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Biogas, a renewable energy source, is primarily composed of CH4 and CO2. It is a promising alternative to fossil fuels and can be used directly for electricity production as well as heat generation via combustion. Concerns about climate change and a greater emphasis on renewable energy sources have recently increased interest in biogas utilization. In this context, biogas reforming and decomposition (BRD) into synthesis gas and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) is viewed as a new and attractive way of efficiently valorising biogas. In this study, Ni-loaded (i.e., 20, 50 wt%) mesoporous alumina materials were prepared using one-pot evaporation-induced self-assembly method for BRD. Synthesized materials were characterized by various techniques: N2-physisorption, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. Results showed that textural and structural properties of synthesised materials differed with Ni loading. High Ni-loaded catalyst displayed higher surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and average particle size which is the result of deposition of Ni species outside alumina grains creating thus, surface defects. BRD results were greatly influenced by Ni content with Ni50%Al2O3 reflecting catalytic behaviour similar to those expected for pure methane decomposition. Most importantly, this catalyst was also capable of generating, selectively, interesting carbon nanofibers. (c) 2022 THE AUTHORS. Published by Elsevier BV on behalf of Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Developing biodegradable, and non-toxic materials to replace petrochemical polymers is important. Herein, the waste fish scale-derived gelatin was chosen to prepare an environmental-friendly film. While the natural product of fish scale gelatin (FSG) films has the weakness of low humidity stability, poor antibacterial activity, poor mechanical strength, and weak UV absorption. Hence, a novel multifunctional and mechanically robust FSG-based composite is proposed using chitosan (CTS) as the crosslinking matrix, liquefied chitin product (LCP), and silica sol as the functional fillers. The thermal decomposition kinetics and pyrolysis analysis show that the functional filling components were compatible with the FSG/CTS-based macromolecule matrix. The incorporation of LCP significantly improved the film's flexibility, antibacterial capacity, and UV absorption. The addition of the silica sol also increased the mechanical strength and water tolerance with decreased water vapor permeability (WVP). The increasing apparent activation energy (Ea) along with pyrolysis reactions could correlate well with the composite film's progressive crosslinks. This study demonstrated a renewable FSG/CTS/LCP/Si composite film with a much-improved property that could have potential applications in film-based packaging.

In this work, chitosan (CS) emulsion films were prepared with grapefruit essential oil (GEO) Pickering emulsions (OGEOs) stabilized by amphiphilic octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) konjac glucomannan (OSA-KGM) network. The droplet size of emulsion was regulated by altering oil content in OGEOs (10 %, 20 %, 30 % and 40 %, w/w). The structural and physicochemical properties of CS films with tunable emulsion droplets (OGEOs) were investigated. The droplet size of OGEOs increased with the increasing content of GEO. FT-IR revealed that the formation of CS-OGEOs films was attributed to hydrogen bonding. CS-OGEOs films with large droplets presented smoother surface, enhanced water resistance, UV-shielding property, mechanical properties, but increased water vapor permeability (WVP) compared with CS-OGEOs films with small droplets. In addition, CS-OGEOs films with large droplets also presented compact film structure, controlled release of GEO, high efficiency of DPPH free radical scavenging and antibacterial activity. To sum up, incorporation of emulsion droplets was a good strategy for improving the structural and physicochemical properties of CS films.

Starch-casein composite (solid matter content) based bioactive films incorporated with micellar pomegranate peel extract (MPPE) at different concentrations (10, 25, 50, and 100 wt% with respect to base solid matter content) were developed. The extract-free film was used as a control. The bioactive films were characterized for physicochemical, mechanical, barrier, structural, thermal, and bioactive properties. Decreased ζ-potential and surface tension, increased particle size, and improved rheological properties of MPPE added film-forming dispersion (FFD) were recorded. Among all the physical properties of bioactive films, only contact angle was reduced. An increase in MPPE concentration exhibited less hardness, more extensibility, and an excellent barrier to water vapor permeability than the control film. Increased MPPE concentration showed a decline in transparency (%) and lightness (L*) resulting into distinct color to the film. Structural compactness and integrity of the films were confirmed by SEM and XRD patterns. Improved functional interaction and thermal reliability of bioactive films were noted. The interaction patterns between starch-casein composite and MPPE bioactives indicated the development of covalent links. Excellent bioactivities with the slow release of bioactives in hydroalcoholic environment, confirmed by the kinetic study. Remarkable antibacterial effect was noted against E. coli and S. aureus by the films. Overall, increasing the concentration of MPPE in bioactive film showed improved physicochemical strength; hence, prepared bioactive films could be used as food coatings.

The application of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in the packaging area is frequently dwarfed by the inadequate gas/water barrier properties, low heat resistance and high UV transmittance. Herein, an environmentally friendly and high-efficiency microwave-assisted functionalization (MAF) approach was proposed to aqueous grafting waste bamboo fibers with the bridging agent. It permitted significant promotion of interfacial interactions between the MAF bamboo fibers (MAFBs) and neighboring PLA chains, contributing to uniform dispersion and intimate interphase. Featuring the morphological features, the MAFB-reinforced (5, 10 and 20 wt%) PLA biocomposites achieved an unexpected combination of high mechanical properties, exceptional resistance to heat deflection and UV irradiation, and excellent water barrier performance. Upon addition of only 5 wt% MAFBs, the tensile strength and toughness of PLA composite films were increased to 46.5 MPa and 0.6 MJ/m

The vacuum integrity of freeze dryers is critical for attaining adequate process control and maintaining confidence in sterility assurance which is key for the manufacture of sterile pharmaceutical products. Although discussions on the topic have been published, there is no industry standard established that is based on empirical data or that has a justifiable scientific rationale. This article provides a review of the scientific literature in the public domain and most importantly, a perspective from 14 Pharmaceutical companies on the leak rate specifications commonly used in industry. Using this information we recommend a best practice for the lyophilizer leak rate test which includes detailing necessary preparation activities following Steam-In-Place (SIP) sterilization, defining a period of stabilization to eliminate pressure and temperature fluctuations and details of the test conditions and the test period. We conclude that for routine manufacturing practice the operational leak rate should not exceed 20 µbar L/s and we provide additional guidance for large volume and older lyophilisation equipment.

In this study, nanocomposites of polylactic acid (PLA) with clove essential oil (CEO) and alkali treated halloysite nanotubes (NHNT) as fillers were synthesized by using simple solvent casting method. The treatment of halloysite nanotubes with NaOH increased the surface area from 50.16 m

This study presents the preparation of cellulose micro-nanofibrils (CMNFs) from Enteromorpha (EP) and the application in PVA/acetylated distarch phosphate (ADSP)/CMNFs composite films. The Micro-nano scale, hydrophilicity, and strong hydrogen bond characteristics of CMNFs prepared form EP by acid hydrolysis were confirmed through the granular statistics, XRD analysis and chemical structure analysis. With the addition of CMNFs, the ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break of composite films are increased by 42.4 % and 90.3 %. An original Weibull statistical analysis shows the impact of CMNFs' added amount on strength distribution and ultimate stress. SEM and polarizing microscope images show the CMNFs' dispersion state in that films is optimal, when their addition was to be 2 %-3 % of total dry weight of PVA/ADSP matrix， which is consistent with the results of Weibull modulus analysis. The main thermal weight-loss process of the composite film is divided into four stages, CMNFs can significantly increase the thermostability at 280 °C to 400 °C. The experiment of water contact angle and water vapor transmission rate of the composite films confirmed that CMNFs can improve films' hydrophilicity. This study provides basis for the preparation of hydrophilic CMNFs and mechanism of modification study PVA-based composites.

Bioinspired polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles were synthesized and explored as functional compatibilizers in polyvinyl alcohol/starch (PVA/ST) matrix to develop high-performance multifunctional packaging film. The effect of the addition of PDA on the microstructural, mechanical, thermal, water vapor barrier, ultraviolet (UV)/high-energy blue light (HEBL) blocking, thermal insulating and antioxidant properties of PVA/ST composite films was fully investigated. Results demonstrated that the added PDA nanoparticles were evenly dispersed in the PVA/ST matrix, providing compact and dense nanocomposite films due to their compatibilization effect. Compared with virgin PVA/ST film, the resulting PVA/ST/PDA nanocomposite films exhibited greatly improved tensile strength, toughness, thermal stability, and water vapor barrier ability. Furthermore, the presence of PDA endowed PVA/ST composite film with excellent UV/HEBL blocking, thermal insulating as well as antioxidant functions. Thus, such high-performance multifunctional nanocomposite films hold the potential of protecting food quality against photothermal oxidative deterioration and extend food shelf life.

Rezūm® system is a minimally invasive transurethral therapy that uses convective water vapor energy to ablate prostatic tissue. The objective is to report 1-year functional and security outcomes obtained by using this technique in real clinical practice.Prospective study conducted in 5 Spanish hospitals for the treatment of LUTS secondary to BPH using the Rezūm® system. Patients with prostatic medium lobe (ML) and urethral catheter carriers were also included. Pre- and post-operative data were collected using IPSS, IIEF-5 and QoL questionnaires, flowmetry and post-void residual volume. Complications and retreatment rate at one-year follow-up were also reported.137 patients, including 64 with ML and 10 patients with urinary retention were treated. Median prostate volume was 50 cmShort-term results of this technique are promising, showing improvement in terms of functional outcomes, with no impact on the sexual sphere or complications. Longer term follow-up should include treatment durability and comparison to standard BPH treatments.

Bilayer solar evaporator combines high photothermal conversion capacity and low heat loss, has become the new darling in interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG). However, the bilayer structure generally achieved by introducing a photothermal coating on the substrate is not conducive to long-term use due to the poor stability of coating. Herein, a fully biomass-based bilayer evaporator is all-in-one designed, using chitosan (CS) as building blocks and CS derived N, S - doped porous carbon (NSPC) as fillers via pre-freezing and freeze-drying. This facile method could realise the quantitative addition of photothermal materials and controllably regulate the structure of the bilayer evaporator, making the structural optimisation readily available. The optimised evaporator exhibits a remarkable evaporation rate of 2.51 kg m

Polysaccharides play important roles in the bioactivities of Rehmannia glutinosa. This study examined the physiochemical structure and biological activity of the polysaccharides of R. glutinosa during nine steps of processing. Characteristic study showed galactose, glucose, and fructose were the major sugars in the polysaccharides. The percentage of the high-molecular weight polysaccharide increased after processing. In addition, polysaccharides from repeated steam and dry processing of R. glutinosa can effectively increase the anti-inflammatory activity. Secretions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and transforming growth factor (TGF)β after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation were detected in RAW264.7 macrophages because of its anti-inflammatory activity. RG-B9, a polysaccharide of the ninth steam and dry processing, showed the strongest inhibitory activity on bacterial LPS-induced macrophage IL-6 and TGFβ production. Mechanically, RG-B9 down-regulated the phosphorylation of AKT/ERK. The anti-inflammation of RG-B9 involved AKT/ERK/JNK signaling. In addition, RG-B9 inhibited the viability of lung cancer cells via EGFR/AKT signaling.

Solar desalination is considered as a promising approach to solve the shortage of fresh water resources. In this work, inspired by the transpiration of trees, a self-floating and integrated bionic mushroom solar steam generator (BMSSG) is proposed for highly efficient water evaporation. A wooden strip is used to mimic the stipe of the mushroom for water transportation, meanwhile polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) modified graphene aerogels (GA) is used to imitate the pileus of the mushroom for photothermal conversion. After optimizing compositions of the aerogel and sizes of the wooden strip, a high evaporation rate of 1.67 kg m

PURPOSE To perform a cost analysis of the current gold standard operation of Holmium Laser Enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) compared to the new technique of water vapor thermal therapy with the Rezum™ system for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS Between October 2017 and January 2020, consecutive patients with invalidating lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH who underwent Rezūm™ and HoLEP procedures from the Aix regional hospital were identified. The outcome of each technique was assessed in terms of cost from the institutional perspective. Detailed expense reports based were provided by the accounts department of the hospital. These were used to compare in-hospital costs for each procedure. RESULTS A total of 53 and 94 consecutive patients underwent respectively water vapor thermal therapy and HoLEP. The median costs for the surgical procedure were €1344 (IQR 1331-1361) and €669 (IQR 584-824), respectively for Rezūm™ and HoLEP (median difference €675; P

In the operating theatre the biocleaning process is essential after each passage to guarantee the non-transmission of potentially pathogenic microbial agents from patient to patient.To evaluate the quality of this biocleaning, the Operational Hygiene Team used a very sensitive method to detect residual traces of blood: luminol (3-aminophthalhydrazide) on the basis of methods used by the police.Luminol was used after conventional one-step biocleaning with the usual detergent/disinfectant, after bleach disinfection before biocleaning, and after biocleaning with a steam cleaner.Lunimol revealed extended traces of blood corresponding to the passage of the strip on the floor, in the corners of the room and on certain pieces of furniture which are difficult to clean. However, no luminescence was detected on the surfaces cleaned by a single passage of the steam cleaner.In all cases, the rooms appeared visually clean and traces of blood only became visible when revealed by luminol. We also showed that usual detergents or disinfectants do not remove blood and instead actually spread it over surfaces that may seem visually clean. These results led us to modify our procedure and also confirmed our wish to generalize the use of the steam cleaning technique for immediate cleaning. Furthermore, our tests show the relevance of luminol as a validation tool for the quality and method of biocleaning.

Soybean-oil-based polymer is a promising bio-based water barrier coating on paper packaging but the application is challenged due to its poor water dispersibility. In this present study, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) modified nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was used to implement a stable dispersion of acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) in water and thus synergistically improved the water vapor barrier properties after coating on paper. APTES-NCC was successfully prepared, and displayed a better interface compatibility with AESO through the Michael addition reaction. Compared with NCC, APTES-NCC displayed an improved hydrophobicity and wettability with AESO, with an increase of contact angle from 38.0° to 76.4°, and a decrease of interfacial tension from 91.5±3.5 mN/m to 82.9±1.8 mN/m. As an emulsifier, APTES-NCC can be more effectively adsorbed on the oil-water interface to form a more stable emulsion than NCC, with a decrease of AESO droplets size from 4.8 µm to 3.1 µm, and a remarkable improvement in static and centrifugal stability. In rheological measurement, the APTES-NCC/AESO emulsion showed a wider linear viscoelastic region (3.4%), better viscoelasticity and thermal curing properties than that of NCC/AESO emulsion, which further explained that the stability of APTES-NCC/AESO emulsion were improved. Therefore, APTES-NCC/AESO emulsion as a coating on paper cured into a continuous barrier film can effectively improve the water vapor barrier properties of paper, and the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of paper can be reduced from 1392.8 g/m2•24h (NCC/AESO emulsion-coated) to 1286.3 g/m2•24h (APTES-NCC/AESO emulsion-coated), both are significantly lower than that of base paper (1926.7 g/m2•24h). CLSM testing showed that APTES-NCC could interact effectively with AESO to forming a tight barrier on paper surface and at the same time, sealing the pores inside the paper to resist water vapor penetration. The high-stable AESO emulsion prepared by APTES-NCC is expected to facilitate the utilization of NCC and AESO as a value-added material in making sustainable barrier packaging.

Although solar energy is promising for water purification, there is still a room for further improving the solar steam generation efficiency. Herein, an environmental energy-enhanced solar steam evaporator is fabricated by immersing a cellulose acetate fiber-based cigarette filter (CF) in an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) followed by freeze-drying and decorating with MXene sheets. The presence of MXene is to absorb solar light and convert solar energy to thermal energy for efficient water evaporation, while the porous PVA network generated inside the pores of the filter during the freeze-drying process accommodates the dispersed MXene sheets and interconnects the CF and MXene. Because of the constructed PVA/MXene network inside the CF porous architecture and the hydrophilic feature of both MXene and PVA, the resultant MXene/PVA modified CF (MPCF) is highly hydrophilic and competent for rapid upward transfer of water. Interestingly, in addition to the normal energy input by the incident solar light, the large-area sidewall of MPCF gains thermal energy from the environment in the forms of heat convection and heat radiation to enhance the solar steam generation efficiency, resulting in an ultrahigh water evaporation rate of 3.38 kg m−2 h−1 with an outstanding evaporation efficiency of 132.9%.

In this work, chitosan/caffeic acid mixtures in the weight ratios of 80/20 and 50/50 were used to obtain thin films enriched with poly(ethylene glycol). It was hypothesized that the presence of caffeic acid indicates the antibacterial properties of the materials (i) and that poly(ethylene glycol) acts as a films modifier (ii). The results showed that by poly(ethylene glycol) addition, the surface free energy as well as mechanical and thermal properties were improved. Moreover, water vapor permeability was observed. All the tested materials showed antioxidant properties in the range of approximately 90%. They also showed antibacterial effectiveness against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The most appropriate material for the application as packaging was composed of chitosan and caffeic acid mixed in a 50/50 weight ratio with 20% PEG addition.

In this study, a novel strategy for modifying nanocellulose (NC) by borax cross-linking was developed, and the obtained borax modified nanocellulose (BNC) was incorporated into cationized high amylose maize starch (CS) films to evaluate the applicability. Cellulose molecules were successfully cross-linked by boron ester bonds, and the original crystal type and basic chemical structure were not changed. Compared with NC, the relative crystallinity of BNC was slightly increased, and the thermal stability was obviously enhanced. Addition of NC and BNC to CS films significantly improved their tensile strength and water resistance. The dispersion of nanocellulose in CS films was effectively improved by borax cross-linking modification. CS/BNC films showed higher mechanical and water resistance properties compared with CS/NC films. Compared with pure CS film, tensile strength of the composite film with 6 wt% BNC increased about 4.0 times, and its water-vapor permeability decreased about 37%. The novel strategy for preparing BNC by using boron ester bonds will provide a potential approach for the development of starch films with desirable properties.

The applications of edible coatings stemmed exclusively from alginate in food packaging are restricted due to their inherent deficient antimicrobial, barrier, and UV-barrier properties. In this work, we aimed to design smart alginate-based coatings for active food packaging through the addition of both aloe vera (AV) and garlic oil (GO). The interactions between the film components were verified by FTIR and XRD. Thermal and mechanical properties were improved by the presence of AV and GO. The presence of AV and GO did not significantly influence the transparency of alginate films. The films exhibited a significant UV-shielding to all UV regions. Water vapor permeability was significantly (p 0.05) reduced either through the incorporation of AV or GO. The antimicrobial properties of the prepared films were considerably improved by the presence of AV and GO. The shelf-life of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was extended when coated with the alginate film incorporated with AV and GO. Owing to the outstanding UV-shielding, mechanical, thermal, and antimicrobial properties, the alginate/AV/GO active coatings could potentially be implemented in the food packaging industry.

The properties of edible films derived from corn starch (CS) and methylcellulose (MC) supplemented with fireweed extract (FE; 0.0125-0.05% w/w) were analyzed. Due to their more crystalline structure, the MC films were significantly stronger (~26 MPa) than the CS films (~4 MPa). In turn, CS produced films with lower water vapor permeability (WVP, 50.12-51.74 vs. 56.52-59.10 g mm m−2 d−1 kPa−1). The hydrothermally-disrupted starch granules contributed to high roughness and opacity of the CS films. The FE-supplemented films exhibited an intensive yellow color and improved the UV-absorbing effect. FE delayed starch retrogradation, as indicated by the reduced crystallinity and slightly improved transparency of the CS films. Incorporation of FE significantly enhanced the released radical scavenging activity (RSA) of the films, while did not affect the WVP and mechanical properties. Due to better FE-trapping capacity, the CS-based films exhibited lower antioxidant activity (RSA60min = 2.21-19.75%) as compared to the MC counterparts (RSA60min = 4.87-38.31%).

The aim of this research was to fabricate active nanocomposite films by incorporation of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) (3, 6 and 9% w/w) into the chitosan-based films. The NiONPs were synthesized by solution combustion method and the films were prepared by solvent casting method. The formation of new interactions and increasing of films' crystallinity were confirmed by FT-IR and XRD analyses. Uniform dispersion of NiONPs at lower concentrations and their aggregation at level of 9% was confirmed by FE-SEM observations. Water barrier properties, tensile strength, thermal properties and surface hydrophobicity of films enhanced by addition of 6% NiONPs. Photocatalytic activity of nanocomposites was confirmed by absorption of 72% of methyl orange during 270 min under UV irradiation. The nanocomposite films exhibited good antibacterial activity against gram-positive (S. aureus) and gram-negative (S. typhimurium) bacteria. Therefore, the chitosan-NiONPs nanocomposite films could be used for active food packaging applications and photodecolorization purposes.

Although thermoplastic starch (TPS) is a good candidate to overcome the limitations of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) due to its relatively low cost and high flexibility, the toughness and barrier properties of PLA/TPS blends are still insufficient for film applications. Therefore, the present work aims to improve the performance of PLA/TPS blend by simultaneous biaxial stretching and partially replacing PLA with poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) for packaging film applications. PLA/TPS and PLA/PBAT/TPS sheets were prepared by melt cast extrusion and simultaneously biaxially stretched to form films. The mechanical, morphological, thermal, and water vapor and oxygen barrier properties and crystallinity of both intermediate sheets and their corresponding stretched films were examined. After stretching, PLA/TPS and PLA/PBAT/TPS blends showed markedly improved extensibility, impact strength, crystallinity, water vapor and oxygen barrier properties, and surface hydrophobicity. The stretched films demonstrated stacked-layer planar morphology, in which their outermost layers were a biodegradable polyester-rich phase. The synergistic effects of simultaneous biaxial stretching and partial replacing PLA with PBAT were extremely impressive for toughness improvement. The stretched films have the potential to replace non-biodegradable plastic packaging films, particularly where good mechanical and barrier properties are required.

Owing to growing concerns about making pollution-free sustainable environment by reducing the dumping of agricultural waste and convert it into valuable product is a key to carry out the present study. The ultimate goal of this study is to convert shallot onion wastes (SOWs) into active packaging and evaluating the anti-browning effect due to the SOWs holding rich polyphenols and antioxidants. The active packaging film was fabricated by using sodium alginate (SA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) along with shallot onion waste extract (SOWEs) such as peel and stalk at 0.2% and 0.5% concentration. The film made with SA/CMC/SOWEs had good physical, mechanical, optical and barrier property, higher phenolic and antioxidant activity compared to control. In addition, the effect of SA/CMC/SOWEs film packaging on anti-browning and quality of fresh-cut apple and potato stored at 4 °C was studied. The results show the SA/CMC/SOWEs film had better effect on controlling browning index in fresh-cut apple and potato over the storage of 12 days and 5 days. This study concludes that the SA/CMC film developed with shallot stalk extract can be used for wrapping of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. It also prevents browning and maintains the overall quality than control and shallot peel incorporated film.

Oxygen-free roasting could efficiently achieve the recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but the roasted products have the drawbacks of a high carbon (C) content and a complex separation process. Hence, in this study, a new method incorporating steam (H2O) into the reduction-roasting recovery process of spent LIBs (steam roasting) was proposed to realize carbon removal and valuable metal recovery simultaneously. The influence of steam on the reduction-roasting process of spent LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 batteries (NCM) was investigated through experimental methods and thermodynamic analysis. The results indicated that the addition of steam could dramatically facilitate the decomposition and reduction process of spent NCM, and the carbon removal efficiency could reach 84%. H2O only acted on the reaction process of the anode material, and the main component C could be efficiently gasified by steam to produce hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO), which could significantly accelerate the reduction process of CoO and NiO. The optimal conditions for valuable metal recovery and carbon removal were a H2O/C mole ratio of 5:1 and a reduction-roasting temperature of 1123 K. After steam roasting, the magnetic recovery efficiencies of Co and Ni were as high as 90% and 93%, respectively. The final recovery products were Co, Ni, and Li2CO3 with high purities. Therefore, this study is expected to provide a novel approach to achieve efficient disposal and recovery of metals from spent LIBs.

Chitosan (CS) films containing 0, 1, 3 and 5% (w/w) of polyphenol-rich rambutan peel extract (RPE) were developed. The micro-structural characterization and physical and functional properties of the films were determined. Results showed RPE formed strong interactions with CS, making film inner micro-structure become uniform and film crystallinity decline. Amongst different films, CS film containing 5% of RPE showed the lowest light transmission, moisture content (28.35%), water solubility (46.07%), water vapor permeability (8.41 × 10−10 g m−1 s−1 Pa−1) and oxygen permeability (0.28 cm3 mm m−2 day−1 atm−1). Meanwhile, CS film containing 5% of RPE exhibited the highest tensile strength (38.87 MPa) and elongation at break (51.73%) and the strongest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Finally, pork was wrapped with the films and stored at 4 °C for 8 days. Results showed pork wrapped with CS film containing 5% of RPE presented the lowest total volatile basic nitrogen level (9.17 mg/100 g), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance value (0.51 mg malondialdehyde/kg) and total viable count (4.53 log colony forming unit/g) and the best sensory attributes on the eighth day. Our results suggested the potential of CS film containing 5% of RPE as an active packaging material in pork preservation.

Steam explosion (SE) was a friendly environmentally pretreatment method. In this study, the effect of steam explosion (SE) pretreatment on structure and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Ampelopsis grossedentata polysaccharides was evaluated. Two novel polysaccharides (AGP and AGP-SE) were extracted, isolated, purified and analyzed by NMR, FT-IR and methylation. The results indicated that AGP mainly consisted of Rha, Xyl, Glc, and Ara with a molecular weight of 2.74 × 103 kDa and AGP-SE mainly consisted of Man, Ara, and Gal with a molecular weight of 2.14 × 103 kDa. Furthermore, the backbone of AGP and AGP-SE were mainly composed of 5)-Araf-(1→, -Glcp-(1→, 6)-Glcp-(1→, 6)-Galp-(1→, 3,6)-Manp-(1→, and 2,3,6)-Glcp-(1→. Finally, we demonstrated that all polysaccharides exhibited obviously α-glucosidase inhibition activity and mixed type inhibition. AGP-SE had better α-glucosidase inhibition activity and the binding affinity KD on α-glucosidase by using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) than AGP. Overall, SE pretreatment is an effective method for extracting polysaccharide and provides a new idea into the improvement of biological activity.

An active antioxidant film was fabricated by using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and corn starch (ST) and incorporated with and 3, 5, 10, and 20% (v/v) coconut shell extract (CSE) and sepiolite clay (SP) for the first time. The microstructure and physical properties of prepared films were characterized and examined. The addition of sepiolite clay to PVA improved the elongation break 15.57 to 69.24%, and water vapor permeability increased with the addition of CSE. In addition to CSE to films, the antioxidant activity properties of the films were enhanced up to 80%. Further, increasing the amount of CSE slightly affected the color of the active films. The thermal properties of films were enhanced with the addition of CSE and SP. The dispersion of SP in the PVA matrix was affected by an increase in CSE concentration in the PVA matrix. Remarkably, PVA-ST film-based sachets successfully improved the oxidative stability of packaged soybean oil. Our results suggest PVA-ST film containing CSE and sepiolite clay can be utilized as a novel antioxidant packaging material in the food processing industry.

The trilayer films of polyester/starch/polyester with different starch/polyester layer thickness ratios were prepared by co-extrusion blowing. FTIR and SEM results showed the successful fabrication of trilayer films. The crystallinity of trilayer films gradually increased as the thickness of polyester layer increased. Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to investigate the compatibility between starch and polyester. The presence of polyester layer significantly increased the tensile strength and water contact angle of starch film. All trilayer films had lower water vapor permeability than the starch film, and lower oxygen permeability than the polyester film. The trilayer films were degraded to a much greater extent compared with the polyester film. The weight loss of P10 trilayer film in 120 days is about 80% through degradation test. These results suggested that the polyester/starch/polyester films with excellent mechanical and hydrophobic properties could serve as packaging material for wider applications.

This study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of alginate-based films functionalized by incorporating nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). The effect of different NLC/alginate mass ratios (R = 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.35) on the physical, morphological, mechanical, and barrier properties of the calcium-alginate films was evaluated. The addition of the NLCs significantly improved the UV-absorbing properties, without greatly altering their transparent appearance. As the NLC concentration increased, the tensile strength, elastic modulus, and swelling ratio of the films decreased, while their thermal stability, water vapor permeability, and contact angle increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the films revealed that NLC incorporation led to a more porous internal structure and a rougher surface. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis indicated that there were no new interactions between the calcium-alginate and NLC constituents within the films. Overall, this study shows that NLCs can be successfully incorporated into calcium-alginate films and used to modulate their physicochemical properties. In future, it will be useful to examine the potential of these films to incorporate hydrophobic bioactives such as drugs, nutraceuticals, antimicrobials, antioxidants, and pigments for specific pharmaceutical or food applications.

Purpose The continuous use of warming eye masks improves tear function. In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, we aimed to analyze the effects of warming eye mask use on the ocular surface and mental health. Methods We enrolled 86 participants (age range: 23–89 years) from affiliated institutions who were divided into two groups: the warm group that used warming eye masks that generate moist heat at 40 °C for 10 min and the control group that used non-warming eye masks. The participants used the masks for 10 min once daily for 2 weeks. Before and after the intervention, in 79 participants (warm group 39, control group 40), we analyzed the tear break up time (TBUT) and corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining results in the right eye and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (Anxiety: HADS-A, Depression: HADS-D), and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) questionnaires. The parameters before and after the intervention were compared via paired-t tests. Results The following variables changed after the intervention: TBUT (warm group: 1.4 ± 2.1 s vs. control group: −0.01 ± 2.38 s), fluorescein staining score (−0.7 ± 1.1 vs.-0.2 ± 1.1), HADS-A (−0.8 ± 3.1 vs. −0.2 ± 2.2), and HADS-D (−1.0 ± 2.4 vs. −0.4 ± 1.9). Significant changes were observed in the TBUT (warm group), fluorescein staining score (warm group), and HADS-D (warm group). Conclusions Using a warming eye mask improves not only the ocular surface conditions but also the subjective depression scores.

The clove essential oil (CEO) loaded nano and pickering emulsions prepared with Tween 80 and whey protein isolate/inulin mixture, respectively were incorporated into pullulan-gelatin film base fluid at three levels (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%). The droplet sizes of NE and PE loaded with CEO were 15.93 nm and 266.9 nm, respectively. The PDI of CEOs with stable NE and PE were 0.262 and 0.259, respectively. Our results showed the improved compatibility between pullulan-gelatin and essential oil-loaded nanocarriers. The active film composed of PE carrier had the structural characteristics of high density, low water content, and low permeability, thus exhibiting excellent mechanical properties, water barrier properties, and appreciable antioxidant activities. Compared with NE, it was found that the CEO-loaded PE showed slow-release profile in the film sample. The prepared active film containing PE possessed a great potential to be used as effective and natural alternatives for active food packaging.

Active composite films were developed by incorporating different concentration of dihydromyricetin (DMY) into konjac glucomannan (KGM)/gellan gum (GG) matrix. Physicochemical, mechanical, released behaviour, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of composite films were investigated. The results from the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that DMY which well-dispersed in the KGM/GG matrix interacted with matrix through hydrogen bonds. The obtained films presented predominant thermostability, good water resistance property, excellent ultraviolet light barrier ability and sustained controlled release behaviour. In particular, the incorporation of DMY remarkably enhanced the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the films. Overall, the fabricated KGM/GG-DMY composite films have a promising application in the fields of food packaging.

Due to the convenience, fresh-cut vegetables or fruits as the emerging commercial products have attracted much attention in recent years. However, the preservation of food with high quality remains a big challenge. In this study, one novel kind of edible composite film (PAX) consisted of pectin, sodium alginate (SA), and xanthan gum (XG) was well developed. The optimum concentrations for pectin and SA in PAX film based on the shearing viscosity were 6 g/L and 5 g/L, respectively. Upon this condition, the experimental results from the response surface methodology showed that the tensile strength for the optimized PAX (PAXO) film can reach the maximum value of 29.65 MPa at the concentration of 4 g/L XG, 18 g/L glycerol, and 20 g/L CaCl2. The corresponding elongation at break was 19.02% and the water vapor transmission rate was evaluated to be 18.12 × 10-11 g/(m2·s·pa). Furthermore, the nanocomposites in terms of coating or films were used to keep fresh-cut potatoes, where they exhibited different efficiencies in food preservation with the order: PAXO coating + CaCl2 ≈ PAXO coating > PAXO film > sterile water. All the results indicated that the as-prepared PAXO film or PAXO solution could be good candidates in packaging preservation.

Campylobacteriosis is the most frequently reported foodborne illness in Europe and many other parts of the world. Campylobacter can colonize the intestines of broilers, mostly in large amounts. Broilers are usually slaughtered in a high-speed automated system that could cause rupture of the intestines during evisceration, resulting in contamination of carcasses with intestinal bacteria like Campylobacter. This study evaluated the combined effects of ultrasound and steam (SonoSteam) on naturally contaminated chicken carcasses at a large-scale abattoir in Sweden. Ultrasound at 30 to 40 kHz and steam at 84 to 85°C or 87 to 88°C were used at slaughter, with a line speed of 18,000 birds per hour. The amounts of Campylobacter spp., Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, and total aerobic bacteria on neck skins from 103 chicken carcasses, sampled before and after treatment by ultrasound-steam, were analyzed. Campylobacter spp. were quantified in 58 (56%) of the neck skins, from birds belonging to four of the seven flocks represented. All 58 isolates were identified as Campylobacter jejuni. After the ultrasound-steam treatment, the mean reductions in C. jejuni, Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli and total aerobic bacteria were 0.5 ± 0.8, 0.6 ± 0.6, 0.5 ± 0.6, and 0.4 ± 0.7 log CFU/g, respectively. No significant differences in reduction between the two different treatment temperatures were observed for any of the bacteria. Although the bacterial reductions were significant, large amounts of bacteria remained on the carcasses after treatment. Further studies are needed to identify optimal measures at slaughter to reduce food spoilage bacteria and pathogenic bacteria, which should be considered in a One Health perspective. HIGHLIGHTS

Steam co-gasification of banana peel with other biomass, i.e., Japanese cedar wood, rice husk and their mixture, was carried out for the hydrogen-rich gas production in a fixed-bed reactor. For the co-gasification process, the banana peels were physically mixed with rice husk, Japanese cedarwood and their mixture respectively by different mixing weight ratios. The effects of reaction temperature and the addition amount of banana peel on the gas production yield were investigated by comparing the experimental data with the calculated ones based on the individual biomass gasification at the same condition. It was found that the banana peel with a high content of alkali and alkaline earth metal (AAEM) species exhibited not only high gasification reactivity but also a significant enhancing catalytic effect on the co-gasification process at the low temperature, especially with the biomass containing no silica species. The high content of silica species in the rice husk had a negative effect on the gasification reactivity of banana peel during the co-gasification since it could hinder the release of AAEM from the biomass and/or lead to the possible formation of inactive alkaline silicates. However, the combination of these three samples with the suitable weight ratio could improve the gasification performance at the low temperature due to the synergetic effect provided by high contents of potassium and calcium from banana peel and cedarwood respectively. Moreover, the addition of calcined seashells as the CaO source could further improve the gas production yield, especially the hydrogen gas yield at a relatively low gasification temperature of 750 ℃.

Electrosprayed zein nanoparticles containing 10% (w/w) of clove essential oil (CEO) were prepared and then with different levels (5, 10, and 15% w/w) in the starch matrix were used. The incorporation of zein nanoparticles in the structure of starch-based bio-nanocomposites films was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Increasing the level of application of zein bio-nanofillers in the starch film matrix increased thickness and contact angle. However, the use of electrosprayed zein nanoparticles loaded by CEO (EZN-CEO) up to 10% significantly (p 0.05) reduced the water vapor permeability (WVP), but using 15% of the nanoparticles increased the WVP of the films significantly (p 0.05). Increasing the EZN-CEO up to 10% significantly (p 0.05) increased the tensile strength and Young's modulus and reduced the elongation at break of the films. Sustained release of CEO from the bio-nanocomposites showed that the most release of the CEO occurs in 10% ethanol medium. The Fickian diffusion was the predominant mechanism in the release of the CEO, and the Peleg model was selected as the best one to explain the release behavior. The structures designed in this study can be used as an edible coating and bio-preservative in perishable food products.

For efficient and comprehensive detection of the staling degree of Chinese steamed bread (CSB), staled CSB samples stored for 0-16 days were prepared and analyzed using near-infrared (NIR), mid-infrared (MIR), and Raman spectroscopy combined with data fusion. Among three data fusion schemes, decision-level fusion achieved the best performance when quantifying the CSB staling degree according to the soluble starch amylose fraction, relative crystallinity, and hardness, with determination coefficients and root mean square errors for the validation set in the range of 0.928-0.986 and 0.015-1.290, respectively. The relative percent deviation values of the three indicators increased to 8.362, 4.735, and 3.617, respectively. These results indicate that the combination of NIR, MIR, and Raman spectroscopy as a decision-level fusion scheme can achieve efficient, comprehensive, and accurate quantification of the staling degree of CSB. This research has important applications for food quality, safety, and shelf-life evaluations.

Lemon waste after industrial juice extraction encompasses of valuable bio-components that stimulated the development of novel and biodegradable films. Lemon waste powder (LWP) based nanobiocomposite films were prepared by incorporating different concentrations of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) (3 and 6% w/w) and savory essential oil (SEO) (1.5 and 3% w/w) in order to modify physical, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the films. The fabricated film samples were characterized in terms of FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM and DSC analyses as well as mechanical, water vapor permeability and antimicrobial properties. FTIR and FE-SEM results indicated a good compatibility between LWP matrix and incorporated CNF and SEO. Physical and thermal analysis showed a significant effect of incorporating SEO and CNF on enhancing glass transition temperature, tensile strength and water barrier properties of the film samples. SEM analysis revealed non-uniform dispersion of CNF at higher concentration, while SEO incorporation improved the structure of the films. In addition, the LWP based films significantly showed antimicrobial properties against five food borne pathogens and this effect improved considerably by elevating the SEO loading concentration. In conclusion, LWP based nanobiocomposite films containing 3% CNF and 3% SEO could be introduced as a good candidate for development of active food packaging.

Summary Background Cerebral deposition of abnormally misfolded and aggregated alpha-synuclein (αSyn) is a neuropathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Pathologically aggregated αSyn species of PD (αSynPD) can act, in a ‘prion-like’ manner, as proteinaceous nuclei (‘seeds’) which are capable of self-templated propagation. This has raised concerns that αSynPD seeds transmitted iatrogenically between humans may stimulate αSyn pathologies or clinically harmful effects in the recipients. Effective decontamination when reprocessing medical devices could significantly counteract such risks. Steam sterilization at 134°C is recommended as an essential pathogen inactivation step in many reprocessing guidelines for medical devices, and also shows effectiveness against prions, the self-propagating biological agents long thought to exhibit the highest resistance to steam sterilization. Methods This study examined the reduction in αSynPD seeding activity in brain tissue homogenates from patients with PD after steam sterilization at 134°C using a specifically adapted real-time quaking induced conversion assay. Findings Titres of approximately 1010 50% seeding doses per gram were detected in non-steam-sterilized caudate nucleus tissue of patients with PD by endpoint titration. Five minutes of steam sterilization reduced this titre by only 2.25 ± 0.15 decadic-logarithmic units, with an extension of the sterilization time to 90 min not causing additional inactivation. These findings reveal that αSynPD species are disease-associated biological agents with seeding activity that has higher resistance to steam sterilization than prions. Conclusion The remarkable heat resistance of αSynPD seeds calls for thoroughly validated cleaning and disinfection methods that reliably remove or inactivate possible contaminations of seeding-active αSyn aggregates when reprocessing medical devices.

Summary Background The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has caused problems with respirator supplies. Re-use may minimize the impact of the shortage, but requires the availability of an efficient and safe decontamination method. Aim To determine whether low-temperature-steam–2%-formaldehyde (LTSF) sterilization is effective, preserves the properties of filtering facepiece (FFP) respirators and allows safe re-use. Methods Fourteen unused FFP2, FFP3 and N95 respirator models were subjected to two cycles of decontamination cycles. After the second cycle, each model was inspected visually and accumulated residual formaldehyde levels were analysed according to EN 14180. After one and two decontamination cycles, the fit factor (FF) of each model was tested, and penetration tests with sodium chloride aerosols were performed on five models. Findings Decontamination physically altered three of the 14 models. All of the residual formaldehyde values were below the permissible threshold. Irregular decreases and increases in FF were observed after each decontamination cycle. In the sodium chloride aerosol penetration test, three models obtained equivalent or superior results to those of the FFP classification with which they were marketed, both at baseline and after one and two cycles of decontamination, and two models had lower filtering capacity. Conclusion One and two decontamination cycles using LTSF did not alter the structure of most (11/14) respirators tested, and did not degrade the fit or filtration capacity of any of the analysed respirators. The residual formaldehyde levels complied with EN 14180. This reprocessing method could be used in times of shortage of personal protective equipment.

In this study, antibacterial nanofiber films were prepared by electrospinning gelatin, chitosan, and 3-phenyllactic acid (PLA). The addition of PLA improved the microstructures of the nanofibers, and the nanofiber films (GCP-1 and GCP-2) had uniform and continuous structures with a diameter range of 40‐–70 nm when the PLA concentrations in the polymers were 1% and 2%. Under acidic conditions, chitosan and PLA interacted and formed hydrogen bonds, which decreased the crystallinity of the nanofiber films. The GCP-2 nanofiber film had the best thermal stability, water stability, and water vapor permeability. Compared with the control GCP-0 film, the four nanofiber films with PLA (GCP-1, GCP-2, GCP-3, and GCP-4) had more effective antibacterial effects, and GCP-2 film reduced approximately 4 log CFU/mL of Salmonella enterica Enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus in 30 min. Results suggested that the GCP-2 nanofiber film mat can be used as an active food packaging.

Intelligent packaging is important to get information about real time quality of foods. The objective of this study was to develop an electrospun nanofiber halochromic pH sensor film using curcumin, chitosan (CS) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) to monitor chicken freshness. Conductivity and rheological behavior of CS/PEO/curcumin solutions were measured to understand the effect of solution properties on the morphology of the fibers. The morphological characteristics of nanofiber films were investigated by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Average diameter of the fibers was found to be between 283 ± 27 nm and 338 ± 35 nm. It was concluded that increasing CS amount in nanofibers decreased the diameter of the fibers. Thermal analysis and water vapor permeability features of the pH sensor were also examined. Color changes of curcumin loaded CS/PEO nanofiber film was evaluated on chicken breast package at 4 °C. The color of nanofiber film changed from bright yellow to reddish color which provided an opportunity to detect color changes by even the naked eyes of the untrained consumer. As a quality indicator, surface pH changes of the chicken breast and TVB-N (total volatile basic nitrogen) were measured. At the end of the day 5, pH value of 6.53 ±0.08 and TVB-N concentration of 23.45 ±3.35 mg/100 g indicated that food was at the edge of the acceptance level. As a result, curcumin loaded nanofiber satisfied the expectation and gave an opportunity to visualize real time monitoring of chicken spoilage.

Herein, the formation of starch-lipid complexes in steamed bread (SBr) free from and supplemented with fatty acids of varying chain lengths, including lauric acid (LA), glycerol monolaurate (GML), stearic acid (SA), and glycerol monostearate (GMS) and their effects on in vitro enzymatic digestibility were investigated. The enthalpy value of SBr samples (1.86-3.46 J/g) was significantly decreased (P 0.05) compared to wheat starch samples (5.64-7.17 J/g) fortified with fatty acids. The relative crystallinity (16.5%-32.8%) of SBr corresponds to the content of starch-lipid complexes. SBr supplemented with fatty acids exhibited softer texture than lipid-free SBr stored at 4 °C for 0, 1, 4, and 7 days. Higher enzyme resistance was observed in SBr samples supplemented with fatty acids and the content of resistant starch (RS) was increased from 7.54% to 23.13% in SBr supplemented with LA. As demonstrated by microscopic computed tomography (mCT), the crystalline structure of SBr samples supplemented with LA and GML have a higher density than SBr fortified with SA and GMS; the findings which are in line with thermal properties and X-ray diffraction analysis. In sum, the formation of starch-lipid complexes could be considered as a new way to improve the SBr textural features during storage.

Flower-like metal-organic frameworks (Cu-MOF) nanoparticles are successfully synthesized and incorporated into cellulose acetate (CA) matrix to prepare CA-based functional nanocomposite films via a simple solution-casting method. The effect of the incorporation of flower-like Cu-MOF on the morphological, mechanical, thermal, surface wettability, water vapor barrier, cytotoxicity, photostability and UV-shielding properties of CA films is fully investigated. Results reveal that the flower-like Cu-MOF has good compatibility with CA, providing uniform and compact nanocomposite films. The as-prepared nanocomposite films show improved mechanical properties, surface hydrophobicity, water vapor barrier ability compared to neat CA film, and exhibit super UV-shielding capability through the entire UV regions meanwhile retaining a high visible transparency. Moreover, the high transparency and UV-shielding ability of the nanocomposite films can be still maintained even after continuous UV-light (365 nm) irradiation for 12 h. In addition, MTT cytotoxicity assays towards normal human liver cells (HL-7702) reveal high cell viability (over 80%) and good biocompatibility for the CA/Cu-MOF nanocomposite films. These results indicate that the CA/Cu-MOF nanocomposite films with obviously improved physical and functional performances hold significant potential for transparent packaging and UV-protection applications.

This research is focused on improving performance of chitosan based functional material by introducing active additive. A series of assays revealed incorporation with clove essential oil (CEO) significantly improved the physical, chemical and antimicrobial performance of chitosan. In this work, the prepared chitosan-CEO film (CH-CEO) showed varieties in color parameters, mechanical strength and water vapor permeability. Moreover, chitosan was endowed with significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, thereby it was used as protective coatings for fresh-cutting apple tubes at ~1 °C. Results demonstrated the treatment slowed down the quality deterioration process of preserved apple samples, especially for firmness and color. As well, CH-CEO coating reduced microbial counts in the preserved apple samples and inhibited the varieties in the chemical properties. The overall observations revealed that CH-CEO film has remarkable potential as an antioxidant and antimicrobial material, especially as an active coating for fresh-cutting foods during storage.

Biodegradable films are a promising strategy to reduce the environmental impact caused by conventional plastics commonly used in agriculture. This study focused on the production and characterization of Konjac glucomannan (KGM) and alginate (ALG) based films enriched with sugarcane vinasse (VIN), a nutrient-rich wastewater generated in large volumes by the sugar-ethanol producing industries. ALG, KGM and ALG/KGM blended (50:50) films were produced by casting and treated with calcium ions (Ca2+) (ALG films) and a combination of Ca2+, alkali, and ethanol (KGM and ALG/KGM films). Vinasse addition tended to reduce transparency and water resistance of the films and had less effect on their mechanical properties. Crosslinking of ALG films resulted in enhanced mechanical properties and reduced moisture content, water solubility, swelling, water vapor permeability, and flexibility. KGM films were less impacted by crosslinking/deacetylation but showed improved water resistance while maintain a high degree of swelling (290% and 185% for KGM and KGM/VIN films respectively). Blended films exhibited characteristic properties of the two biopolymers and adequate compatibility indicated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and morphologies. Vinasse-added ALG/KGM films represent a novel nutrient-enriched, bio-based material for agricultural applications and could help to face the environmental challenges imposed by vinasse disposal.

In this study functional film enrichment with antioxidant of bamboo leaves (AOB) was prepared based on carboxymethyl cellulose-gelatin (CMC-Gel) mixture using casting method. Microstructures of the films were performed on atomic force microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The physical properties, including the viscosity of film forming solutions, the water vapor permeability, mechanical properties, thermodynamics and transparence of CMC-Gel films were determined. The addition of AOB had not induced notable change on the surface structure features. The good compatibility among AOB, CMC and gelatin was illustrated by XRD for that the crystallization disappeared of gelatin in CMC-Gel composite film and no diffraction peaks in functionalized films. Viscosity and glass transition temperature of the film with 0.2% AOB were 779.2 ± 26.2 mPa·s and 83.24 °C, respectively, which were higher than those of all other samples. The water vapor permeation resistance and elongation at break of the films significantly decreased when the concentration of AOB exceeded 0.2%. The light barrier properties and scavenging rate of DPPH radicals were enhanced with the increasing of AOB content. Consequently, the antioxidant films utilized for food packaging could protect food quality from the destruction of heat, mechanical force, light, and oxidative free radicals.

The aim of this study was to develop a zein/potato starch (PS) film based on chitosan nanoparticles incorporated with curcumin (CCN). The CCN film was characterized for encapsulation efficiency, particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), relative release, and DPPH radical scavenging test. Our results showed that the CCN encapsulated effectively curcumin (CUR) (84.8% ± 1.1%) and presented with high oxidation resistance and relative release efficiency. The CCN/zein/PS composite films were round, smooth, and compact. We measured and compared the mechanical properties, oxygen permeability (OP), water vapor permeability (WVP), relative release efficiency, and DPPH radical scavenging properties of the composite films of different mass ratios. We observed that the composite film had good mechanical and barrier properties. Further, we evaluated the preservative efficacy of the composite film on Schizothorax prenati fillets by measuring pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), hardness, microbial counts, organoleptic characteristics, and other fillet quality parameters. The CCN/zein/PS composite film delayed physicochemical changes in the Schizothorax prenati fillets and prolonged their shelf life by up to 15 days. In conclusion, our work shows that CCN/zein/PS composite film holds promise as a potential bioactive packaging material for Schizothorax prenati fillets.