Preparation of PAN@TiO2 Nanofibers for Fruit Packaging Materials with Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Ethylene

Abstract

Ethylene causes faster deterioration of perishable crops during postharvest transportation and storage. The present study aimed to develop TiO2-coated nanofibers with efficient photocatalytic activities to enhance the degradation of fruit-emitted ethylene. The consecutive electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and TiO2 deposition was successfully performed to produce PAN@TiO2 nanofibers. The scanning electron microscopy results indicate the uniform distribution of TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of the PAN nanofiber. The PAN@TiO2 composite nanofibers exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for ethylene degradation under low-intensity UV light irradiation. Furthermore, a tomato fruit-ripening test confirmed the effectiveness of the PAN@TiO2 nanofibers. The PAN@TiO2 nanofibers exhibited effective ethylene degradation and slowed the color shift and softening of the tomatoes during storage. The results suggest great potential for use of the PAN@TiO2 composite nanofibers as ethylene scavenging packaging material for fresh fruits and vegetables.