible for their enhanced antimicrobial and anti-diabetic properties. However, further investigations are required to explore the effectiveness of SEBPE against diabetes co-morbidities such as renal dysfunction
