SeaCoat-Marine based edible coatings for minimally processed fruit

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Argan oil as a rich source of linoleic fatty acid for dietetic structured lipids production

Publication . Simões, Tiago; Ferreira, Jessica; Lemos, Marco F.L.; Augusto, Ana; Félix, Rafael; Silva, Susana F.J.; Ferreira-Dias, Suzana; Tecelão, Carla

Argan oil is rich in long-chain unsaturated fatty acids (FA), mostly oleic and linoleic, and natural antioxidants. This study addresses the production of low-calorie structured lipids by acidolysis reaction, in a solvent-free system, between caprylic (C8:0; system I) or capric (C10:0; system II) acids and argan oil, used as triacylglycerol (TAG) source. Three commercial immobilized lipases were tested: Novozym® 435, Lipozyme® TL IM, and Lipozyme® RM IM. Higher incorporation degree (ID) was achieved when C10:0 was used as acyl donor, for all the lipases tested. Lipozyme® RM IM yielded the highest ID for both systems (28.9 +- 0.05 mol.% C10:0, and 11.4 +- 2.2 mol.% C8:0), being the only catalyst able to incorporate C8:0 under the reaction conditions for biocatalyst screening (molar ratio 2:1 FA/TAG and 55ºC). The optimal conditions for Lipozyme® RM IM in system II were found by response surface methodology (66ºC; molar ratio FA/TAG of 4:1), enabling to reach an ID of 40.9 mol.% of C10:0. Operational stability of Lipozyme® RM IM in system II was also evaluated under optimal conditions, after eight consecutive 24 h-batches, with biocatalyst rehydration between cycles. The biocatalyst presented a half-life time of 103 h.

2021Journal article

Open access

A pilot plant scale testing of the application of seaweed-based natural coating and modified atmosphere packaging for shelf-life extension of fresh-cut apple

Publication . Augusto, Ana; Miranda, Andreia; Costa, Leonor; Pinheiro, Joaquina; Campos, Maria J.; Raimundo, Délio; Pedrosa, Rui; Mitchell, Geoffrey; Niranjan, Keshavan; Silva, Susana F. J.

Codium tomentosum hydroethanolic extract was obtained using a pilot solid–liquid extractor to validate the anti-browning functionality of the extract under industrial conditions. Fresh-cut apple slices were coated by immersion in: (1) a seaweed extract solution (0.5% w/v) and (2) a commercial coating, and the two sets of samples were compared with a control (immersion in water). Packaged samples were stored, under ambient and modified atmosphere conditions at 4°C. After 30 days of storage, the samples that were coated with the seaweed extract and packaged under modified atmosphere, demonstrated lower peroxidase activity and polyphenol oxidation when compared with the samples treated with the commercial additive. These results confirm, at pilot scale and under industrial production conditions, the efficacy of the seaweed extract as a bio-based substitute for the synthetic coatings, which are currently used to prevent browning in fresh-cut apples. Novelty impact statement Fresh-cut fruits are subjected to processing operations leading to a decrease in nutritional and organoleptic properties. It is therefore necessary to adopt strategies to delay the degradative processes. In this study, the efficacy of a pilot-scale production and industrial application of a coating formulated with Codium tomentosum seaweed extract has been established for the first time. This seaweed extract possesses the potential to prevent browning development in fresh-cut apples under industrial operating conditions.

2022Journal article

Restricted access

A pilot plant scale testing of the application of seaweed-based natural coating and modified atmosphere packaging for shelf-life extension of fresh-cut apple

Publication . Augusto, Ana; Miranda, Andreia; Costa, Leonor; Pinheiro, Joaquina; Campos, Maria J.; Raimundo, Délio; Pedrosa, Rui; Mitchell, Geoffrey; Niranjan, Keshavan; Silva, Susana F.J.

Codium tomentosum hydroethanolic extract was obtained using a pilot solid–liquid extractor to validate the anti-browning functionality of the extract under industrial conditions. Fresh-cut apple slices were coated by immersion in: (1) a seaweed extract solution (0.5% w/v) and (2) a commercial coating, and the two sets of samples were compared with a control (immersion in water). Packaged samples were stored, under ambient and modified atmosphere conditions at 4°C. After 30 days of storage, the samples that were coated with the seaweed extract and packaged under modified atmosphere, demonstrated lower peroxidase activity and polyphenol oxidation when compared with the samples treated with the commercial additive. These results confirm, at pilot scale and under industrial production conditions, the efficacy of the seaweed extract as a bio-based substitute for the synthetic coatings, which are currently used to prevent browning in fresh-cut apples.

2022Journal article

Restricted access

Preservation of fresh-cut Rocha Pear using Codium tomentosum extract

Publication . Augusto, Ana; Miranda, Andreia; Crespo, Daniel; Campos, Maria J.; Raimundo, Délio; Pedrosa, Rui; Mitchell, Geoffrey; Niranjan, Keshavan; Silva, Susana F.J.

Rocha is a Portuguese pear cultivar with high economic importance in the Portuguese Western Region. Degradative processes following its manipulation can quickly lead to product rejection, especially when sold as a freshcut product. The efficacy of a marine-based edible coating to inhibit superficial browning development in freshcut Rocha pear slices was investigated over a storage period of 15 days. The aqueous extract of Codium tomentosum, an edible green seaweed, was incorporated in an edible coating (0.5 g 100 mL -1) for fresh-cut Rocha pear. This novel treatment effect on the quality parameters of the pears was compared with a commercial coating currently used by industry and a control (dipping in deionised water). After 15 days storage at 4 ◦C, samples treated with the seaweed extract exhibited fewer colour changes and lower rates of superficial browning than control and commercial samples. Seaweed extract treatment was also observed to inhibit yeast and mould development, which may further contribute to shelf-life extension.

2022Journal article

Open access

Preservation of fresh-cut Rocha Pear using Codium tomentosum extract

Publication . Augusto, Ana; Miranda, Andreia; Crespo, Daniel; Campos, Maria J.; Raimundo, Délio; Pedrosa, Rui; Mitchell, Geoffrey; Niranjan, Keshavan; Silva, Susana F.J.

Rocha is a Portuguese pear cultivar with high economic importance in the Portuguese Western Region. Degradative processes following its manipulation can quickly lead to product rejection, especially when sold as a freshcut product. The efficacy of a marine-based edible coating to inhibit superficial browning development in freshcut Rocha pear slices was investigated over a storage period of 15 days. The aqueous extract of Codium tomentosum, an edible green seaweed, was incorporated in an edible coating (0.5 g 100 mL -1) for fresh-cut Rocha pear. This novel treatment effect on the quality parameters of the pears was compared with a commercial coating currently used by industry and a control (dipping in deionised water). After 15 days storage at 4 ◦C, samples treated with the seaweed extract exhibited fewer colour changes and lower rates of superficial browning than control and commercial samples. Seaweed extract treatment was also observed to inhibit yeast and mould development, which may further contribute to shelf-life extension.

2022Journal article

Restricted access