Preparation of PAN@TiO(2) Nanofibers for Fruit Packaging Materials with Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Ethylene

Ethylene causes faster deterioration of perishable crops during postharvest transportation and storage. The present study aimed to develop TiO(2)-coated nanofibers with efficient photocatalytic activities to enhance the degradation of fruit-emitted ethylene. The consecutive electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and TiO(2) deposition was successfully performed to produce PAN@TiO(2) nanofibers. The scanning electron microscopy results indicate the uniform distribution of TiO(2) nanoparticles on the surface of the PAN nanofiber. The PAN@TiO(2) composite nanofibers exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for ethylene degradation under low-intensity UV light irradiation. Furthermore, a tomato fruit-ripening test confirmed the effectiveness of the PAN@TiO(2) nanofibers. The PAN@TiO(2) nanofibers exhibited effective ethylene degradation and slowed the color shift and softening of the tomatoes during storage. The results suggest great potential for use of the PAN@TiO(2) composite nanofibers as ethylene scavenging packaging material for fresh fruits and vegetables.