Valuation of α-Fe2O3@C20H38O11 NC Nano-cellulose Surface Coating on Ascorbic Acid Content of Solanum Lycopersicum Under Storage Conditions

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Competence of synthesized α-Fe 2 O 3 @C 20 H 38 O 11 NC nano-cellulose antimicrobial coating material and its real-time application to extend storage life of Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) variety Solan Lalima (India) was studied. Fe 2 O 3 NPs (nanoparticles) were synthesized using a hydrothermal method, and α-Fe 2 O 3 @C 20 H 38 O 11 NC nanocomposite was developed and characterized using XRay Diffractions (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques. α-Fe 2 O 3 @C 20 H 38 O 11 NC nanocomposite, and CE (cellulose) were analysed for their antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. NC exhibit 11mm, 13mm zone of inhibition against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. Tomato fruit samples coated with (5%) UC1A, UC2A, and (3%) UC1B, UC2B two different concentrations of α-Fe 2 O 3 @C 20 H 38 O 11 NC nanocomposite and uncoated sample UC1, UC2 stored at room temperature (25±2 ºC) and refrigerator temperature (4 o C) respectively for ascorbic acid (vitamin C) analysis on days 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16. Our study revealed that a 3% concentration of α-Fe 2 O 3 @C 20 H 38 O 11 NC nanocomposite material quite potent in maintaining quality aspects of the tomato fruit by no decline of vitamin C under refrigerator conditions up to 16 th day. FTIR analysis of all samples was done to determine the functional groups present in tomato samples after storage. AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometer) was used to analyse the content of Fe, and Zn elements in tomato samples. This work revealed that the 3% α-Fe 2 O 3 @C 20 H 38 O 11 NC nano-cellulose antimicrobial nano-coating had maintained the quality of the coated tomato fruits and retards microbial growth during storage time and helpful in increasing the shelf life of tomato under cold storage as well as at room temperature. Coating material had not any significant effect on micronutrients element concentrations in both temperature studies. Synthesised α-Fe 2 O 3 @C 20 H 38 O 11 NC antimicrobial nano-coating material can be used effectively for long storage of tomato fruits and safe for dietary intake of human.