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<p>There is growing interest in developing packaging materials that can adsorb ethylene to manage postharvest ripening of climacteric fruits, thereby extending shelf life and reducing losses. This study investigates natural rubber latex foam (NRLF) composites containing biochar as a potential ethylene-adsorbing material for banana packaging. Biochar derived from tree branch biomass was processed into a fine powder, washed, and prepared as an aqueous dispersion before incorporation into NRLF using the Dunlop foaming process at loadings from 0 to 8 parts per hundred rubber (phr). The effects of biochar addition on NRLF physical properties, morphology, ethylene adsorption, and selected postharvest quality attributes of Gros Michel bananas were evaluated. Incorporation of biochar increased foam density and shrinkage, with minor changes in porosity. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that biochar particles were incorporated within the foam matrix, exhibiting the heterogeneous open-cell morphological structure typical of NRLF. Ethylene adsorption experiments showed that NRLF composites containing 4 phr biochar, identified as the optimum formulation, reduced ambient ethylene concentrations more effectively than other loadings under the experimental conditions used. In storage trials, bananas packaged with biochar-filled NRLF exhibited slower peel color changes, while no significant differences in fruit weight loss were observed. These results indicate that NRLF–biochar composites may influence ethylene levels in storage environments and associated ripening behavior. Further studies are required to clarify adsorption mechanisms and evaluate performance under practical storage and supply chain conditions.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Structure and ethylene adsorption performance of biochar-reinforced natural rubber latex foam composites for active fruit packaging

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月16日

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  • Sophat Phon,
  • Tongchai Sriwiriyarat,
  • Sudtida Pliankarom Thanasupsin,
  • Yeampon Nakaramontri

摘要

There is growing interest in developing packaging materials that can adsorb ethylene to manage postharvest ripening of climacteric fruits, thereby extending shelf life and reducing losses. This study investigates natural rubber latex foam (NRLF) composites containing biochar as a potential ethylene-adsorbing material for banana packaging. Biochar derived from tree branch biomass was processed into a fine powder, washed, and prepared as an aqueous dispersion before incorporation into NRLF using the Dunlop foaming process at loadings from 0 to 8 parts per hundred rubber (phr). The effects of biochar addition on NRLF physical properties, morphology, ethylene adsorption, and selected postharvest quality attributes of Gros Michel bananas were evaluated. Incorporation of biochar increased foam density and shrinkage, with minor changes in porosity. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that biochar particles were incorporated within the foam matrix, exhibiting the heterogeneous open-cell morphological structure typical of NRLF. Ethylene adsorption experiments showed that NRLF composites containing 4 phr biochar, identified as the optimum formulation, reduced ambient ethylene concentrations more effectively than other loadings under the experimental conditions used. In storage trials, bananas packaged with biochar-filled NRLF exhibited slower peel color changes, while no significant differences in fruit weight loss were observed. These results indicate that NRLF–biochar composites may influence ethylene levels in storage environments and associated ripening behavior. Further studies are required to clarify adsorption mechanisms and evaluate performance under practical storage and supply chain conditions.

Graphical abstract