Design of an optical sensor for ethylene based on nanofiber bacterial cellulose film and its application for determination of banana storage time

In this work, new ethylene gas sensor was developed on the basis of portable bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofiber film doped with KMnO 4 (K‐BC). The relationship between the concentration of KMnO 4 (8 × 10 −3 , 8 × 10 −4 , and 8 × 10 −5 mol L −1 ) and the optical and morphological properties of ethylene sensor was investigated. The Fourier‐transform infrared results showed that some new interactions have occurred between BC membrane and KMnO 4 . The significant reduction in the relative intensity of the characteristic X‐ray diffraction peak of BC in the doped films clearly indicates that the crystalline fraction decreases as a result of KMnO 4 addition. The fabricated K‐BC was used for determination of ethylene concentration. The color, clarity, and absorbance of film at different concentrations of ethylene (10‐2000 μg mL −1 ) were determined by spectrophotometer. Moisture absorption and water vapor permeability of BC were increased by the addition of KMnO 4 . Finally, the ethylene optical sensor was used for detection and determination of ethylene concentration in the bunch banana packages.