DESENVOLVIMENTO DE FILME E REVESTIMENTO Á BASE DE PECTINA DO PEQUI INCORPORADO DE NANOPÁRTICULAS DE ZnO E APLICAÇÃO EM PÓS-COLHEITA DE MANGA.

Abstract

Biodegradable films are an innovative packaging solution in the food industry, as they are an alternative for reducing the environmental pollution, acting as barriers and waste reducer in a viable way. Some researchers have been studying the development of biodegradable films containing active compounds that can act as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial, that is, an interesting strategy to produce new packaging. This paper aimed to extract pectin from the pequi mesocarp (Caryocar brasiliense Camb) and prepare filmogenic solutions incorporated with ZnO nanoparticles, in the following formulations: (a) 1.6% pectin; (b) 0.7% glycerol; and (c) 0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1% ZnO nanoparticles. The films were obtained by the casting method, and the physical, mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties, rheology, antimicrobial activity, and biodegradability of the films were analyzed. The filmogenic solutions were applied on the in natura mango for coating, in which the fruits were immersed for 1 min, and soon the shelf life was evaluated was evaluated for mass loss, pulp firmness, total acidity, soluble solids content (brix), color, and respiratory rate. The films presented the average thickness diameters from 0.10 to 0.13 mm and high solubility in water, which favored the biodegradability of the films in 48 h. Considering the results obtained, it is concluded that the coating with 1% of nanoparticles had a positive influence on firmness, mass loss, Brix, respiration, and coloration of mango fruit up to 15 days after application, thus being considered the best treatment studied.