PRELIMINARY STUDY ON POTENTIAL EDIBLE COATINGS DERIVED FROM CARBOXYL METHYLCELLULOSE AND FUNGI CULTURED METABOLITES ON THE SHELF-LIFE EXTENSION OF SWEET-ORANGE (CITRUS SINENSIS)

This study focused on assessing the potential of formulated edible coatings derived from a metabolite of Trichoderma viride and Penicillium chrysogenum, combined with carboxyl methylcellulose (CMC) on the postharvest storage quality of orange fruits. The cultured metabolite of fungal bioagents combined with CMC, as well as glycerol (plasticizer), inadequate solution ratio based on wettability, was evaluated for microbiological quality and shelf-life extension of sweet orange. Thereafter, ascorbic acid, total soluble solids, pH, percentage weight loss, among other parameters were assessed for 7 weeks. The results of the study revealed that the pH of CMC + Trichoderma viride and CMC + P. chrysogenum coatings had 3.8 ± 0.02 and 3.17 ± 0.06 respectively, while it was reported 2.90 ± 0.04 for uncoated treatment. Also, the ascorbic acid and total soluble solids of the edible coated oranges were higher than the control. In addition, the percentage of weight loss was higher in the uncoated control compared to the potential edible coated oranges. Further, the microbial load count of the potential edible-coated oranges was less compared to the un-coated oranges. In conclusion, this formulated potential edible coating could be further improved upon and optimized for use in prolonging the storage of sweet oranges.

Structural Study of Plasticized Carboxy Methylcellulose Based Solid Biopolymer Electrolyte

Carboxyl methylcellulose (CMC) doped with oleic acid (OA) and plasticized with glycerol was able to be produced into solid biopolymer electrolytes using the solution cast technique. The CMC-OA-glycerol solid polymer electrolyte obtained the highest conductivity of 1.64 x 10-4 S cm-1 at room temperature for sample Gly 40 wt. %. Within the temperature range investigated, the conductivity– temperature relationship of the biopolymer electrolytes is characteristically Arrhenius behaviour, suggesting that the conductivity is thermally assisted. Fourier Transform Infrared studies was carried out to determine the dissociation of free protons (H+) from the carboxyl group (–COOH) of glycerol.

Influence of Propylene Carbonate as A Plasticizer in CMC-OA Based Biopolymer Electrolytes: Conductivity and Electrical Study

Carboxyl methylcellulose (CMC) doped with oleic acid (OA) and plasticized with propylene carbonate (PC) was successfully manufactured into thin film using solution cast technique. Impedance study shows the ionic conductivity falls into two region. With the addition of 5wt% of PC the ionic conductivity falls from 2.11x10-5S/cm to 2.00x10-7 S/cm. The highest conductivity gained at ambient temperature is 2.52x10-7 S/cm for sample CMC-OA-PC 10 wt. %. The system obeys the non-Debye dependence based on the dielectric and modulus study.