Significant Research and Technology Landscape on Electrostatically Charged Sprays for Agro-Food and Health Industry

Abstract

The trans-disciplinary aspects of the embryonic field of electrostatic spraying have provided a major motivation to researchers for the development of novel techniques for spraying of protective coatings to perishable food commodities for enhanced shelf-life, protective agents for health and hygiene in addition to other applications of sprays to manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, environment, medical facilities and devices. It has become the motives behind the renewed curiosity in the usage of the electrostatics in liquid based sprays. This provides an efficient and uniform transportation of liquid based agents which avoids the wastage of natural resource with enhanced performance. Edible coatings and incorporation of nutrition and active ingredients may improve fruit quality providing foodstuffs supplemented with extra flavour and a delicious, tantalizing and mouth-watering appearance. Electrostatic spray technology for coating of antioxidants and edible films for food products and fruits preservation is a sustainable development strategy in this revolutionary technology era that has gained a lot of attention owing to its importance in enhancing the shelf life of foods keeping its nutritional and sensory properties. Electrostatic disinfection and sanitization has gained a lot of attention and people became more alert about health and hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although few research initiatives have been taken over the past years, the work largely remains in the nascent stage as far as field-scale technology development and commercialization is concerned. These technological and life sustaining technologies will overall lead to improvement in the quality of life. A significant value of the charge-to-mass ratio (Q/M) of 4.83 mC/kg was achieved at applied air pressure of 4 bar and liquid flow rate of 130 ml/min at a target distance of 10 cm from the nozzle tip.