Indus Scrolls English
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • International
    • Regional
    • Environment
    • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Culture
    • Temples
    • Ayurveda
    • Art
    • Festivals
    • Books
    • Astrology
    • Literature
    • History
  • Religion
    • Our Gurus
    • Hinduism
    • Islam
    • Christianity
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Yoga
    • Fashion
    • Travel
    • Cuisine
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Economy
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • International
    • Regional
    • Environment
    • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Culture
    • Temples
    • Ayurveda
    • Art
    • Festivals
    • Books
    • Astrology
    • Literature
    • History
  • Religion
    • Our Gurus
    • Hinduism
    • Islam
    • Christianity
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Yoga
    • Fashion
    • Travel
    • Cuisine
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Economy
No Result
View All Result
Indus Scrolls English
No Result
View All Result
Home News Science

New edible coating to prolong shelf life of fruits and vegetables

India Science Wire by India Science Wire
August 30, 2022
in Science
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsAppTelegram

A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Guwahati has developed an edible material that, coated on vegetables and fruits, substantially extended their shelf-life.

The material was tested on potato, tomato, green chili, strawberry, Khasi Mandarin, apple, pineapple, and kiwifruit and was found to keep these vegetables fresh for nearly two months.

The team used a mix of an extract of a marine microalga called Dunaliella tertiolecta and polysaccharides to produce it. The microalga is known for its antioxidant properties and has various bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and proteins. It is also used to produce algal oil, a non-animal source of omega-3 fatty acid and is considered a good source of biofuel. After the oil is extracted, the residue is usually discarded.

The researchers used extracts from this residue in formulating their film, in combination with chitosan, which is a carbohydrate. It also has antimicrobial and antifungal properties and can be made into an edible film.

The researchers said, “The films were made with varying algal extract contents and their properties were analysed and compared with controls. They displayed superior antioxidant activity, thermal stability, mechanical strength, total phenolic content, and water vapor barrier property. They also had excellent UV-Vis light-blocking properties”.

The researchers also tested the biosafety of these coatings. They tried them on what is called the BHK21 cell line. It is a laboratory standard for the study of various biological processes. The tests showed that the new coating materials were nontoxic and could be safely used as edible food packaging materials.

The research team consisted of Prof. Vimal Katiyar and Prof. Vaibhav V. Goud of the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Center for Excellence in Sustainable Polymers (CoE-SusPol) at the Institute along with their research scholars Ms. Kona Mondal, Ms. Tabli Ghosh, Ms. Mandavi Goswami, Ms. Shikha Sharma, and Sonu Kumar. The study results have been published in several scientific journals, including the Royal Society of Chemistry Advances and the American Chemical Society’s Food Science and Technology.

Highlighting the importance of their work, Prof. Vimal Katiyar, who led the team, noted, “According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, between 4.6 and 15.9% of fruits and vegetables go waste post-harvest, partly due to poor storage conditions.  In fact, post-harvest loss in certain produce items like potato, onion, and tomato could even be as high as 19%, which results in high prices for this highly consumed commodity.”

The new coatings, he said, can be mass-produced. They are very stable to light, heat, and temperature up to 40oC, edible, and can be safely eaten as part of the product formulation, and do not add unfavorable properties to it. They retain texture, color, appearance, flavor, and nutritional value.

The material can be either directly coated on the vegetables and fruits or made into a vegetable storage pouch. In both cases, the shelf-life of the vegetables can be extended. It is a simple dip coating technique with no significant cost added to the post-harvest processing, he added.

(India Science Wire)

Author

  • India Science Wire
    India Science Wire

    View all posts

ShareTweetSendShare

Related News

‘Hazardous chemical reagents may profoundly affect fetal health’
Science

Researchers find key elements affecting osmotic stress in plants

‘Hazardous chemical reagents may profoundly affect fetal health’
Science

‘Hazardous chemical reagents may profoundly affect fetal health’

Two renewable energy labs inaugurated at IIT Roorkee
Science

Two renewable energy labs inaugurated at IIT Roorkee

Novel drug repurposing approach against COVID-19
Science

Novel drug repurposing approach against COVID-19

Fresh insights into spread of airborne pathogens in indoor spaces
Science

Fresh insights into spread of airborne pathogens in indoor spaces

Study demonstrates gold-catalyzed fundamental organometallic steps
Science

Study demonstrates gold-catalyzed fundamental organometallic steps

Discussion about this post

234 Indians evacuated from Iran land in Mumbai

Jaishankar’s stern message:  Not India’s policy to conduct extra-judicial killings abroad

16-year-old girl allegedly dies by suicide after being brutally gang-raped by Sabir, Nasir and Nazir in Rajasthan’s Alwar

Harassed by Mohammad Afzal, minor girl attempts suicide; cops shoot at accused during bid to escape

Kerala to remove governor Arif Mohammed Khan as Chancellor?

Resentment brewing in CPM over CM family’s role in scams

Hindu temple in Australia’s Brisbane gets threat asking to raise pro-Khalistani slogans if it wanted to observe Maha Shivratri peacefully

Is Neo-Hinduism being authored by Woke-Pundits?

Guilt-stricken mother admits to murdering 3-year-old son; woman, paramour arrested

Guilt-stricken mother admits to murdering 3-year-old son; woman, paramour arrested

Army Jawan beaten up, dresses torn, PFI written in green ink on his back

Army Jawan beaten up, dresses torn, PFI written in green ink on his back

NIA tightens noose around overseas Khalistani terrorists by confiscating their Indian assets

NIA tightens noose around overseas Khalistani terrorists by confiscating their Indian assets

A moving tribute to India’s Vax Warriors

A moving tribute to India’s Vax Warriors

Every Political Party, Government Nourish Casteism Then Condemn It As A Social Poison

Every Political Party, Government Nourish Casteism Then Condemn It As A Social Poison

Laljibhai: A saviour for the visually impaired elderly

Laljibhai: A saviour for the visually impaired elderly

  • Support Us
  • Our Projects
  • Our Mission
  • Contact Us

©Copyright Indus Scrolls. Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • International
    • Regional
    • Environment
    • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Culture
    • Temples
    • Ayurveda
    • Art
    • Festivals
    • Books
    • Astrology
    • Literature
    • History
  • Religion
    • Our Gurus
    • Hinduism
    • Islam
    • Christianity
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Yoga
    • Fashion
    • Travel
    • Cuisine
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Economy

©Copyright Indus Scrolls. Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies