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Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors
Baard, V. D. 2025. Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch Univeristy [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/695f3c40-22b6-43c1-...
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613908053786624 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Baard, Vejonepher Dominique |
| author2 | Chimphango, Annie |
| author_browse | Baard, Vejonepher Dominique Chimphango, Annie |
| author_facet | Chimphango, Annie Baard, Vejonepher Dominique |
| author_sort | Baard, Vejonepher Dominique |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Baard, V. D. 2025. Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch Univeristy [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/695f3c40-22b6-43c1-a9a2-9d0fdcb1a8e1 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132055 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:36.943Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132055 Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors Baard, Vejonepher Dominique Chimphango, Annie Fawole, Olaniyi Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Chemical Engineering. Fruit -- Packaging Biogeochemical cycles -- Seasonal variations Biodegradable plastics UCTD Baard, V. D. 2025. Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch Univeristy [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/695f3c40-22b6-43c1-a9a2-9d0fdcb1a8e1 Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fibre-based packaging is commonly used for climacteric fruits due to its durability, recyclability, and ease of transportation, making it a sustainable alternative to conventional packaging. Despite these advantages, fibre-based packaging is moisture-sensitive with weak barrier properties however smart packaging made from biopolymers containing active compounds can enhance their functionality. Thus, this study aimed to develop biobased films for the entrapment and release of bioactive agents with antimicrobial, antioxidant, pH-responsive, and ethylene-scavenging properties for the preservation of climacteric fruits, with a focus on bananas. Phenolic compounds were extracted from freeze-dried and oven-dried fruit and vegetable waste sources using deep eutectic solvents (DES) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Extraction conditions, time (20-40 min), temperature (40-60°C), and DES water content (10-30% v/v) were optimised and the active properties of the extracts were evaluated. Subsequently, starch-based films (2% w/v) formulated with sorbitol (1% w/v) were optimised with varying concentrations of citric acid (5-15% w/w), carboxymethylcellulose (20-40% w/w) and phenolic-rich extracts (0-1.5% v/v) to improve their physicochemical and active properties. The mechanical properties, release kinetics and soil degradation of the optimum films were assessed. Ethylene-scavenging films (chitosan and zeolite) were formulated and characterised based on their specific surface area. Finally, the optimum films were tested for the preservation of bananas, in fibre-based packaging. Freeze-dried natal plum (NP) and red cabbage (RC) yielded the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and total anthocyanin content (TAC). Optimal conditions for NP (40 min, 60°C, 30% water content) and RC (20 min, 45°C, 30% water content) yielded a TPC of 34.66 and 11.93 mg/g and a TAC of 0.130 and 0.86 mg/g, respectively. The extracts exhibited pH-responsive activity (pH 1.0 to 13.0), high antioxidant activity (NP 86.595% and RC 91.77%), and antimicrobial activity against bacterial, E. coli (ATCC 25922), and E. faecalis (ATCC 29212), and fungal species, Penicillium (STEU 7865), Botrytis (STEU 7866), and Aspergillus (wild type, isolated from rotting fruit). The combination of CA (10% w/w) and CMC (20% w/w) reduced film water sensitivity (51.07 to 36.06%) and swelling (83.40 to 39.34%). The optimal films had tensile strength ranging from 9.55 to 12.40 MPa and elongation from 53.85 to 68.6% compared to the control (19.63 MPa, 38.93%). After 21 days, soil degradation resulted in a 60.63 to 74.22% film weight loss. Moreover, rapid release of phenolic compounds in food simulants, water (22.72%), and 3% acetic acid (28.75%) in the first 30 min were noted, conforming to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model (R2=0.8516 and R2=0.9476, respectively). Chitosan and chitosan/10% zeolite films showed a reduction in ethylene gas (6.23 and 6.51 μL.kg-1.h-1, respectively) compared to the control (49.92 μL.kg-1.h-1). Film-treated bananas exhibited a higher hue angle (85.04°) than the control (82.84°), indicating slower ripening. Furthermore, a lower weight loss (12.46%) than the control (13.90%) but higher than LDPE-treated bananas (3.26%) was observed, due to their greater swelling (63.26%) and WVP (11.41 g/s.m.Pa). Overall, biobased films demonstrated improved active, ethylene-scavenging, physicochemical and mechanical properties, showing potential as an eco-friendly alternative for banana packaging. Future research could explore long-term phenolic stability, multilayer films, preservation under different conditions, and commercial scale-up. Ultimately, this study contributes to the development of environmentally friendly packaging to enhance fruit shelf-life and quality. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2025-05-21T10:14:48Z 2025-05-21T10:14:48Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132055 Stellenbosch University 216 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Fruit -- Packaging Biogeochemical cycles -- Seasonal variations Biodegradable plastics UCTD Baard, Vejonepher Dominique Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors |
| title | Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors |
| title_full | Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors |
| title_short | Enhancing the performance of fibre-based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors |
| title_sort | enhancing the performance of fibre based packaging for climacteric fruits with biobased films infused with bioactive compounds and biosensors |
| topic | Fruit -- Packaging Biogeochemical cycles -- Seasonal variations Biodegradable plastics UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132055 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT baardvejonepherdominique enhancingtheperformanceoffibrebasedpackagingforclimactericfruitswithbiobasedfilmsinfusedwithbioactivecompoundsandbiosensors |