Converting fruit peels into biodegradable, recyclable and antimicrobial eco-friendly bioplastics for perishable fruit preservation.

The development of biodegradable antimicrobial bioplastics for food packaging holds great promise for solving the pollution and safety problems caused by petrochemical plastics and spoiled food. Herein, a natural active-bioplastic synthesized from citrus peel biomass is presented for perishable fruit preservation. These plastics are characterized by the nanoscale entanglement and recombinant hydrogen bonding between the endogenous pectin, polyphenols and cellulose micro/nanofibrils. They have attractive flexibility, tensile strength, gas barrier properties and antimicrobial activities, and can effectively extend the shelf life of perishable fruits such as banana and mango when used as food packaging. Cytotoxicity, degradability tests and life-cycle assessment show that these plastics had excellent nontoxicity and can be safely degraded or easily recycled. This work demonstrates a sustainable strategy for converting peel waste into eco-friendly bioplastics, providing a unique and novel insight into radically reducing the pollution and life-health threats posed by petrochemical plastics and spoiled food.

Dialdehyde cellulose films covalently crosslinked with porphyrin-based covalent organic polymers for photodynamic sterilization.

Foodborne pathogens result in a great harm to human, which is an urgent problem to be addressed. Herein, a novel cellulose-based packaging films with excellent anti-bacterial properties under visible light were prepared. A porphyrin-based covalent organic polymer (Por-COPs) was constructed, then covalently grafted onto dialdehyde cellulose (DAC). The addition of Por-COPs enhanced the mechanical, hydrophobicity, and water resistance of the DAC-based composite films. DAC/Por-COP-2.5 film exhibited outstanding properties for the photodynamic inactivation of bacteria under visible light irradiation, delivering inactivation efficiencies of 99.90 % and 99.45 % towards Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli within 20 min. The DAC/Por-COPs films efficiently generated •O2- and 1O2 under visible light, thereby causing oxidative stress to cell membranes for bacterial inactivation. The prepared composite film forms a protective barrier against bacterial contamination. Results guide the development of high performance and more sustainable packaging films for the food sector.

Covalent organic framework-based magnetic solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of trace phthalate esters in liquid foods.

Covalent organic framework-coated magnetite particles (Fe3O4@COF) were synthesized and applied as the adsorbent to the selective capture of phthalate esters (PAEs) in liquid foods. Combined with the magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) technology, a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method was employed for the separation and quantification of PAEs. Following optimization of the magnetic extraction and elution parameters, the developed analytical method offered a satisfactory linear range (0.1-5 µg L-1) with determination coefficients ranging from 0.9934 to 0.9975 for the five different PAEs studied. The limits of detection (LOD) were in the range 1.9-12.8 ng L-1. The recoveries ranged from 70.0 to 119.8% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 9.7%. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations established that the dominant adsorption mechanism used by the COF to bind PAEs involved π-π stacking interactions. Results encourage the wider use of COF-based adsorbents and MSPE methods in the analytical determination of PAEs in foods.

Highly defective copper-based metal-organic frameworks for the efficient adsorption and detection of organophosphorus pesticides: An experimental and computational investigation.

Organophosphorus pesticide (OP) residues pose a serious threat to human health, motivating the search for novel adsorbents and detection methods. Herein, defective copper-based metal organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) were synthesized by the reaction of Cu2+ ions and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate linkers in the presence of acetic acid. As the amount of acetic acid increased, the crystallization kinetics and morphology of the Cu-MOFs changed, leading to mesoporous Cu-MOFs with many large surface pores (defects). Adsorption studies of OPs revealed the defective Cu-MOFs showed faster pesticide adsorption kinetics and higher pesticide adsorption capacities. Density functional theory calculations showed that pesticide adsorption in the Cu-MOFs was mainly electrostatic. A dispersive solid phase extraction method was developed based on a defective Cu-MOF-6 for rapidly extracting pesticides from food samples. The method allowed pesticide detection over a wide linear concentration range, low limits of detection (0.0067-0.0164 µg L-1) and good recoveries in pesticide-spiked samples (81.03-109.55%).

A sensitive ratiometric fluorescent sensor based on carbon dots and CdTe quantum dots for visual detection of biogenic amines in food samples.

A novel dual-emission ratiometric fluorescent sensor for biogenic amines (BAs) was prepared by simple mixing blue fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) and yellow fluorescent CdTe quantum dots (CdTe QDs). Based on different sensitive properties of pH, CdTe QDs and CDs were used as the response signal and internal reference signal, respectively. The developed ratiometric fluorescent sensor achieved quantitative analysis of eight kinds of BAs with rapid response (30 s) and low limits of detection (1.259-5.428 µM). Furthermore, color-tunable fluorescent test strips were constructed by easily assembling CDs and CdTe QDs onto filter paper. The obtained smart label showed a distinguishable fluorescent color variation from blue to green during the corruption of shrimp samples. The smart label with advantages of convenience and rapidness provided a method for visually monitoring the freshness of food samples.

Mixed matrix of MOF@COF hybrids for enrichment and determination of phenoxy carboxylic acids in water and vegetables.

A novel mixed matrix of MOF@COF hybrid was firstly formed by coating of hexahedral cage structure MOF with lightweight porous COF, and applied in dispersive solid-phase extraction of the phenoxy carboxylic acids (PCAs) from water and vegetable samples. Combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, an excellent method with low limits of detection (0.69-1.79 ng·L-1/0.002-0.006 ng·g-1), good reproducibility (1.32%-7.02%/1.81%-6.71%), and excellent linearities (10-1000 ng·L-1, R ≥ 0.9955/0.04-50 ng·g-1, R ≥ 0.9966) was established. The adsorption mechanisms deduced that the π-π interaction, hydrophobic effects, hydrogen bond, and halogen bond may promote the excellent adsorption of the PCAs. Finally, the applicability of the method was verified by spiking four kinds of water and vegetable samples with PCAs, and satisfying recoveries were obtained (between 83.3% and 104.9%).

Determination of trace bisphenols in functional beverages through the magnetic solid-phase extraction with MOF-COF composite.

In this study, a novel porous composite (Fe3O4@TAPB-COF@ZIF-8) consisting of metal-organic and covalent organic frameworks was developed and applied to the magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of bisphenols. The extraction parameters such as the extraction time, solution pH, amounts of adsorbent, and ionic strength were investigated to obtain the best extraction conditions. By optimizing the MSPE, a convenient and sensitive analytical method was established in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography. The method achieved low detection limits (0.04-0.05 ng mL-1), wide linear range (0.25-1000 ng mL-1), good repeatability (1.20-4.30%), good reproducibility (1.34-4.03%), and satisfactory recoveries of four functional beverages (66.2-116.6%).

Effective enrichment and detection of trace polybrominated diphenyl ethers in water samples based on magnetic covalent organic framework nanospheres coupled with chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Novel core shell structured magnetic covalent organic frameworks were synthesized at room temperature and first applied in water samples for the enrichment of trace polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) through magnetic solid-phase extraction. The prepared materials were characterized through transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. During adsorption, the parameters affecting extraction and desorption efficiency were further optimized. Combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed that high enrichment factors (275-292), low limits of detection (0.12-0.38 ng·L-1), wide linear ranges (0.5-1000 ng·L-1), and good reproducibility (intra-day 1.40%-4.31% and inter-day 5.14%-9.12%) were obtained under optimal conditions. The method successfully detected PBDEs in different water samples.

Content variations in compositions and volatile component in jujube fruits during the blacking process.

Dried jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) was incubated at high temperature and humidity for 96 hr in blacking process and sampled every 12 hr. Results showed that the saccharose reduced from 195.6 to 3.1 g/kg rapidly in 24 hr. The total acid content was mild with 8.82 g/kg and increased to 23.45 g/kg by 177.21% with thermal processing for 96 hr. The contents of total polyphenols were enhanced during 0-48 hr processing, and the amount of the compound increased with treatment by 50.99%. The total reducing sugar increased 29.79% on 60 hr. cAMP was decreased with aging and ripening by 65.85%. 5-HMF was keep growing to 3.52 g/kg. The volatile component had great change in black jujube fruits compared to untreated jujubes, especially treated in 12 hr. The results indicated that backing pretreatment can facilitate the generation of functional food materials and support the development of this nutrition product.