Engineered zeolites for ethylene management in active packaging

Miriam RIVA, Saes Getters

Ethylene is a regulator of plant growth and it is very critical in determining the evolution of many physiological processes in plants [1-4]. In this regard, the management of the ambient ethylene concentration is fundamental to ensure prolonged shelf-life of many horticultural products. New approaches for active packaging are continuously under development to avoid products losses due to the ethylene over-ripening during storage or transportation.

SAES Labs have developed [5] a new active package system comprising zeolites having LTA framework, exchanged with palladium, and suitable for ethylene adsorption with high efficiency and selectivity. Nanozeolites have been synthesized through a bottom-up approach according to a proprietary technology enabling the production of nanoparticles with specific reactivity for selected gases, control of the surface chemistry and their integration in proprietary organic formulations.

Engineered zeolites have been applied on polymer sheets by wet processing to obtain a functional coating able to regulate the ethylene evolution ensuring longer shelf-life for packed fresh products. Characterization data in terms of morphological characteristics and functional properties (ethylene adsorption) will be presented and discussed.

References

1. A. El Blindi, L. Rigal, G. Malmary, J. Molinier and L.Torres, ‘Ethylene Removal for Long Term Conservation of Fruits and Vegetables’, Food Qual.Preference, 1993, 4, 119
2. “Ethylene Action in Plants”, ed. N. A. Khan, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany, 2006
3.  3 F. B. Abeles, P. W. Morgan and M. E. Saltveit, Jr.,“Ethylene in Plant Biology”, 2nd Edn., Academic Press, San Diego, California, U.S.A., 1992
4.  “Fruit Quality and its Biological Basis”, ed. M. Knee, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, West Sussex, U.K., 2002
5. International Patent Application n° PCT/IB2016/050401, in the name of SAES Getters S.p.A.

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