Ethylene scavenging properties from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-TiO and gelatin-TiO nanocomposites on polyethylene supports for fruit application.

Several technologies have been proposed to preserve fruits and to avoid postharvest losses. The degradation of ethylene produced by the fruits using TiO photocatalysis has shown to be a good option to delay the ripening of fruits. This paper proposed a new application of biopolymers-TiO nanocomposites developed to extend the shelf-life of fruits.

Optical devices for the detection of cyanide in water based on ethyl(hydroxyethyl)cellulose functionalized with perichromic dyes.

Films of three polymers, based on ethyl(hydroxyethyl)cellulose functionalized with protonated perichromic dyes, were used for anion sensing. The polymer functionalized with protonated Brooker's merocyanine acts as a chromogenic/fluorogenic system for the selective detection of cyanide in water. An increase of >28 times was verified for the fluorescence lifetime of the sensing units in the polymer in comparison with protonated Brooker's merocyanine in water.