We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Eco‐Friendly and Self‐Sanitizing Microporous Cellulose Sponge (MCS)‐Based Cooling Media for Mitigating Microbial Cross‐Contamination in the Food Cold Chain
Summary
Researchers developed an eco-friendly microporous cellulose sponge-based cooling medium with self-sanitizing properties for use in food cold chain transport. The study addresses how melting ice during transport can promote microbial cross-contamination, offering a sustainable alternative that avoids microplastic-releasing synthetic materials.
Maintaining precise temperature control is vital for cold chain food transport, as temperature fluctuations can cause significant food safety and quality issues. During transport, ice that melts can promote the growth of microbes and their spread, resulting in microbial cross-contamination. This study developed sustainable, non-melting, self-sanitizing "ice cubes" using food grade compositions including microporous cellulose sponges (MCS) and photosensitizers, aimed at enhancing temperature regulation and minimizing microbial contamination in the cold chain. Upon absorbing water, the MCS matched traditional ice in cooling efficiency and heat absorption and exhibit remarkable mechanical and thermal durability, withstanding multiple freeze-thaw cycles and compressive stresses. The cationic MCS combined with erythrosine B demonstrated strong self-sanitizing capabilities, effectively reducing microbial cross-contamination in food models. Additionally, the release rates of photosensitizers from the MCS can be modulated by altering environmental ionic strength. This research offers viable solutions to address microbial cross-contamination challenges in current cold chain systems.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Biodegradable sponges made from chitin-cellulose nanofibers for sustainable removal of microplastics from aquatic environment
Researchers developed a biodegradable sponge made from chitin and cellulose nanofibers that can remove up to 93% of microplastics from water. The sponge maintained strong performance after four reuse cycles and naturally biodegraded in soil environments. The study presents a sustainable, eco-friendly approach to cleaning microplastic contamination from aquatic ecosystems without introducing additional persistent pollutants.
A Hierarchical Porous Cellulose Sponge Modified with Chlorogenic Acid as a Antibacterial Material for Water Disinfection
Researchers developed a hierarchical porous cellulose sponge modified with chlorogenic acid that demonstrated strong antibacterial activity and mechanical stability, offering a promising natural material for water disinfection filtration applications.
Mechanically durable anti-bacteria non-fluorinated superhydrophobic sponge for highly efficient and fast microplastic and oil removal
A superhydrophobic sponge was engineered to selectively remove microplastics and oil from water, achieving high removal efficiency while also demonstrating antibacterial properties. The material maintained its performance across repeated use cycles, offering a promising approach for practical water treatment applications.
Fabrication and Characterization of Biomass-derived Superabsorbent Bio-gel
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper develops and tests bio-based superabsorbent gels made from carboxymethyl cellulose as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based superabsorbent polymers for water retention applications.
Toward the review on sustainable elimination of microplastics: Materials, strategies, and advantages
This review evaluates sustainable approaches for removing microplastics using natural materials — including sponges, gels, enzymes, and microorganisms — comparing their mechanisms, efficiencies, and advantages over conventional chemical removal methods.