Abstract
Metal oxide materials have been applied in different fields due to their excellent functional properties. Metal oxides nanostructuration, preparation with the various morphologies, and their coupling with other structures enhance the unique properties of the materials and open new perspectives for their application in the food industry. Chemical gas sensors that are based on semiconducting metal oxide materials can detect the presence of toxins and volatile organic compounds that are produced in food products due to their spoilage and hazardous processes that may take place during the food aging and transportation. Metal oxide nanomaterials can be used in food processing, packaging, and the preservation industry as well. Moreover, the metal oxide-based nanocomposite structures can provide many advantageous features to the final food packaging material, such as antimicrobial activity, enzyme immobilization, oxygen scavenging, mechanical strength, increasing the stability and the shelf life of food, and securing the food against humidity, temperature, and other physiological factors. In this paper, we review the most recent achievements on the synthesis of metal oxide-based nanostructures and their applications in food quality monitoring and active and intelligent packaging.
Highlights
The monitoring and control of food quality have become important issues
A poly(vinyl-chloride) PVC/TiO2 nanocomposite bears an efficient food packaging property, mechanical strength, and antimicrobial properties [127]. He et al prepared a TiO2 -protein/polysaccharide nanocomposite film, wherein the TiO2 nanoparticles enhanced the tensile strength of the film, showed an antimicrobial action against the food pathogen bacteria E. coli and S. aureus, and maintained the quality and shelf life of cherry tomatoes when being used as a coating material [128]
We provide a comprehensive review of recent research activities on the synthesis and application of metal oxide materials in food quality control and active and intelligent packaging
Summary
The monitoring and control of food quality have become important issues. The consumers and the manufacturers are paying more attention to the modern and advanced methods to check the quality of agricultural and food products and to keep them safe for a long time. The fabrication of small-size sensing systems based on metal oxide gas sensors and their combination with the modern communications tools is a prospective way to perform qualitative and quantitative multi-component analysis of food products. These kind of systems can be activated and controlled by an operator responsible for organizing the intelligent food packaging, storage, and transport from the producer to consumer [6]. We have highlighted the achievements and the challenges in the application of nanostructured metal oxides for the food industry
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